ACAMS Central Florida Chapter January 2026 Virtual Event: Introduction to Cannabis Banking

Jennifer Makris, MBA is a respected industry leader with over 20 years of experience in sales, logistics, and cash management, specializing in high-risk, cash-intensive industries.

She is known for developing secure, compliant, and scalable financial systems that improve operational efficiency for retail businesses, and has become a trusted expert in these specialized and complex fields.

In 2022, Jennifer founded Cannabis Cash Consultants to address the financial and compliance challenges facing cannabis operators. Drawing on her background in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments, she advises license holders on cash handling, payments, and banking strategies that align with regulatory demands and business growth.

Jennifer also serves as Director of Banking and Compliance at Cannabiz Media (Emerald Intel), supporting financial institutions and ancillary businesses through a data-driven approach to sales, marketing, and compliance initiatives.

Leadership & Recognition:

• PBC's 2024 Top Business Solutions Leader
• 2025 Women in Cannabis - Cannabis & Tech Today
• CannabisLAB (Law, Accounting & Business), President
• Florida Cannabis Action Network, Director of Strategic Partnerships

Julie Mott serves as VP of Implementations & Conversions at Green Check Verified, a fintech company delivering technology solutions for an emerging market. Green Check Verified is at the forefront of a new era of commerce, providing deep insights and software solutions that support financial institutions and business services across the cannabis industry.

Julie brings extensive experience in financial services, with a background spanning operations, lending, compliance, and business analysis at banks and credit unions. She has partnered with more than 100 financial institutions supporting cannabis-related businesses, helping them navigate complex regulatory and operational landscapes.

Beth Trent, CAMS, CBAP, ACBP, serves as a SR BSA/AML Analyst and Bank Officer at Climate First Bank (St. Petersburg, FL), where she designs procedures, assesses AML risk, and leads investigations that strengthen regulatory compliance and operational resilience. Over more than twenty-five years, Beth has held roles spanning AML analysis and branch leadership at OSAIC Wealth, Bank OZK, BB&T, Regions Bank, and Wells Fargo (Wachovia), giving her a comprehensive perspective across retail and compliance operations. Her recent work centers on the cannabis banking sector-interpreting complex requirements and helping institutions implement policy, risk assessment, and monitoring programs that align with evolving guidance for cannabis-related businesses. A committed community advocate, Beth supports financial literacy education and contributes on local boards; she currently serves on the Board of Directors for ACAMS Central Florida, Parenting Matters, is a Leadership Manatee alum, and has been a Golden Herald Judge.