BIG PLAN - Key Persons
Following a highly competitive career playing football at the University of Florida, Dominique Easley was selected as a first round draft pick for the New England Patriots. He went on to play for five years in the NFL, ending his professional career with the Los Angeles Rams. After retiring, Dominique began evaluating the regulated cannabis industry, becoming an outspoken advocate for plant-based medicines that may prove especially therapeutic to current and former athletes as a safe alternative to opioids.
Eric Russell - Chief Investment Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Investment Officer
- Principal
Eric is the Chief Investment Officer & Principal of Big Plan Holdings. Eric is a financial acquisitions and operations professional with over $900M in transaction experience across wide-ranging asset types. Most recently, he was the Chief Strategy Officer for a nationwide behavioral health hospital company, Haven Behavioral Healthcare. Where the company more than doubled its revenue and increased EBITDA by 6X. Previously, Russell was CFO for Disruptive Nashville - TN-based real estate development group, CA South - where the firm experienced a growth trajectory of $50M to $400M+ in AUD within two years. Prior, Eric led acquisitions and asset management for the publicly traded, long-term care company, Diversicare, where the company grew from $100M in annual revenue to $550M during his tenure.
In those roles, Eric's responsibilities included investor relations, overseeing underwriting and deal sourcing, management of debt/equity closings, structuring joint ventures, and financial operations. Throughout his career, Eric has consistently proved himself a pivotal agent in scaling high-growth startups, mid-market private equity portfolio companies, and publicly traded companies.
Eric has an MBA from Carnegie Mellon, an MRED (Master in Real Estate Development) from IE Business School (Madrid, Spain), and a BBA from the University of Kentucky.
Jordan Reed began his career playing football at the University of Florida alongside now-colleague Dominique Easley, before going pro as an American football tight end in the NFL (Washington Football Team). After retiring from the NFL, Jordan began pursuing cross-sector entrepreneurial interests and partnerships, ultimately turning his attention to the regulated cannabis industry.
Jordan is deeply passionate about supporting social equity teams applying for licensure in the U.S.
Josh is the Founder and CEO of Big Plan Holdings, a Nashville, Tennessee-based diversified family holding company with investments in various industries. As a serial entrepreneur, Josh helps lead the family's vision behind Big Plan Holdings to incubate new business ventures for their own family, along with strategic investments with joint venture partners, and also mentoring and educating up and coming entrepreneurs.
Job Titles:
- Head of a & R, Edgehill Music Publishing
Julia Keefe is an A&R and publishing creative based in Nashville, TN. While attending Belmont University for a music business degree, Julia honed her A&R skills through a number of publishing and A&R internships. Through this, Julia began to work with Altadena, a publishing, label and artist development company founded by the late songwriter/producer, busbee, where she was hired during her last semester of college. She spent three years at Altadena working with artists such as Carly Pearce, Ryan Griffin, Lindsey Lomis, Carter Faith, Riley Roth, and many more between Nashville and LA. Currently, Julia is now working as Head of A&R at Edgehill Music Publishing, running creative point on the growing, multi-genre roster.
Job Titles:
- VP of Operations
- VP of Operations Executive Assistant
Katelin Ford is native of Franklin, TN. Some of her hobbies are kickboxing, being on the lake, snowboarding, hiking, or pretty much anything outdoors. Katelin is a mom of two beautiful and wild girls, 5 and 4, that take the majority of her free time these days.
Katelin's background is in television production and communications. Previously, she worked for Go To Team, Assignment Desk, Country Music Television, and Discovery Channel managing live events and overseeing the creation (and distribution) of digital content. Currently at BPH, Katelin utilizes her skill sets to support their growing influence nationally.
Job Titles:
- Creative Business Strategist
- VP of Communications
Katie Larson is the Creative Business Strategist for Big Plan Holdings. Katie has recently relocated to Nashville upon the culmination of her academic career at the University of Alabama. Katie spent her last two years with the University of Alabama's Capstone Agency where she served as the Senior Strategist working with EcoCAR and Arts ‘n Autism. A born multi-tasker, Katie earned her degree with highest honors from Alabama's College of Communication and Information Sciences while she served as the Publicity Director for the Black Warrior Film Festival - a student-run international film festival showcasing student films. Katie spent her summers with Modern Luxury Media and Stacy Kessler's® sustainable designs in New York City. Katie's passions include photography, 70's music, and philanthropy, and thus she is a long-time supporter of - and former intern for - Ronald McDonald House. Serving as the Social Chair for Phi Mu Sorority, Katie gained invaluable experience in event planning and implementation and is eager to continue learning and growing at Big Plan Holdings.
Job Titles:
- VP of Business Development
Kevin Smart is a multi-faceted professional and creative based in Nashville and Los Angeles. Just after turning 17, Kevin started touring and playing drums for pop artist, Jake Miller. Since then, he has shared the stage/toured alongside the biggest names in music including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Shawn Mendes, and more. Kevin has also made countless appearances on award shows/networks including MTV, NBC, ABC, FOX, FUSE, and Nickelodeon. All the while, Kevin continued his studies and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business from Penn State University.
Having an interest in business, Kevin started multiple companies in the entertainment/marketing industries. His ventures led him to designing dozens of websites and spearheading marketing campaigns for artists and companies, including Live Nation Hewitt Silva, Goldenvoice, and more.
Kevin continues to hone in on his craft as a musician, songwriter, and producer and pursues his interest in business. As VP of Business Development at Big Plan Holdings, Kevin manages strategy for existing ventures as well as seeks out new opportunities for the company.
Michael Mook - Chief Strategy Officer, COO, Founder
Job Titles:
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Co - Founder
- COO
- Principal
Michael Mook is a Principal and Chief Strategy Officer at Big Plan Holdings. Michael joined Big Plan Holdings after a successful 30-year Wall Street career as an innovative partner and creative problem solver with demonstrated expertise in running and developing businesses. Combining sophisticated trading and market knowledge with advanced technological skills, Michael successfully created, implemented, and promoted entrepreneurial ventures. During his time on Wall Street, Michael produced new revenue centers for financial service firms while simultaneously reducing costs.
Among other ventures, Michael is Co-Founder and COO/CTO of Next Titan Capital, a FINRA-licensed investment bank for socially responsible companies, including those making positive changes in the legal cannabis and psychedelics industries.
In addition to his role as COO, Michael runs his own family office and is a strategic investor in both cannabis and cryptocurrencies. He is working on facilitating, coordinating, and raising funds for deals involving dispensaries, grow facilities, sale/leasebacks, and other cannabis-related entities. Michael has an extensive network that spans Wall Street, fintech, and cannabis. He is an early investor in the cannabis and crypto industries with interests in Jm10, Bloom Farms, Rose Capital/BR Brands, JW Asset, Glas Inc., Sava, and Talos Trading.
Job Titles:
- Director of Public Relations
- Publicist and Marketing Executive
Samuel 'Sam' Amsterdam serves as Publicist and Marketing Executive to Big Plan Holdings (BPH), having served for two decades prior as an advanced advocacy and strategic marketing and media engagement professional, with decorated experience in major global hubs including however not limited to Chicago, Nashville, London, Brussels, Johannesburg, Lagos, New York City, Toronto and Washington, D.C.
Sean Marshall - Chief Legal Officer, COO
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- General Counsel
- Principal
- Chief Operating Officer, Principal General Counsel
- Member of the State of Florida
Sean is a Chief Operating Officer, Principal, and General Counsel of Big Plan Holdings, a Nashville, Tennessee-based diversified family holding company with investments in various industries.
Throughout Sean's professional career, he has served in both a legal and business capacity for a variety of companies across numerous sectors. Most recently, Sean worked for the largest local owner and operator of Honky Tonks and entertainment venues in downtown Nashville. During this time, Sean had direct experience with a multitude of bars, restaurants, marinas, golf courses, country clubs, parking facilities, and other assorted ventures. Sean's primary focus was on operations, promoting revenue growth, and risk management while handling business, legal, and government relations issues.
Previously, Sean was in-house legal counsel for the NHL's Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. Sean spent his days providing general legal/negotiating support and drafting/reviewing air charter and ground transport, business, human resources, finance, branding, sponsorship, advertising, hockey, entertainment, and venue-related contracts and agreements. He also focused on overseeing the team and venue-related litigation, day-to-day insurance, and risk management functions, resolving intellectual property issues, and managing a trademark portfolio. Through Sean's time with the Predators and Bridgestone Arena, he cultivated tremendous relationships that led to success in real estate, infrastructure expansion, development, and capital improvement projects.
Before moving to Nashville, Sean lived in South Florida, working in both the real estate legal and financial sectors. As an attorney, Sean handled firm business development and represented real estate lenders and servicers in commercial litigation, mortgage foreclosures, mediations, code enforcement matters, evictions, and title resolution issues. Sean worked for Grandbridge Real Estate Capital where he solicited new deals and analyzed financial statements, property leases, lending documents, and all other related real estate and credit material.
Sean served as a Prosecutor for the Office of the State Attorney and was engaged in all aspects of litigation. During his time as a Prosecutor, Sean researched and drafted memoranda, prepared and argued motions, conducted witness interviews, and did first chair jury and nonjury trial work.
Sean is currently a member of the State of Florida and Tennessee Bars, the United States District Court - Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, Board Member of The Nashville Downtown Partnership, and Immediate Former Chairman of the Board of the Downtown Nashville DISTRICT 501(c)3 Organization. Sean is a three-time graduate of the University of Florida and lives in Brentwood, Tennessee with his wife, Taylor, and three children.
Sophie Joseph is currently a student at the University of Kentucky where she is studying Special Education and Criminology. Her passion for the Special Education community at such a young age has steered her to pursue a career in that field.
Sophie's engagement in the world of activism and volunteering entails a large spectrum of practices. Some include rescue and rehabilitation work, therapeutic riding practices, charitable event planning, and multiple board member positions. She finds herself most engaged, and successful, in lines of work that involve amplifying and supporting people, animals, and places that oftentimes lack representation, leading her to the position of President in The Joseph Family Foundation.
Born in Chicago, music was always a part of Spencer's life. When he was a child, he began learning to play piano and guitar. As Spencer grew older, he exhibited an interest in songwriting and music production. He would offer producers free guitar sessions in exchange for their wisdom and production tips. This eventually led to him landing an Associate Producer role at Archipelago Entertainment. There, Spencer learned the industry from some of the brightest minds in the music business - having the opportunity to work on a vast array of projects including K-Pop records for Jeong Sewoon & LUNA (fx). Spencer also had a passion for live performances. In 2017, he started working at Sofar Sounds in Champaign, IL as a Venue & Artist Scout. In 2018, he was promoted to City Director and was running the show. In 2019, Spencer helped start Edgehill Music Publishing with his longtime friends Josh & Tara Joseph.
Sydni Joseph is a Co-Founder of Big Plan Holdings where she began her professional career at a young age. Sydni is a recent college graduate from the University of Kentucky where she received a Bachelor's of Business in Marketing along with a Bachelor's of Science in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles. Sydni finished her academic career with a dual degree and summa cum laude highest honors. Empowering women in business is incredibly important to Sydni, as she fortunately has the privilege of being a young female entrepreneur herself.
With a passion for events, Sydni spent her last three academic years as a Student Event Manager at the University of Kentucky's Special Events Office. During Summer and Winter breaks, Sydni was a Special Events Assistant at Kehoe Designs - Chicago's leading luxury event production company - where she worked on celebrity weddings, music festivals, galas, and Fortune 500 corporate events. Serving as the Vice President of Event Management for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Sydni obtained tremendous experience and built an expansive network in the industry.
Sydni currently serves as a Volunteer Guide at Musicians on Call, a member of Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce's ‘Emerging Leaders,' and a member of the Stevenson High School Foundation's Development Committee. Sydni is eager to continue her work with Big Plan Holdings where she plans to explore each business opportunity and grow along the way.
Tara Joseph serves as Co-Founder and CFO of Big Plan Holdings, Edgehill Music Publishing, the amulet society, and American Paint. An artist at heart, Tara has an extensive background in fashion design, senior-level retail management, buying, and company branding with professional stops including Nordstrom and Claire's Accessories. Tara's entrepreneurial spirit and love for high-end fashion led her to opening "It's So Tara," an upscale resale boutique in the Chicagoland area.
With two daughters of her own, Tara has made it a priority to support, empower, and encourage women to be the greatest versions of themselves, both personally and professionally. Tara was the Founder of 3rd Eye Hi - a woman's lifestyle subscription box company - and is the Founder of Amulet Society - a women's social networking group based in Nashville and Chicago.
Tara has dedicated over a decade to a number of private and public organizations including President of the Illinois District 102 Parent Teacher Organization, the Fundraising Coordinator of the Stevenson High School Foundation, a member of the Amazing Women Entrepreneur Network, and a Board Member of Stevenson High School's Alumni Foundation. She was the Informative Director of Cannabis Social Club and Entertainment Coordinator at Prairie House Tavern, a restaurant and live music venue in the Chicagoland area.
Constantly seeking new business opportunities, Tara plays a large role in business acquisition alongside her husband, Josh.