Tristan Watkins has a varied background, with roots in academia and the cannabis industry. Tristan earned his PhD from Vanderbilt University, where he studied obesity and neuroinflammation. From there, he ventured out west and co-founded a cannabis business in Boulder, CO. He is published in a variety of media outlets -- from scientific journals to lifestyle magazines -- and has spoken at leading conferences. Now, Tristan is a member of OEDIT, where he started as the Program Manager for the Cannabis Business Office and now serves as Director of the Business Support Division. Tristan is dedicated to developing accessible and effective economic development programming that benefits all Colorado residents.