Eric Taubel

Eric Taubel came to OCM with experience in legal work at two other state agencies and in private practice. Before joining the OCM team, he was general counsel for the Minnesota Department of Education, where he was responsible for building the agency’s Office of General Counsel from the ground up, and previously was an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Taubel worked in private practice in Minneapolis before joining the Department of Commerce. Prior to holding the role of director at OCM, he was the general counsel for OCM.

Max Zappia

Max Zappia joined OCM from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, where he was deputy commissioner of financial institutions and oversaw the teams that worked on regulation of state-chartered banks, state-chartered credit unions, and non-depository (non-bank) financial institutions licensed in Minnesota, encompassing finance companies, mortgage-related businesses, and money transmitters. While at Commerce, Zappia worked on issues related to cannabis banking, including developing regulatory guidance for Minnesota financial institutions for hemp banking and interstate efforts to clarify federal cannabis banking regulations. Prior to his role as deputy director, Zappia served as the chief regulatory officer for OCM.

Sophie Leininger

Sophie Leininger joined OCM with years of experience navigating state government, previously serving in various roles in the governor's office and executive branch during the Dayton administration and the Walz-Flanagan administration. She worked in communications roles, and served as advisor to the lieutenant governor, managing the intersection of policy, communications, and executive responsibilities for Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. Before holding the role of chief of staff, Sophie was the government relations director for OCM, managing the office's legislative portfolio to advance policy recommendations during the office's first two legislative sessions. In this role, she was responsible for creating the office's budget and policy process, developing relationships with key partners, including local governments and advocacy organizations, and supporting the office's implementation of Minnesota's cannabis law.

William Reynaga

William Reynaga joined OCM with a diverse background of legal experience. Before joining OCM, William was a judicial law clerk in Minnesota district court and the court of appeals, an assistant attorney general, and an attorney for a Minnesota hospital network. William joined OCM as the data practices attorney and data practices compliance official before stepping into the role as interim general counsel. Along with data practices, he has experience in contracts and litigation.

Jessica Jackson

Jessica Jackson is the director of social equity at Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management, where she leads the Division of Social Equity and oversees their multi-million dollar reinvestment portfolio focused on advancing economic justice, inclusive licensing, and community development for those harmed by cannabis prohibition. With degrees in sociology, education, and business—each earned summa cum laude—she brings a multidisciplinary approach to policy innovation rooted in both lived experience and strategic leadership. A former legacy operator, national advocate, and current board member of the Redemption Foundation, Jackson has helped shape equity programs across the country. She is also the author of Sis, You’re Copper and creator of the Copper Alchemy framework, using storytelling and systems change to empower communities and drive transformative outcomes.

Melanie Franks

Melanie Franks is an enrolled member and citizen of the Wahta Mohawks and serves as the Tribal liaison for the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). In this leadership role, Melanie is the primary point of contact between OCM and the 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations in Minnesota, leading the agency’s Tribal consultation efforts, outreach initiatives, engagement activities, and overseeing OCM's compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 10.65. She plays a critical role in shaping and guiding the agency’s Tribal engagement strategies and supporting OCM’s government-to-government relationships with Tribal Nations, ensuring that Tribal interests and sovereignty are meaningfully recognized and respected and aligning agency operations with the principles of Tribal sovereignty, state statute, and collaborative partnership.

With extensive experience in state government and Tribal-State relations, Melanie has built strong and trusted relationships with Tribal elected officials, Tribal staff, and urban American Indian communities across Minnesota. Her work centers on fostering mutual understanding, effective communication, and meaningful collaboration between OCM and Tribal governments. Prior to her role at OCM, Melanie served as the director of Tribal relations for the Minnesota Department of Education. She holds a master’s degree in Tribal administration and governance from the University of Minnesota–Duluth.