Saphira Galoob
Principal and CEO
Saphira Galoob is the Principal and CEO of The Liaison Group (TLG), which was the first – and remains the only – Washington, DC-based lobbying firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry. Saphira was the driving force for the creation and launch of the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR). As the coalition’s Executive Director, she oversees the organization and leads federal policy initiatives for the country’s leading cannabis operators, including Cresco, Trulieve, Verano, and others. In addition to her work with NCR, Saphira serves as Executive Director of the Cannabis Financial Industry Group (CFIG), a coalition of financial institutions and risk-mitigating service providers serving the state legal cannabis industry.
A keen strategist who prioritizes transparency and collaboration, Saphira works closely with the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and federal cannabis working groups. POLITICO has selected her as Who to Know on K Street for cannabis lobbyists and she was also named the 2020 Influencer of the Year by the Industry Power Women Awards. Her thought leadership has been featured in The Hill, Forbes, the Proud to Work in Cannabis podcast, and numerous other publications. She serves on the MJBiz Advisory Council and regularly speaks on U.S. cannabis policy at domestic and international events.
Saphira received her Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and a Master’s in International and Comparative Law (L.L.M.) from Georgetown University School of Law. She lives in the DC area with her family.
David Mangone
Director of Policy
David serves as the Director of Policy and Government Affairs for the Liaison Group. Using a pragmatic and evidence based approach, David has influenced cannabis policy on the federal and state level.
Prior to joining The Liaison Group, David served as the Director of Government Affairs & Counsel for Americans for Safe Access, the nation’s largest nonprofit representing medical cannabis patients. In this role he authored several publications including 2019 State of the States Report: An Analysis of Medical Cannabis Access in the United States and acted as a policy resource for lawmakers around the country. David has also worked as a Legislative Fellow for a senior Democratic member of Congress on the House Ways & Means Committee, and as an attorney in private practice.
David received his Juris Doctorate from the Charleston School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wake Forest University. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife.
Erin Moffet
Director of Strategic Communications and Policy Advisor
Erin serves as Director of Strategic Communications and Policy Advisor for The Liaison Group (TLG). Erin has more than 12 years of congressional and state government experience, working to move federal cannabis reform forward through both policy and communications roles.
Prior to joining TLG, Erin served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), overseeing the department’s federal affairs and communications operations. She previously spent nine years on Capitol Hill handling cannabis policy and communications for multiple members of Florida’s congressional delegation who served on the House Rules, Financial Services, and Appropriations committees.
Erin received her MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University and her BA in Political Science from Elon University. She lives in Washington, DC with her family.
Matthew Donaher
Chief of Staff and Director of Operations
Matthew Donaher serves as the Chief of Staff and Director of Operations at The Liaison Group. Managing the day-to-day operations at TLG, Matthew excels at identifying, implementing, and revising TLG’s operational policies and guidelines. He keeps the trains running on time! In addition to ensuring that TLG is unified in creating a successful, organized, and efficient business, Matthew also directly interacts with TLG’s clients, and nothing makes him happier than making sure they are well taken care of. With over 18 years of office administration experience, Matthew always has The Liaison Group’s goals, objectives, and mission at the forefront of his mind. Matthew lives with the love of his life and his very well-behaved dog.