In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Jason Ambrosino, founder and CEO of Veterans Holdings. Jason shares his journey from Army officer to cannabis entrepreneur, discussing his personal experience with cannabis as an alternative to VA medications. He delves into the challenges of entering New York's cannabis market, the founding of Veterans Hemp Market, and his company’s mission to provide affordable, accessible cannabis products for veterans. Jason also offers insights into the current state of the New York cannabis industry, its rapid growth, and his strategies for staying competitive and adaptable in a dynamic market.
In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Max Majot, expert grower at Royal Queen Seeds. Max shares his journey into the cannabis industry, beginning with his early exposure to tribal cannabis cultivation in New Caledonia and his passion for the plant’s therapeutic benefits. He discusses Royal Queen Seeds’ innovative approach to cannabis breeding, particularly their focus on F1 hybrids, which offer greater consistency and quality in cannabis cultivation.
Max explains the challenges of maintaining genetic stability in an evolving market, highlighting the complexity of producing consistent cannabis plants for both medical and recreational use. He emphasizes the importance of technological advancements, like in-vitro storage and breeding programs, in creating standardized plants that meet industry demands.
The conversation also delves into global market trends, with Max comparing the differences between home-growing cultures in Europe and the U.S. He explores the future of the cannabis industry, predicting that research-based breeding will drive the next phase of cannabis cultivation, especially in the medical sector. Max concludes by discussing the shifting consumer preferences in cannabis flavors and aromas and how Royal Queen Seeds is adapting to meet these trends.
In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews David Kostiner, CEO and Co-Founder of Lumenary, and Robbie Schneider, Inventor and CTO. David and Robbie share the story of their innovative journey in the cannabis industry, highlighting the development of the Beam laser vaporizer—a cutting-edge device that leverages laser technology to offer a purer, healthier vaping experience. They discuss the challenges of pioneering this new technology, the meticulous process of prototyping and perfecting the product, and their strategy to position the Beam as a game-changer in the market. The conversation also touches on their plans for future product developments, the importance of safety in cannabis devices, and how they aim to revolutionize the industry with their technology-driven approach.
In this episode of Thinking Outside the Bud, host Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Harrison Bard, Co-Founder of Custom Cones USA. Harrison shares his journey from working at Amazon to diving into the cannabis industry, driven by a passion for innovation. They explore the evolution of Custom Cones USA, from its humble beginnings selling custom-branded pre-rolled cones to becoming a leader in the pre-roll and packaging market. Harrison discusses the importance of quality control, compliance, and innovation in creating a wide variety of products for companies of all sizes. He also delves into the technical challenges and advancements in the industry, the growing trend of infused pre-rolls, and the company's approach to developing new products that enhance the consumer experience.
In this episode of "Thinking Outside the Bud," host Bruce Eckfeldt welcomes David Zelinger, a board member at CLS Holdings and founder of Canis Major Partners. David shares his journey from being a chef to working in finance, eventually transitioning into the cannabis industry. He highlights the compliance-heavy nature of both finance and cannabis sectors and discusses the opportunities and challenges in the evolving cannabis market, particularly in New York. The conversation covers the importance of scalable systems and procedures, the volatility of the market, and the strategic positioning within the supply chain to mitigate risks. David also touches on how different states' regulatory environments impact the industry's growth and the potential future federal developments in the U.S. cannabis market.
Kellan's currently serves volunteers for MJBizCon's Emerald Scientific Conference as well as an Organizer for the American Chemical Societies Cannabis division. His previous experience ranges from speaking at MJBizCon in the fall of 2018 on extraction science to managing the industrial-scale, carbon dioxide-based supercritical fluid extraction and ethanol extraction facilities for a cultivation and extraction company
James is a successful serial entrepreneur, with a lifelong focus on using business and innovation to effect large-scale change for the benefit of Humanity. Throughout his career he created several companies in natural and integrative medicine, wrote legislation to improve prohibitionary laws, produced award-winning documentaries, and founded some of the top companies in education, cannabis and human performance. He began his career focused on education as the director of Body Mind College in San Diego, offering career trainings in alternative medicine and alternative psychology.
John has over 20 years of deep enterprise and advertising agency experience across all marketing, sales, and IT disciplines. John’s experience allows him to advise on structuring sound strategies that address business goals and objectives. His extensive technology background stems from working with several leading technology companies throughout his career.
John Nemanic is a serial entrepreneur and investor, leveraging his extensive experience in starting, growing, managing and exiting firms. As co-founder, Chairman and CEO, he exited three very successful Internet start ups, Internet Direct, Tucows and Hostopia. In 2006, Hostopia raised 29.2 million (TSX:H), sold to Deluxe Communications for $124 million USD. John’s current interest are medical cannabis, hemp and CBD start ups, with a focus on Colombia.
In 2012, a bad slip and fall during pregnancy left this former High School Teacher riddled with chronic pain, until her academic else and desire for natural healing led the bold mom to enter the Cannabis space.
Now, an industry veteran and Master Educator, Mskindness B. Ramirez is the CEO of EBK Apothecary, Founder of Club Kindness, and Adjunct Faculty for the Los Angeles Community College District. With a given name that is a her self-proclaimed calling. She is currently manifesting her passion for Cannabis education into the development of a series of programs for higher learning, focused on business, history, and social equity.
Steve serves as Think20’s Chief Marketing Officer. He excelled in various sales management roles for roughly 15 years working for Janssen Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Endo Pharma, and Neurocrine Biosciences. Over the past eight years, he has owned and managed GeneMatrix, a global laboratory consulting company. With the combination of Steve’s relevant background and experience, Think20 is uniquely positioned for immediate sales growth and success across all areas of the Cannabis and Hemp testing landscape.
Jessica currently serves as a Cannabis and Intellectual Property attorney at Bressler Amery & Ross, DC. Jessica also serves as outside General Counsel for the national organization Minorities For Medical Marijuana and sits on the board of advisors for QA Canna, a cannabis quality assurance company based in New Jersey. Jessica also sits on the Federal Policy Committee for the Minority Cannabis Business Association.
