women in cannabis businesses Archives -

Alexis Berends Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce

May 30, 2023Cannabis 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.

Laurie McHugh Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce

May 30, 2023May 30, 2023Cannabis Business Stories, Cannabis Businesses, Women Owned Cannabis Businesses

Laurie McHugh Setting the Standard

Laurie McHugh had a vision to bring high quality safe cannabis to the New Jersey recreational market and employ a diverse staff. She believes employees should have a living wage, benefits, and be supported in volunteering their time to community organizations. Laurie’s vision is a reality. Laurie is the co-founder and CEO of Union Chill Cannabis Company llc, 204 Union, Lambertville, N.J. It is Laurie’s goal is to be the Gold Star standard of dispensaries in New Jersey with a curated inventory of quality products and strains.

Laurie is an active part of her community. She is well known in her community for founding Bucks County Dragon Boat Association, a competitive club that competes on the world stage and is dedicated to easing food insecurity. She is committed to healthy living, and she has first-hand experience with the benefits of cannabis use.

She also currently serving her second term as elected member of the New Hope Borough Council, where she serves as a liaison to the community at large, businesses, and state government. Prior to her involvement in the cannabis industry, Laurie served as the Vice President of an international real estate investment firm and as VP of her family’s industrial manufacturing company.

Laurie brings her passion for the plant, commitment to her community and educational background to Union Chill Cannabis Company LLC.

Laurie holds an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the Lansdale School of Business in Pennsylvania. Laurie received a Certificate of Completion at the Cannabis Training University covering cannabis cultivation, cooking and extractions, cannabis laws and regulations, bud tending, dispensary operations, delivery service operations, medicinal cannabis, cannabis business training, and cannabis careers. She also received Certificates of Completion from Stockton University’s Continuing Studies program in risk management and insurance for cannabis businesses, cultivation, law, research in medical and adult-use cannabis, and general cannabis studies.

March 23, 2023May 30, 2023Women Owned Cannabis Businesses

Suzan Nickelson History Maker

Suzan Nickelson made history when she was awarded a New Jersey medicinal dispensary license in the NJ RFP 2019 round. Then she made news when Holistic Solutions opened on February 10th, 2023, in Waterford Township N.J.

Holistic Solutions is a 4,000 square foot dispensary with 11 POS stations for seamless purchasing, a private consultation room for discussions with onsite medical professionals, and a drive-thru window. Holistic Solutions provides compassionate care and education to patients enrolled in New Jersey’s Medicinal Cannabis Program.

Suzan Nickelson has curated an assortment of THC and CBD products, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, tinctures, vaporizers, concentrates, ingestible, topicals, accessories, its own strain called “Girlie” after Suzan’s mother, Elaine Campbell-Cohen.

Holistic Solutions stocks its shelves with products from independent entrepreneurs such as Miss Grass cannabis, artisan jewelry from Jamaican designer Kristie Stephenson, and women and BIPOC-owned cannabis brands.

“When you walk in, you’ll see art, culture—you’ll see some great cannabis and you’ll feel welcome,” Suzan said. “Cannabis teaches that out of many people we are one. We believe cannabis is a universal incubator. It’s a connector and we’re looking to connect.”

Holistic Solutions opened with 10 employees including women, minorities, veterans, and others who are normally underrepresented in the workforce. Suzan’s business plans include keeping about a third of its payroll for people living in the immediate area. She understands the value of investing in the community and in people.

Suzan started developing Holistic Solutions five years ago while working full time and raising three children as a single mother. She had been working in the cannabis market for over twenty years. And is the CEO of Ital Daughters LLC, a cannabis and hemp consulting company that helps minorities, women, and veterans understand the compliance and regulatory aspects of the industry.

“Like the women who raised me, I believe cannabis is a plant of reverence and spirituality that has been given to people to heal – however intentional stigmatization led to what we went through in the War on Drugs that disproportionately hurt entire communities of Black and brown people. This is what fueled me to work relentlessly to open the doors of Holistic Solutions,” stated Suzan Nickelson. “The women in my family passed down generational knowledge of working with various herbs for healing and spirituality to me, and I look forward to using that knowledge to run my own cannabis business so others can understand just how powerful this plant can be in a pursuit of wellness and healing.”

“I used my own seed money and started my company on my iPhone 6,” Nickelson told MarketWatch. “We felt that plant-based medicine was an option that many people should have, so we pursued that.”

Suzan, attributes Marissa Edmonds, chairwoman of New Jersey-based optical components maker Edmund Optics Inc. with helping to open doors for her in the business community.

Holistic Solutions also received backing from The Collective. The Collective was launched in April 2022, by Patrick Jonsson, a former Northeast Regional President for Curaleaf.

Suzan has done more than opening a dispensary; she is dispelling the myths and stigma around cannabis and paving the way for women entrepreneurs. She is honoring her rich Jamaican heritage and the generations of women herbalists in her family. Suzan Nickelson has just begun her journey into the history of women of color trailblazers in the cannabis industry.

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.

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