Shauna Blackburn
Executive Vice President, CIS Insurance Services, LLC

Shauna Blackburn is a nationally recognized cannabis insurance executive and the newly appointed Executive Vice President at CIS Insurance Services, LLC, where she leads strategic growth, underwriting innovation, and carrier partnerships across the cannabis and specialty risk sectors. With over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry—and a powerhouse track record in cannabis risk—Shauna is known for breaking barriers, building programs from the ground up, and delivering white-glove service with immediate results.

Prior to joining CIS, Shauna served as the Cannabis Team Lead and Underwriting Leader at Blitz Insurance, where she helped launch one of the industry’s most agile cannabis platforms. Her past roles include key leadership positions at Cannabis Connect Insurance Services and CannGen Insurance Services, where she helped shape underwriting standards, coverage forms, and market strategy for the rapidly evolving cannabis space.

Shauna also serves on the Risk Management and Insurance Committee of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). She’s a frequent speaker at national conferences, has been featured on Insurance Journal TV, and regularly appears in media outlets, podcasts, and industry publications. In 2020, she was honored by Insurance Business Magazine as one of the Elite Women of Insurance. Shauna is well known for her direct insights, policy expertise, and unwavering commitment to advancing the cannabis insurance industry.

With over 20 years of experience in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) consulting, management, and oversight, I specialize in guiding organizations toward regulatory compliance and developing impactful EHS programs. In January 2021, I founded Rubicon EHS to deliver strategic EHS solutions to businesses dedicated to meeting their safety and environmental responsibilities with excellence.

My diverse industry experience spans automotive, chemical, commercial lubricants, energy storage, food and beverage, manufacturing, refrigerant gas, and warehousing. I bring deep expertise in EHS reporting, auditing, training, and program development, with a proven track record in implementing ISO 14001/environmental/safety management systems. Additionally, I have advanced knowledge of U.S. OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) and U.S. EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) compliance, specializing in the development and execution of these critical frameworks through the application of risk based process safety.

Earlier in my career, I gained extensive experience in environmental due diligence and remediation. My work included managing facility decontamination, conducting subsurface investigations, and performing Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments. This foundation in environmental consulting has been integral to the comprehensive and results-driven EHS services I now provide.

I am a frequent speaker at industry conferences, addressing topics such as regulatory compliance, sustainability, waste management, and industrial safety. My presentations have been featured at prestigious events, including the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals National Annual Conference, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association Annual Conference, and the Ohio Safety Congress. 

I am passionate about helping businesses navigate EHS challenges, build resilient safety and compliance programs, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Whether you are developing a new EHS program, enhancing existing practices, or seeking to ensure compliance with complex industry standards, I provide the expertise and tailored support to help you succeed.

Specialties:

- EHS compliance, management, and auditing

- Hazardous materials management

- EHS program development

- ISO 14001 implementation

- Process Safety Management (PSM)

- Risk Management Plan (RMP)