womenentrepreneurs Archives -

Jaqi York Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce

January 20, 2024January 20, 2024Cannabis accounting, Cannabis Business Courses

Jaqi York CFP CFO

Jaqi York became an investment broker at the age of 19, becoming the youngest CFP’s in the industry. Jaqi has worked with high end clients providing world class financial planning and has built multiple businesses in diverse industries over the past 25+ years, grossing up to 8 million in sales a year. She understands what is involved in starting and growing a company in an ever-evolving industry. Focus is on tailoring accounting for growth and continual success. Jaqi has studied and worked with the best in the cannabis industry, DopeCFO. She is the founder and CEO OF Blooming CFO

Jaqi Yorkis a member of Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce and is one of hosts of By the Numbers: Q&A with Certified Cannabis Accountants. She is one of the Cannabis Accounting for Accountants facilitators.

Dorothy Kolb Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce

January 20, 2024Cannabis accounting, Cannabis Business Courses

Dorothy Kolb Fractional CFO

Dorothy Kolb Fractional CFO combines her decades-long career leading finance, accounting, and operations for Fortune 500 companies with her NYS CPA and certification with the National Association of Cannabis Accountants & Tax Professionals to serve the cannabis industry. She is a member of Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce and is one of hosts of By the Numbers: Q&A with Certified Cannabis Accountants. She is one of the Cannabis Accounting for Accountants facilitators. Dorothy Kolb is on a mission to transform what the cannabis industry looks like for women. With deep knowledge of how the “big guys” grow and maintain financial success, and as a serial entrepreneur advising small businesses since 2017, Dorothy translates business and finance strategy effectively – and with results. Using her expansive network, she helps her clients get in front of the right people and leverage the right resources to grow their businesses with confidence. Dorothy is the founder and CEO of Planet Earth CFO Advisory

Angelita Green Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce

January 20, 2024January 20, 2024Cannabis accounting, Cannabis Business Courses

Angelita Green EA

Angelita Green, EA has worked with cannabis clients for over 7 years from seed to sale. She is a founding member of National Association of Cannabis Accountants where she received her Cannabis Certification and is also the Southeast Committee Leader. Angelita is also part of the DOPE CFO VIP network which brings a network of world class service to her clients. She has been an expert speaker at several events and has sponsored several social equity clients helping them get traction in this industry. She is on the NCIA committee for Hemp and was on the DEIC committee. Angelita is a member of WCCC and is one of hosts of By the Numbers: Q&A with Certified Cannabis Accountants. Angelita Green is one of the Cannabis Accounting for Accountants facilitators. Her constant up to date knowledge in this industry and experience has given several entrepreneurs the compliance and tax strategies needed to optimize profitability. Angelita is the founder and CEO of New Leaf EA Corporation.

Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce WCCC Vanessa Palacios

July 1, 2023January 20, 2024Women Owned Cannabis Businesses, Women Who Inspire

Vanessa Palacios COO & Co-Owner

Vanessa Palacios had a successful 20 year career with the Public Service Company (PNM) Her entrepreneurial husband, Oscar, encouraged her to make a career change and to consider opening a business.

Vanessa’s career with PNM gave her the opportunity to develop and perfect skill sets that would secure her an executive position with any company. She coordinated program implementation, including developing participation forecasts, designing promotions, managing contracts, tracking participation and budget, working with participating vendors, retailers, and contractors, and preparing regulatory compliance reports on programs.

Vanessa’s skill sets are the skill sets needed to develop a business plan, s.o.p.’s, and launch a cannabis dispensary.

Vanessa Palacios is a co-owner and Chief of Operations for Lemon Cannabis Co, located in the Nob Hill Neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lemon Cannabis Co is an integrated microbusiness that has just opened their first dispensary storefront. Lemon Cannabis Co. focuses on premium products and knowledgeable Budtenders to ensure both the novice and the connoisseur finds the perfect product.

Lemon Cannabis Co is working towards a more sustainable cannabis industry. They use glass containers for single pre-rolls and sturdy boxes for pre-roll 6-packs. Lemon Cannabis Co has a refill program: Bring the glass container and/or the pre-roll box back to be refilled and receive 10% off the purchase. They were surprised by the lack of biodegradable packaging and have begun working with companies to develop biodegradable packaging for Lemon Cannabis Co products.

Although Lemon Cannabis Co is new to the area, Vanessa and her team are native Albuquerqueans with strong ties to the community.

Creating a positive experience is what Vanessa strives to do in all interactions. As a past customer satisfaction trainer and 20 years of interacting with consumers to understand their needs, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the cannabis industry to meet consumer needs.

Her passion also lies within the community she serves, “I love Albuquerque! The people make it a beautiful place to live and I hope to be a part of all the wonderful and positive things happening here.”

Vanessa has been involved with United Way Worldwide for over 20 years. She has been an

avid contributor and was selected as a PNM Co-Captain in 2013 and 2014 to assist in raising money for the Annual Campaign.

Vanessa and the Lemon Cannabis Co. team continue the commitment to serving their community. They are creating a foundation to improve the community and have pledged to donate 5% of all Lemon Cannabis Co. profits.

June 3, 2023January 20, 2024Women Who Inspire

Meaka Brown – Advocate

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.

May 30, 2023January 20, 2024Women Who Inspire

Alexis Berends 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.

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.

Celebrating Women

Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories, is the 2023 theme for Women’s History Month.

We are celebrating women who tell our stories, stood up and SHOUTED OUR STORIES. Women who used their voices, their pens, and their lives so all women would be heard; so all women would be seen. We are celebrating women of courage.

Telling our story has been dangerous. “Modern research points to roughly 40,000 to 50,000 witch executions in Europe between 1450 and 1750, and an estimated 75%-80% of those executed were women. That would put the number of executed women witches at 40,000.”

Denying girls an education ensured our voices and visions would not be valued. Without the ability to read or write we had little control over our future. There were men who taught women to read, who in turn taught other women and girls to read and write. In the 17th century boarding schools for girls were founded. Girls were taught writing, music and needle work. In 1678 there was only one woman in the world with a Ph., Italian, Elena Piscopia.

The education of women has varied from civilizations, cultures and regions, to explore this more follow this link.

In the United States women had no property rights until the mid-1800’s, New York passed the Married Women’s Property Act in 1848 and the Act Concerning the Rights and Liabilities of Husband and Wife in 1860. This gave women the right to conduct business and contract without a husband, father, or male guardian’s consent and the right to own property. The laws gave women legal authority over their own children.

Ancient history? No, its current history. Prior to the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act a woman could not get a credit card without her husband’s signature. When writing about the evolution of women’s rights the words married and husband dominate. The stigma and obstacles of being a single woman lasted into the 90’s.

The consistency in our history and our story is control, dehumanization and fear through rape and brutality. 51% of rape victims report being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance. One in three women are sexually abused or raped the first time between the ages of 11 and 17.

We all know “our story.” As a child I heard our story whispered by mother and her friends over coffee and donuts. I heard our story whispered in my grandmother’s quilting group and in the backseat of the car as my aunts drove us to church. As an adult I’ve heard “our story” as a rape counselor, over cocktails with friends, and in the feminist movement. I have heard “our story” in the quietness after an expo or conference. I know the story well, it is every woman’s story. It is my story.

The women we are celebrating for Women’s History Month did not tell “our story” alone. The women who whispered “our story” supported them in their own way. You do not have to lead a march or protest to have your voice heard. You have to stop whispering, speak up and stand your ground. You are making history by being a strong woman for your family and the women who have not found their voice.

One woman can change the world. Together we can ROCK the World!

December 9, 2022Cannabis Business Courses

Finding a Mentor in the Cannabis Industry

A mentor within the cannabis industry is difficult to find. I am fortunate to be surrounded by women from across the country, at various stages of business development. Each conversation and interaction is an opportunity to learn about the challenges entrepreneurs face and how they are overcoming them. I always ask entrepreneurs what they think would help them achieve their business goals. The most common answers are a mentor or money, or both.

There are volumes of articles defining mentoring, the value of having a mentor, 3 types of mentoring, 4 forms of mentoring, qualities of a mentor, ethics in mentoring, and mentoring etiquette. After 800 or more words we get to the last paragraph which covers how to find a mentor, which can be summarized as either luck or stalking a person who is successful in the career you are seeking.

Then there’s the issue of operating a startup company within the largest startup industry; the cannabis industry. Cannabis companies are continually pivoting and readapting. It’s not a 9-5 industry and being a mentor or finding a mentor may not be feasible.

The cannabis industry uprooted and revolutionized marketing. Covid forced us into online business meetings and social interaction. The way we conduct business has changed. Why are we defining mentorship in the same way we did in the 1950’s?

Cannabis as an industry has changed the concept of mentoring, but we are not recognizing or utilizing it.

Women naturally mentor one another. We are eager to share information, solutions and resources. Like good mentors we are there to encourage and give support. You are surrounded by mentors and you are also a mentor to each of them.

There are mentors at your fingertips. Online options like Zoom, Clubhouse and LinkedIn Meeting connect you with canna-centric companies discussing a variety of topics, from cultivation to packaging. You are able to learn about cannabis business and politics in other states. This can be invaluable if you are considering national expansion.

Continuing the conversation with the other participants on social media develops an atmosphere of mentorship.

Group mentoring is defined as “a process where peers and leaders are brought together to engage in discussion around common challenges, goals, and ideas.” This also describes how people come together in Facebook and LinkedIn Groups to share their expertise.

Ask the right questions.

Ask for the information you need.

Share your knowledge, you may have the answer someone else needs.

Utilize this approach for in person networking events. Everyone who attends a networking event is there with the same agenda, to promote their business and attract new clients and customers.

Move beyond the elevator pitch, ask the questions you need answered.

Of course, it would be easier to have one mentor who would advise, assist, and focus on you and your business progress. You wouldn’t have to participate in online meetings, you wouldn’t have to formulate targeted questions or talk to everyone at a networking event. You wouldn’t have to sort through all the information you’ve acquired to determine what is relevant to your business needs.

What you gain from mentoring through asking the right questions is a wealth of knowledge, resources, real time insights into current market trends, political issues affecting the industry, and new products and innovations that will change the markets. You develop genuine business relationships. Each question, each conversation has the potential to change your perception and inspire you.

One woman can change the world. Together we will Rock the World!

November 8, 2022Marketing

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!

October 11, 2022Women 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

September 7, 2022November 8, 2022Women Owned Cannabis Businesses

Coach Ash Winning llc

Ashley Hill, founder of Winning Coaching, is a native Californian who has been in the cannabis industry since 2013. After obtaining her B.S. Degree in Hospitality and Tourism, she has boldly transitioned and become an influencer into the Cannabis Industry. She now seeks to educate and empower people into this industry and business through her frequent media outlets.

Hill gained 51⁄2 years of experience in cannabis cultivation and shares the behind the scene operations. She has managed several multi – million dollar commercial indoor and greenhouse facilities and produced a flower product entered into the High Times Awards. She subsequently has transitioned to the culinary aspect of the industry as a Cannabis Entrepreneur, International Selling Author, and the Co-Owner of Green Light Project (an infused catering and event service).

A Domestic & Global Extreme Execution Coach certified by the No 1 Speaker in the world, Dr. Eric Thomas (also known as E.T. the Hip-Hop Preacher). Coach Hill is a results-driven leader who seeks to empower others to increase self-awareness, create alignment, and execute at a high level. She has been considered by many in Leadership as a Coach’s Coach within the Extreme Execution Leadership.

Ms. Hill continues to advance her scientific research by enrolling in the Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Master’s Degree program. This is the first and only M.S. program of its kind in the United States of America.

She is also the Southern California meetup coordinator and West Coast Accountability Lead for Dr. Eric Thomas’s Breathe University. She hosts and moderates calls with community leaders, business owners and multimillionaires giving her the opportunity not only to be exposed to their success habits but she has created her own along the way. She continues to expose and share with her personal clients – so they too, can operate, perform and execute like the top 1% of our world. coachash@winning-1.com

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

Join guest, Coach Ash, 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