Talent in Cannabis

Originally published July 7, 2025 as part of FlowerHire’s Sunset Sessions.

How do you build a cannabis brand by putting community first?

In this From the Vault conversation, FlowerHire CEO David Belsky sits down with Kate Miller, founder and CEO of Miss Grass, to talk about her journey from budtender in LA’s medical cannabis market to building a nationally recognized cannabis brand.

Kate shares how Miss Grass got its start as a content platform, building a community around consumers who weren't represented by traditional cannabis brands before ever launching a product. She and David explore the early days of Venice Beach's cannabis scene, the evolution of cannabis culture, and how strategic partnerships helped Miss Grass reach new audiences.

They also discuss the opportunities and challenges of expanding into multiple states, the growing influence of hemp-derived products, and Kate's approach to hiring and building a team that can adapt as the industry evolves.

In this episode:

• From budtender to founder of Miss Grass
• Building a community and content platform before launching products
• The early days of Venice Beach's cannabis industry
• Reaching new consumers through branding and strategic partnerships
• Navigating multi-state expansion
• The role of hemp-derived products in expanding cannabis access
• Hiring for hard work, flexibility, and passion
• Building a cannabis brand in an evolving industry

From the Vault revisits conversations from FlowerHire’s archives with the people who have helped shape the cannabis industry.

Instagram: @flowerhire
YouTube: @flowerhire
LinkedIn: @flowerhire

Frank Perullo, Co-founder and President of Ascend Wellness Holdings, entered cannabis in 2012, during the Green Rush. Capital was flowing in, companies were trying to expand at any cost, and simply getting a license could provide an opportunity.

Since the Green Rush, companies have had to become sharper, leaner, and much more intentional about how they operate. That’s exactly what Ascend Wellness did. And it got them from a single-state vertically integrated business to a seven-state MSO with 60 stores.

In this episode of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, Frank Perullo joins David Belsky to talk about what it takes to build in an industry that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Frank shares what he’s learned from navigating growth, pressure, setbacks, and the constant need to adapt.

Frank shares:

• What changed between the early “green rush” years and today’s more disciplined cannabis market, and what companies need to do to make it
• The hiring mistakes Ascend made early on, especially around cultivation and manufacturing talent
• Why Ascend has kept a decentralized leadership model instead of forcing corporate teams back into an office
• How talent reviews, performance management, and clear goals help Ascend develop and retain employees

Drew Duval and his wife, Karen, started FloraCal Farms from a VW bus in Sonoma County in 2014. After 4 acquisitions and a decade later, Drew is now President of Operations at Cresco Labs, leading over 1,300 employees.

In this episode of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, Drew joins David Belsky to share how his small family business led to Cresco Labs. He dives into what it takes to manage wholesale operations across multiple state markets, including cultivation, manufacturing, product development, and day-to-day facility operations.

Plus, learn:

• How Drew and Karen built FloraCal Farms around quality and consistency
• The acquisitions that ultimately brought FloraCal into Cresco
• What makes California’s cannabis market so difficult for operators
• How Cresco balances companywide standards with local decision-making
• When cannabis automation delivers a real return
• How Cresco develops employees from entry-level roles into leadership positions
• Why Drew is optimistic about Ohio, Kentucky, and emerging Southern markets
• Why post-harvest remains one of cannabis’s most overlooked investments
• The research every candidate should complete before interviewing with an MSO

Find leaders for your cannabis company: http://www.flowerhire.com

Connect with Drew Duval: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-duval-119963139/

Connect with David Belsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbelsky/

Check out Cresco Labs: https://www.crescolabs.com/

Check out FloraCal Farms: https://www.floracalfarms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowerhire/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FlowerHire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowerhire/

Originally published August 27, 2025 as part of FlowerHire’s Sunset Sessions.

What does it take to build a real community around cannabis?

In this From the Vault conversation, FlowerHire CEO David Belsky sits down with Lulu Tsui, co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of On The Revel, to talk about building community in New York’s evolving cannabis market.

Lulu shares how On The Revel got its start in 2016, creating more accessible and diverse spaces for cannabis professionals, enthusiasts, and curious consumers to connect. She and David dig into what makes New York’s cannabis culture and market unique, how consumer behavior is shaping the industry, and why successful entrepreneurs need to show up, do the research, and be ready to pivot.

They also discuss bringing cannabis together with New York’s music, food, and art communities, the evolution of On The Revel’s events, and Lulu’s work expanding into psychedelics and new community experiences.

In this episode:

• Building authentic community in cannabis
• The origins and evolution of On The Revel
• What makes New York’s cannabis market different
• Understanding New York cannabis consumers
• Creating events at the intersection of cannabis, music, food, and art
• Why entrepreneurs need to listen, learn, and pivot
• Expanding community-building beyond cannabis

From the Vault revisits conversations from FlowerHire’s archives with the people who have helped shape the cannabis industry.

Instagram: / flowerhire
YouTube: / flowerhire
LinkedIn: / flowerhire

Shortly after high school, Mike Khemmoro started cultivating cannabis as a caregiver in Michigan. Today, he’s the co-founder of Mango Cannabis, a retail operator with 14 dispensaries across Oklahoma, Michigan, New York, and New Mexico. And they have more stores underway in Minnesota and Kentucky.

In this episode of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, Mike Khemmoro, COO of Mango Cannabis, joins David Belsky to share how missing out on a Michigan license led Mango Cannabis to Oklahoma. Oklahoma had a more accessible application process and gave the company its first opportunity to compete.

He also talks candidly about the imposter syndrome that can come with growing from a first-time business owner into the leader of a company employing more than 300 people.

David and Mike discuss:

• Why value and premium products don’t have to be mutually exclusive
• What operating in four very different state markets has taught him
• Why legalizing cannabis does not create a healthy or sustainable industry
• What policymakers get wrong when building legal cannabis programs
• Why Mike likes Kentucky’s measured approach to licensing
• What Mango looks for when hiring dispensary employees
• Learning to defer to experienced HR, finance, and operational leaders

Instagram: / flowerhire
YouTube: / flowerhire
LinkedIn: / flowerhire

Jared Maloof joined Standard Wellness as CFO. A month later, he was CEO.

Since then, he’s helped lead the company through regulatory battles, financial pressure, shifting markets, and expansion across multiple states.

In this episode of the Talent Cannabis Podcast, Jared joins David Belsky to share what he’s learned about building a sustainable cannabis company, hiring the right people, and making smarter decisions as the industry evolves.

They discuss:

• Why financial discipline helped Standard Wellness survive some of the industry's hardest years
• Why Jared wishes the company had prioritized retail earlier
• What Ohio's measured adult-use rollout could mean for the market's long-term health
• How Standard Wellness develops employees by giving them visibility into the entire business
• Why bringing leadership teams together in person still matters
• What cannabis companies can learn from traditional business operators
• Why becoming CEO doesn't mean you stop having bosses.
• His advice for hiring managers, job seekers, and entrepreneurs

Instagram: / flowerhire
YouTube: / flowerhire
LinkedIn: / flowerhire

Originally published October 8, 2024 as part of FlowerHire's Sunset Sessions.

Before the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, there was Sunset Sessions. From the Vault brings some of our favorite conversations from that series back to the podcast feed.

In this conversation, David Belsky sits down with Caleb Counts, Founder and CEO of Connected Cannabis, to talk about his journey from the legacy market to building one of the most recognized cannabis brands in the country.

Caleb shares how his early experiences in cannabis eventually led him back to the industry, the role a licensing relationship with Berner and Cookies played in Connected's growth, and why the company's commitment to quality has remained at the center of the business.

David and Caleb also discuss:

🔸 Why ego has to be left at the door in cannabis
🔸 How R&D and a commitment to learning helped Connected pioneer new cultivation techniques
🔸 Why humility is critical to maintaining quality and innovation
🔸 How Connected approaches partnerships and expansion
🔸 Why staying focused on the company's mission has helped drive its success

Instagram: / flowerhire
YouTube: / flowerhire
LinkedIn: / flowerhire

In this episode of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, David Belsky speaks with Sarah Strickler, co-founder and Head of Community Relations at Grown Rogue.

Sarah reflects on the values that have shaped Grown Rogue, including trust, discipline, internal growth, community, and creating an environment where employees feel supported.

🔸 How Sarah’s background as an athlete influenced her approach to teamwork and leadership
🔸 The early beginnings of Grown Rogue in Oregon’s medical cannabis market
🔸 Examples of employees who have grown into larger leadership roles
🔸 Why Grown Rogue invests in leadership training for managers
🔸 Sarah’s belief in supporting employees through personal and professional challenges
🔸 How trust, communication, and everyday interactions shape company culture

Instagram: / flowerhire
YouTube: / flowerhire
LinkedIn: / flowerhire

In this episode of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, host David Belsky speaks with Nicolas Guarino, co-founder and CEO of Jaunty. Nicolas shares the company’s 9-year journey from New York’s hemp pilot program to becoming a vertically integrated cannabis brand.

Nicolas grew up in a multigenerational farming family and entered hemp at 22, believing it could eventually create a path into legal cannabis. After raising millions of dollars and building a processing operation, he watched CBD ingredient prices fall from approximately $6,000 per kilogram to as little as $60.

Jaunty was preparing to shut down when New York created a path for qualified hemp cultivators and processors to participate in the emerging adult-use market. That opportunity allowed Nicolas and his team to rehire employees, apply years of operational experience, and transform an ingredient business into a consumer brand.

David and Nicolas also discuss:

• Why agricultural inputs commoditize faster than consumer brands
• How Jaunty maintained its position through reliable service, consistent products and competitive pricing
• Why premium live resin and rosin products represent the brand’s next stage of growth
• How weak enforcement can disadvantage cannabis companies that follow the rules
• Why flexibility, intelligence and emotional resilience matter when hiring in cannabis
• What aspiring founders should learn before investing in a cannabis brand

Nicolas also shares why Jaunty is preparing to expand beyond New York. The company originally expected the state market to grow much faster, but dispensary opt-outs, illicit competition, and slower-than-expected sales growth have changed that outlook.

With its New York operation becoming more efficient and a new vape line designed for expansion, Jaunty is now considering opportunities in nearby Northeastern markets.

Find leaders for your cannabis company: http://www.flowerhire.com

Connect with Nicolas Guarino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-guarino-43939b103/

Connect with David Belsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbelsky/

Check out Jaunty: https://jaunty.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowerhire/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FlowerHire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowerhire/

In this episode of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, host David Belsky speaks with Laura Jaramillo Bernal, COO of Botany Bay and COO of nuEra Cannabis, about building a cannabis company designed to last.

Laura shares how nuEra grew from three medical dispensaries and fewer than 40 employees into a vertically integrated operator with approximately 300 employees, nine Illinois dispensaries, cultivation operations, in-house brands, and an expanding presence in Kentucky.

They discuss why nuEra resisted the industry’s “growth at any cost” mindset, how the company is approaching its first meaningful expansion outside Illinois, and why strong business fundamentals still matter more than hype.

David and Laura also discuss:

• How Laura’s background in journalism and television shaped her leadership style
• How hands-on leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and long-term thinking shape company culture
• The role hands-on leadership plays in building trust and accountability
• How adult-use legalization and product shortages reshaped nuEra’s growth strategy
• Why Kentucky became the company’s next market and how expertise moves across state lines
• What cannabis companies should look for when hiring leaders from outside the industry
• Why Laura’s ideal candidate is often someone entering their second cannabis role

Find leaders for your cannabis company: http://www.flowerhire.com

Connect with Laura Jaramillo Bernal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaramillolaura/

Connect with David Belsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbelsky/

Check out Botany Bay: https://www.botanybay.llc/

Check out nuEra Cannabis: https://nueracannabis.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowerhire/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FlowerHire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowerhire/

What does it actually take to run a cannabis operation? Colton Griffin has spent nearly a decade building the answer.

On episode 6 of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, David Belsky, CEO at FlowerHire, sits down with Colton Griffin, founder and CEO of Flourish Software.

Flourish Software is the operating system powering cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers across the country.

Before cannabis, Colton was deep in supply chain engineering for some of the most complex warehouse operations in the country. When he saw how cannabis operators were running million-dollar businesses off spreadsheets and gut instinct, he knew exactly what needed to be built.

In this episode, Colton shares what it really takes to run a tech company in the most regulated, fragmented, and unpredictable industry in America.

They cover:

• Why 80% of a software implementation is change management — not the tech itself
• The real cost of not knowing what's on your shelves (and what it's doing to your cash flow)
• Why cannabis operators need industry-specific software — and what happens when they try to bolt SAP onto a grow operation
• How Colton thinks about AI right now
• What rescheduling actually means for medical operators on the ground today
• His honest advice for entrepreneurs who want to build in cannabis

This one's for you if you’re an operator, the builder, or ever inherited a spreadsheet that was supposed to be a "system."

Host: David Belsky | Guest: Colton Griffin, CEO, Flourish Software

In episode 5 of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, David Belsky, CEO at FlowerHire, welcomes Gibran Washington, CEO of Ethos Cannabis, a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

Gibran is a high-velocity venture builder and multi-industry expert who brings a rich, rare mix of operational expertise, a personal connection to the plant, and deep respect for cannabis culture.

Before joining Ethos, he built his career across food and beverage, hospitality, airport operations, restaurants, and multi-unit retail. He has a deep breadth of experience that prepared him to lead in one of the most complex, fast-moving industries in the country.

In this episode, Gibran dives into:

• Why Ethos positions itself as a craft cannabis company rooted in research, education, and medical efficacy
• What experienced executives from other industries need to understand before jumping into cannabis
• How cannabis culture differs across Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
• Why Ethos made the bold decision to close retail on 4/20
• What Pennsylvania needs to do to move adult-use cannabis forward
• Why cannabis M&A is still difficult
• Why attitude, curiosity, and passion for the plant matter more than cannabis experience alone when hiring

In episode 4 of the Talent in Cannabis Podcast, Rachel Roberts, Executive Director of the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Alliance, former state legislator, and 16-year yoga studio owner, joins David Belskey, CEO at FlowerHire.

As someone who spent years championing the legislation that ultimately made medical cannabis legal in KY, Rachel is uniquely positioned to know what building an industry from zero really looks like. She dives into:

• The unexpected KY political dynamics that made medical cannabis possible in one of the most conservative legislatures in the country
• What the first 16 months of a brand-new state program actually look like on the ground
• The hidden barriers keeping patients out, and how KCIA is fighting back
• Why well-intentioned regulations are creating unintended problems for operators and patients alike
• What Kentucky’s timeline looks like for adult-use, and why the window may be shorter

In this episode of the Talent Cannabis Podcast, host David Belsky interviews Joe Andreae, CEO of Culta, discussing his journey in the cannabis industry, the evolution of cannabis markets, and the challenges faced during the California cannabis bubble. Joe shares insights on building a strong team, the impact of COVID-19 on cannabis brands, and Culta's strategy in the Maryland market. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration within the industry and outlines his future goals for Culta.

High Times launched in 1974 — and didn’t just cover cannabis culture. It helped build it.

After a short pause, the iconic brand is back. And Episode 2 of Talent in Cannabis goes straight to the source with Matt Stang, Partner and Chief Revenue Officer at High Times.

Matt’s story is pure cannabis industry lore. In 2002, he reached out to High Times for a quote for his senior thesis. They were so impressed, they offered him an internship — kicking off a 25-year run at the center of cannabis media, events, and culture as the industry evolved from legacy to corporate.

In this conversation, Matt breaks down what most people miss about the business behind cannabis media and the operational reality of producing major events. Plus, learn why the next era of High Times is all about community, quality storytelling, and independent journalism.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Matt’s career in cannabis started – and how it scaled
• How High Times went from print to digital – what changed, what stayed, and what media disruption forced High Times to rethink
• The real complexity behind producing cannabis events at scale
• How the Cannabis Cup in New York ignited its comeback
• Why the transition from legacy to corporate cannabis is messy and why it matters
• The parallels between psychedelics and cannabis, and the regulatory reality holding psychedelics back
• What entrepreneurs need to be ready for if they want a real shot in this industry
• Where High Times is heading next and what they’re building toward

In this conversation, David Belsky interviews Ryan Basore, the CEO of Redemption Cannabis, who shares his journey from being a caregiver in Michigan's cannabis market to founding a successful cannabis brand. Ryan discusses the challenges he faced, including a two-year prison sentence, and how these experiences shaped his commitment to the cannabis community. He highlights the mission of the Redemption Foundation, which supports social equity and provides grants for expungements and commissary programs for cannabis prisoners. The conversation also covers the evolution of the cannabis industry in Michigan, the importance of strategic partnerships, and Ryan's vision for the future of cannabis legalization and market strategies.

Chapters

00:00

The Journey Begins: From Caregiver to Cannabis Advocate

03:15
Overcoming Adversity: The Birth of Redemption Cannabis

10:09
Giving Back: The Mission of the Redemption Foundation

16:20
Navigating the Cannabis Landscape: Michigan's Evolution

22:04
Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Redemption's Reach

34:12
Future Outlook: Rescheduling and Market Strategies