About Us

Our Core Leadership Team 

Matt Kilby: Managing Partner
CEO: The Advisory

I love the Cannabis industry: the people who work within it at all levels and the patients and consumers who benefit from its’ managed use. Throughout the past 9 years, I have experienced this industry developing at a rapid and sometimes chaotic pace. I have learned to navigate the changing landscape of the industry and maintain a future-forward outlook for planning and strategy.  

When I had the opportunity to join a team of instructors and curriculum developers for Saint Louis University’s Cannabis Science and Operations Program, I jumped at the chance. Sharing my knowledge and passion with my peers and the student community continues to be truly rewarding.     

There are so many Cannabis organizations across the country that know they want to grow quickly, expand their footprint, and develop healthy teams. Often their leaders need help predicting and preventing the pain points and challenges that come with operating in this space.  

 That is why we created The Advisory & The Advisory Academy. We want to become a trusted partner to Cannabis Operators, Regulators and Educators maximizing their organizational potential through our collective knowledge, passion and experiences.

Ferrin Kilby: Founding Partner
Chief Learning Officer: The Advisory Academy 

For almost 50 years, I have led and consulted with organizations to develop their Mission, Vision, Culture, Strategic Planning and Growth attainment, usually (but not always) with high success.

I am devoted to life-long learning as it applies to personal and organizational Professional Development (B.S., M.S.T, Ph.D., Ed.D (abd), and I have the unique ability to transform confusion into understanding and application.  I believe that Leadership is defined by results, not attributes. 

We created The Advisory Academy to help people and Operators to not only achieve their growth goals, but to remove the internal stress arising from the burdens of QMS Requirements, Compliance, Retail Strategies, Cultivation and Manufacturing. 

I am a Certified Trainer and Coach for QMS Internal Implementation, StandOut, Franklin Covey and The John Maxwell Team. I also proudly served in the United States Air Force.

All organizations are perfectly aligned to get the results they get. 

Chase Cookson
Principal Consultant: The Advisory Academy

Chase Cookson, DBA has carved a niche for himself in the cannabis industry and academia. As a consultant, he’s helped cannabis businesses create compliance and corporate social responsibility strategies that operationalize regulatory requirements while also reducing organizational expenses.

His interests in the intersection of quality and cannabis brought him to Saint Louis University in January 2020, where he has served as an Adjunct Instructor responsible for building and teaching key courses like Compliance and Dispensing and Cannabis Law and Entrepreneurship.

His deep dive into regulatory frameworks has equipped students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal and compliance standards in the cannabis industry. In the realm of quality management,

Chase has been instrumental as the Vice Chair of the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). His role involves meticulously reviewing compliance documentation from member institutions, ensuring adherence to rigorous standards. His decade-long experience as a reviewer and site visit team lead both within and outside the United States underlines his expertise in assessing and upholding the quality and integrity of business education globally.

Chase’s ability to design and execute compliance-related policies, coupled with his skill in training and development, makes him a valuable asset in the fields of business and cannabis compliance. This comprehensive experience underscores his dedication to fostering high-performing teams and maintaining strong compliance programs.