Staff Members

Saphira Galoob serves as the Executive Director of CFIG and is the Principal and CEO of The Liaison Group (TLG). The Liaison Group was the first –and remains the only –Washington, DC-based lobbying firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry. She was the driving force for the creation and launch of the National Cannabis Roundtable. 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, Pura Vida and others. A keen strategist who prioritizes transparency and collaboration, Saphira works closely with the both the House and Senate Cannabis Caucus and Working Groups.She was recently selected by POLITICO as Who to Know on K Street for cannabis lobbyists and was named the 2020 Influencer of the Year by the Industry Power Women Awards. Saphira received her Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and a Masters in International and Comparative Law (L.L.M.) from Georgetown University School of Law. She regularly speaks on US cannabis policy at events in the US and internationally.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————Erin Moffet serves as Director of Strategic Communication for CFIG as well as the Director of Strategic Communications and Policy Advisor for The Liaison Group. 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 CFIG, 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.

David Mangone serves as the Director of Policy to CFIG as well 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 CFIG, 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.

Judy Gootkind serves as CFIG Treasurer. In addition to her role in CFIG, Judy is also the Vice President of Finance and Administration for Creative Services, Inc. Judy joined CSI in 1992 as an expert in accounting with over 20 years of experience. Today, as the Vice President of Finance and Administration, Judy continually insures CSI’s growth and profitability, allowing CSI to maintain a competitive standard. Judy regularly presents on legislation, regulation and policy issues and represents CSI at numerous hearings including the RI Judiciary, MA Judiciary Committee, CT Department of Public Safety, NY Office of Court Administration, and the MA Attorney General’s office. Judy is active in the screening industry as a Director on the Board of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) and an integral founding member of the Association. In September 2010, she was selected to represent NAPBS by testifying at a hearing of the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee. Judy graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting.