About Us

Amy Nathan is the co-founder of LitSmart LLC. She previously founded Gromentum Lab, a cannabis social impact business accelerator in cannabis. Amy has been involved in cannabis education and workforce development through time at Olive Harvey College Advisory Board and as Guest Lecturer and at Universal Baptist Church’s Workforce Development Program as part of the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Faith-Based Initiatives. 

Her background as a servant-leader started long before time in the cannabis industry, Amy spent decades consulting for companies in highly regulated industries like Financial Services and Health Care, including CVS/Caremark, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BMO Harris, IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

Amy integrates health, well-being, and consciousness into the day-to-day of team, client and professional management and is thrilled to be creating a service to raise the bar for the entire cannabis industry.

Ken is a co-founder of LitSmart LLC and is passionate about developing a new wave of “Concierge EMS” in the Cannabis space.  

Previously, Ken owned and operated a multi-state mobile wound care company and has worked as a paramedic in various capacities such as vent medic with the University of Chicago Medicine Aeromedical Network (UCAN), volunteer community-based emergency services, and part of emergency response teams at public and private events. 

Ken has also received additional training from instructors at well-known municipal fire departments.

Reverend Mitchell Johnson, a Chicagoland community leader for over two decades, is a consumer and community advocate and will be continuing such work as a founding member of LitSmart through his interactions with local, state, and lawmakers at the federal level. 

Reverend Johnson is a host to two popular weekly radio programs on WVON, Chicago’s largest African-American radio station, and WCPT Chicago’s Progressive Talk Radio station and the Executive Director of My Community Plan Foundation (MCP) directing financial resources to approximately 17,000 faith-based non-profit organizations. 

He also offers life, accident, and health insurance. Reverend Johnson got his start in Cannabis via GROmentum Lab, a social impact cannabis accelerator as its Director of Corporate Responsibility.

Yakima Palmer is a Natural Health and wellness professional. She is the founder of Yaks Wellness providing holistic consulting services, retail products and education. 

She is a Professor and the Director of Harm Reduction at LitSmart. 

She serves as a member of Akanna’s medical advisory board and a member of Illinois Women in Cannabis. Yakima enjoys empowering and educating others to live their best life!

Michelle Dean is a dedicated advocate passionate to combat the stigma associated with cannabis. By championing education and challenging conventional perceptions, she fosters an inclusive and knowledgeable community. 

Michelle previously worked in multiple roles with one of the Illinois’ certified training companies and at a state-licensed dispensary. Her industry insider experience along with background in healthcare administration and retail positions her uniquely as  Managing Director of Programs at LitSmart. 

She is committed to preserving the ambiance of cannabis social spaces and providing exceptional care to patrons which is the core of her role as Managing Director of Programs at LitSmart.

Shaya brings 11 years of experience as an EMT, Paramedic and Critical Care Paramedic. He serves as an Adjunct Lab Instructor at the Ascension St. Francis Paramedic program in Evanston and a Paramedic Preceptor to Region XI in Chicago for Hatzalah Chicago and Medex. 

He is certified as a Mental Health Resilience Officer, Mental Health First Aid, and a Paramedicine lead instructor. 

He is further certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support. Though dedicated to his work in emergency medical services, Shaya first learned customer service through his 3-generation 60+ year family niche retail business working in every position until it closed in 2010.