Where have you previously worked in cannabis? How/why did you end up working there?
I started my journey working in cannabis over 5 years ago when I was hired as the General Manager of Mission Dispensary in Worcester, MA. Prior to joining the industry, I started my career in leadership in the restaurant industry, managing a restaurant in downtown Boston called Luke’s Lobster. My passion for cannabis and aspiration to join the cannabis industry began in my days as a touring guitar player, getting to experience legal markets in different states for the first time. As I developed my skills in hospitality, I felt I could bring that level of white glove service into a setting that I was truly passionate about. I’m incredibly grateful to 4Front/Mission for giving me the opportunity!
What did you like most about working with cannabis? What’s a stand out memory from that time?
My favorite part about working with cannabis, which continues to this day, is being part of breaking the stigma around cannabis use, be it for medicinal or recreational reasons. I have so many incredible memories from my time in the dispensary, but the stand out is when my then medical only dispensary opened as a co-located recreational facility. Getting to be part of the Worcester community and seeing what a powerful impact our opening had is still one of my proudest accomplishments.
What have you learned moving from plant-touching work to tech? Did anything about the change surprise you?
I moved to the tech side to have the opportunity to make a greater impact on the industry and I think what surprised me the most was just how big that impact is. At Dutchie, I’ve worked across several departments and seeing how each department plays a pivotal role in the success of our clients, which then leads to safe access to cannabis for customers all over the country, is something I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of.
What’s your advice for those starting out in cannabis? What is there to look forward to?
My advice to anyone looking to start in cannabis is to follow your passion and be relentless in your search, while making sure you find a company that aligns with your values. There is so much to look forward to in both the plant touching worlds and on the tech side of things; innovative products, Dutchie 2.0 (wink), more and more minority owned businesses to support, and potential state and federal legalization efforts, I’ve personally never been more excited to be a part of the cannabis industry and to be here at Dutchie.
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