Marc A. Ross

Counsel / Head of Impact & ESG

Denver

m.ross@vicentesederberg.com

303-860-4501

455 Sherman St.
Suite 390
Denver, CO 80203

Environment, Health & Safety
Impact & ESG

Colorado

J.D., Dickinson School of Law
B.A., Penn State University

Overview

Marc Ross is the Head of Impact & ESG, co-chair of the Environmental, Health and Safety Practice Group at Vicente Sederberg LLP and Vice Chair to the US Cannabis Council’s ESG Stewardship Committee. He provides counseling and consulting to the cannabis, hemp, and entheogen industries on all things ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance), CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), community engagement, employee engagement, strategic philanthropy, sustainability, and other associated areas.

With a mission to drive the inclusion, measurement, benchmarking, reporting, and continuous improvement of all of these important elements, Marc draws on nearly 30 years of legal practice in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to help build more sustainable, profitable, and responsible businesses, as well as reducing potential liability from a variety of stakeholders. 

Prior to joining VS, Marc served as the director of community outreach for Harvest Health & Recreation. In this role, he oversaw a team of four in strategizing and scaling the company’s national Corporate Social Responsibility efforts while assisting with public and governmental affairs, licensing, and employee engagement. Before his work at Harvest, Marc founded and served as the executive director and general counsel to Rock the Earth, a national environmental advocacy organization that works with the music industry. He also served as in-house environmental Counsel to Alcoa Inc. and as an environmental litigator for Reed Smith and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 

Marc holds a Juris Doctorate from The Dickinson School of Law, a Bachelors degree from The Pennsylvania State University, and Executive Certificates in Sustainability Leadership & Implementation from the Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, as well as in Corporate Social Responsibility from the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder. 

Since 2016, Marc has been a member of the City of Denver’s Cannabis Sustainability Working Group. in addition to serving on the advisory board to Headcount’s Cannabis Voter Project. Through his lifelong commitment to advocacy, sustainability, and social change, Marc brings a wealth of experience and passion to his work in helping cannabis businesses be the most thoughtful, responsible, and profitable in the industry.

Experience

Leadership & Community Involvement

  • Vice Chair, ESG Stewardship Committee, US Cannabis Council
  • Advisory Board, Headcount’s Cannabis Voter Project
  • Corporate Social Responsibility Mentor, Canopy Boulder
  • Member, City of Denver, Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency’s (CASR) Cannabis Sustainability Working Group

Recognition

  • Planet Defender Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock the Earth, 2016  

  • eTown E-Chievement Award, 2011

  • Featured in Denver Business Journal's "Making Their Mark" series of young entrepreneurs making an impact on their industries, 2009 

  • Mimi Fishman Foundation Community Service Jammy Award, 2008  

  • Richard Reeve Baxter Award, Dickinson School of Law Journal of International Law

Publications

VS Insights

External Publications

Events

In the Media