Tag: Women Cultivating Success

Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce
Ancillary Businesses, CBD Business Courses, CBD Infused Products, Marijuana Infused Products, Marijuana Policies, Women Who Inspire

Meaka Brown – Advocate, Educator, Entrepreneur

Meaka Brown recently received a five year appointment to the Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Fund Advisory Board. Her cannabis industry resume includes cannabis banking regulatory specialist, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission.

Meaka did not appear to be on a career path that would lead her to becoming the first WOC to manage a dispensary in Massachusetts. She was a City of Boston Constable for eleven years.

It was during this time that her entrepreneurial spirit led to developing body care products, lotions, bath scrubs and tea blends. When her grandmother had multiple knee surgeries, Meaka wanted to create a product to help reduce her pain. 

In 2015 her sister in-law passed from Cervical Cancer, her medical card arrived on the morning she passed away.

“ I was deeply disturbed by this fact and became activated from there to learn more about cannabis and the industry and the laws that surrounded it. I started to research and eventually began to study herbal medicine with Karen Rose of Sacred Vibes, Brooklyn NY and Tammi Sweet of Heartstone Center for Earth Essentials, Ithaca, NY. I learned the principles of Herbal medicine with Karen and Cannabis Science and Medicine from Tammi.”

The love of the plant and her passion for healing has inspired her to relaunch her Babes Handmade Brand incorporating CBD and THC into the Babes Handmade Body Care and Wellness Line.

Meaka’s love of the plant and passion for healing has evolved into healing communities. She is working on a cannabis curriculum specifically designed for ADI communities that aims to educate, uplift and restore the people of those communities. 

She is also working on a Social Equity Webinar to help banks understand why banking the underserved in the industry is vital and necessary to create a truly diverse cannabis space.

And, she is working on a project to bring more Minority Depository Institutions in the Cannabis Banking Space. 

“If we can introduce them to the ways in which they can safely participate in the industry, then they can begin to have a meaningful impact on the cannabis businesses in their neighborhood and begin to generate more wealth in their communities. Why should BIPOC led cannabis businesses have to leave their communities to bank in other towns and in some cases other states in order to access services.”

Meaka Brown is a woman paving the path and opening doors for women in the cannabis industry. She is setting the standard for women in cannabis in Massachusetts.

Meaka Brown is a Woman Cultivating Success.

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Alexis Berends Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce
Cannabis Business Stories, Cannabis Businesses, Women Owned Cannabis Businesses, Women Who Inspire

Alexis Berends Chief Visionary Officer

Alexis Berends job title is Chief Visionary Officer at Union Chill Cannabis Company llc. In Lambertville, NJ. The title fits her. 

Alexis has lived in Lambertville, NJ, (Nishowmensa, Lenapehoking) most of her life. At best calculation, her son is the seventh generation to call her beloved river city home. Hailing from a line of activists, musicians, and artists, she deeply believes in inclusivity and change, and that the fledgling NJ cannabis industry can be utilized as a catalyst to shape our collective future. 

 After receiving a Bachelors of Honors in Globalization, Development and Human Rights from Arcadia University in 2009, Alexis continued on to pursue her Masters in International Peace & Conflict Resolution. Her studies brought her to the Middle East where she studied the plight of the Palestinian people in the context of environmental justice. Her research was focused on water access and indigenous rights through the lens of international law. After a series of divine interventions – including a vision quest with an AWOL Israeli soldier and a kidnapping in revolutionary Egypt – her life path was forever altered. 

 Upon returning to the United States, Alexis promptly moved to St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. During her time in the USVI, Alexis began to immerse herself in the Rastafarian culture and their deep relationship with cannabis. After leaving the USVI, Alexis found her way to Humboldt County, California where she was introduced to the cultivation side of cannabis. Not dissimilar to the USVI, in California Alexis gained an intimate glimpse into the lives of many of our Native American brothers & sisters who have been so negatively impacted by the war on drugs and industries at large.  

 It is Alexis’ goal to create a cannabis industry that honors the First Nations Peoples of the world and a shared commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, as well as one that offers sincere equity to the communities most impacted by the War on Drugs. 

 Alexis Berends is also a Divemaster, Master Shark Diver, Yoga Teacher, and Reiki Master. She enjoys anything related to vampires, the ocean, and the spacetime continuum. Of her revolving titles at Union Chill Cannabis, Chief Visionary Officer seems to best encompass her passions and vision. She deeply believes in the medicine of cannabis, especially in treating PTSD in conjunction with mindfulness and intention. 

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Fuego 4.20
Marketing

Fuego 4.20 Collaboration

The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce was founded to provide entrepreneurs at all levels of business development with relevant education, resources, tools and networking opportunities for success. 

One of the most difficult aspects of business success in the cannabis industry is an effective marketing campaign. There are several components to marketing campaigns. The most overlooked is ads in online and print magazines.

Advertising restrictions and regulations for cannabis companies can be insurmountable obstacles. There are less than one hundred cannabis related magazines. Each falls into specific categories ranging from news, culture, wellness, entertainment, etc. Each is focused on the interests of their consumer base such as hemp, cbd, cannabis, edibles, etc. Advertising can broaden your reach but can be cost prohibitive for businesses with smaller marketing budgets. 

Fuego 4.20 recently did their soft launch. Fuego 4.20 was created by Diana Ramos, and is a BIPOC women owned and operated magazine. It offers a balance of national and local cannabis news and events, plant medicine and wellness, lifestyle and culture. (see Stories) 

What stands out most is Fuego 4.20 Small Business Spotlight and their Fire Starter Series. In Spanish Fuego means “fire” as well as “passion”. The Fire Starter Series profiles BIPOC women in cannabis who bring passion and commitment to the industry and the cannabis community. We encourage Chamber members to submit their story for the Fire Starter Series. fuegomagazine420@gmail.com Your journey and your voice will inspire other women. 

Being featured in the Fire Starter Series will broaden your exposure, reaching a consumer/client base that you may not be reaching through social media. Diana Ramos and her staff’s background and expertise is in cannabis publications. They have been involved in developing, content, marketing, sales, and getting cannabis print magazines onto shelves. They bring their expertise and “Fire” to Fuego 4.20.

Their marketing strategy and implementation is targeted towards a consumer/client base that aligns with that of Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce’s membership. Fuego 4.20’s focus on social equity and women in cannabis, and the quality of their content resonates with the Chamber’s mission. Fuego 4.20 is destined for success as it launches and distributes its print publication in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New York and Oklahoma. 

The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce is cautious with endorsements. The Chamber is not only endorsing Fuego 4.20, we are collaborating with them. We believe our Fuego 4.20 collaboration can be beneficial to our members’ marketing strategy. Membership in the Chamber includes a social marketing workshop and now our collaboration with Fuego 4.20 enables us to offer a substantial discount on advertising. 

We are Invested in Your Success!

 

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Brianna's
Women Who Inspire

Brianna’s Insights

Brianna’s position as the National Executive Director of The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce and Founder and CEO of SunBaked Goods provides her with insights into multiple aspects of the cannabis industry.

Too many companies forget, or fail to realize, how deeply rooted culture is within cannabis. A majority of conversations I have had recently revolve around the frustration felt by employees who seek genuine leaders, but feel as if their requests are falling on deaf ears. With the industry professionalizing at a rapid pace, it’s crucial for recruiters to understand that leading a successful team in another industry cannot be a copy-paste experience when developing teams in the cannabis space.

This is an industry that is on a path to become substantially lucrative, but was built by the efforts and sacrifices of many who must not just be included, but made whole. The current landscape of corporate cannabis lends itself to those with no prior industry experience securing leadership roles because “they have done it before, and can do it again” in another arena. But this line of thinking does a disservice to the progress made by those who have put in years of hard work to build the infrastructure now being relied upon by these organizations.

These are professionals who have knocked down barriers, fought for reform, and continue to lead through their unique perspectives that can only come from lived experiences. To create successful teams, it is important to remember that while there are similarities between managing any type of business, this is still an incredibly nuanced industry with its own complexities. Companies who wish to be at the forefront of innovation should start by valuing the importance of having a team that reflects the incredible diversity within the cannabis community.

To learn more about Brianna’s business career in cannabis visit the Our Team page, and SunBaked Goods

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Lisa Pickett Women Cultivating Success
Women Owned Cannabis Businesses

Lisa Pickett Winning llc

Lisa Pickett (CLDP, CMT, CLC) was born and raised in Queens, New York, and has been bi-coastal for many years until finally making Los Angeles her home. 

Lisa is an active Learning & Development specialist with years of experience, multiple certifications, and the necessary empathetic sensibilities needed to lead in today’s complex workplace. She maintains her deep interest in the following: Employee development, modern workplace learning strategies, social and self-directed learning, design of online learning experiences, and interactive workshops.  Lisa is a master collaborator, aligning L&D strategy, employee skill sets, and an organization’s driving goals and initiatives.  

​Lisa P. creates effective and impactful HR, coaching, and workshops as part of Winning Coaching.  Lisa’s intention is to leave every person and place she encounters better than before they met, or she arrived. lisa@winning-1.com

Coach Ash and Lisa Pickett developed and facilitate the HIGHer Executive Leadership Development Course. 

Join guest, Lisa Pickett, September 28th, 6:30 est at Women Cultivating Success Conversations with Women in the Cannabis Industry Online – Interactive – Free. Hosted by the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

Join In The Conversation. Register Here

 

Lisa Pickett Women Cultivating Success

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Destiny Simon
Women Who Inspire

Destiny Simon

Across the country there are women working at the local and state level to:

  • Provide education to help medical marijuana patients make informed decisions.
  • Create a community where women can come together to share their experiences.
  • Build support systems for caregivers and patients. 
  • Offer business resources and mentoring.
  • Advance local and national legislation. 

Destiny SimonDestiny Simon is one of those women. She is a founder of Canna Events by Leo. 

“Canna Events was founded in 2020 due to the overwhelming request from clients, organizations, and cannabis supporters to help be connected with industry resources. Now we have a team dedicated solely to meeting those needs while planning incredible events.

When we first got involved with the cannabis industry we immediately noticed the amount of vultures & frauds trying to come into the industry is absolutely insane! We work to not just serve the cannabis industry but to protect the industry with these three steps;

Elevating Educating Empowering.”

Launching an event company during a pandemic would appear to be a difficult task. Destiny,  (Amanda and Jess) have produced innovative and interesting virtual events. Canna Events by Leo is energizing and educating the cannabis community in Kansas City. 

Destiny is a masterful organizer. She is the chapter founder and leader of Tokeativity Kansas City. Tokeativity is The Global Feminist Community for Active Cannabis Culture. She is the Women+Weed founding Kansas City leader. Women+Weed mission is to connect women, grow a strong healthy cannabis community by sharing resources for women and their families.

Destiny is the treasurer for Canna Matriarchs of Mo., a non-profit organization supporting mothers across the midwest.

2020 has been Destiny’s year of fully committing to the cannabis community and industry and to having a positive impact. Her company, Leo Accounting, helps cannabis companies stay in compliance. 

I have over a decade of experience in the accounting field, working in positions ranging from basic data entry up to auditing & reconciling multi-million dollar corporate accounts. This has been a priceless opportunity to gain a vast knowledge of not only how to implement and complete day to day tasks, but also to see the effects of those tasks on a corporate level!

I have taken all my knowledge, experience, passion for accounting, and unquenchable thirst for knowledge and focused it on the Cannabis Industry! I am passionate about the cannabis movement as I have seen first hand the incredible benefits of medicinal usage. I am not only an expert of cannabis accounting services but also a supporter of this revolutionary movement in the US today.

Destiny Simon does more than bring women together  – she inspires women. She is a Woman Cultivating Success

 

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