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Dr. John Oram, CEO and Founder of NUG

By on November 14, 2019 in podcast

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Dr. John Oram, the CEO and Founder of the vertically-integrated, California cannabis company NUG is this week’s guest on The Green Rush!

Since its founding in 2014, NUG has grown into one of the strongest brands in the nation’s largest cannabis market offering consumers its well-crafted edible and concentrate products as well as flower. In addition, the company recently opened its first retail shop in Sacramento in April 2019 and is on track to open two more retail locations in late 2019 and early 2020.

Our hosts sat down with John to discuss the NUG business model and better understand how the company has been able to achieve success in one of the world’s most crowded cannabis markets and what else it has in line for future success. In addition, we explore John’s chemistry background, the company’s current capital situation and John’s work with Oakland Cannabis Equity Program.

Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!

Bio: Dr. John Oram, CEO & Founder: 

John entered the cannabis business in the early 2000s (practically the stone age for cannabis) and in 2009, with a chemistry and engineering background (he holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in environmental chemistry and engineering from the University of California Los Angeles and bachelor’s degrees in analytical chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder), founded CW Analytical Laboratories—now recognized as the most trusted analytical laboratory in California for cannabis. He then set out on a mission to elevate the industry to a higher standard across all verticals – from cultivation to distribution – and in 2014 NUG was born from a home equity loan. Little did he know how quickly it would take off. And even in uncertain regulatory environments, NUG has remained profitable each year. In addition, John and his team at NUG play a major role in the Oakland Equity Program; NUG incubates businesses run by area residents who had been targeted by the war on drugs. They are also building new greenhouses for these companies, set to be complete by the end of this year.

Links to guest’s social media:

Links and Mentions:

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications. 

Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana Today

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

Twitter: @The_GreenRush 

Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Ted Lichtenberger, the CEO of Flower Co.

By on September 26, 2019 in podcast

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Ted Lichtenberger, the CEO of Flower Co. Flower is this week’s guest on The Green. Flower Co. is a “Big Box Retailer of Cannabis” that is bringing wholesale cannabis prices to consumers. With delivery increasingly becoming a critical access point for cannabis patients and consumers to obtain the plant, we want to speak with Ted about the issues around delivery in California and how the company is working with its drivers to ensure safe and timely transport of its products.

Ted will also chat with our hosts about why he thinks Flower’s business model is suited to thrive in the modern cannabis economy, what he is seeing from consumer behavior in the California cannabis market and how his background at McKinsey has prepared him for success in the cannabis industry.

Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!

Ted Lichtenberger, Co-Founder & CEO 

Ted is a serial entrepreneur whose most recent endeavor, FLOWER CO., has helped him deepen his connection to the beauty and nature of Humboldt County. As CEO of this startup, he feels carrying the integrity and legacy of Emerald Triangle’s textured past into the new era of cannabis is of utmost importance. At FLOWER CO., Ted brings his multifaceted background to everything from fundraising and brand partnerships to customer acquisition and hiring team members. His expertise in operations and structure has allowed FLOWER CO., to break into the largest legal cannabis market in the world with a fresh business model. 

Links and mentions in the show

Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications.

Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana Today

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

Twitter: @The_GreenRush 

Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Bob Luciano – Founder of Mr. Natural

By on June 6, 2019 in podcast

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Bob Luciano, the founder of the popular California cannabis brand Mr. Natural – is this week’s guest on The Green Rush! Mr. Natural brand is one of the longest standing and most successful cannabis brands in California, having won the first High Times Cannabis Cup in 2010. Since then, Bob has grown the company into a major player in the California marketplace and eventually caught the eye of Scott Dowty at Australis Capital which acquired the Mr. Natural brand in 2018.

In addition to his work with the Mr. Natural brand, Bob is a 100% disabled veteran with PTSD and has been a strong advocate for the medical use of cannabis for veterans. Bob continues his pursuit to cultivate strains specifically for PTSD, chronic illness and pain to enable other veterans to gain relief. Bob has actively worked with the Veterans Administration since 1972 to educate others on cannabis and its use for treating PTS.

In this week’s conversation, Anne is joined by Nick Opich to chat with Bob about his cannabis roots, the origins of the Mr. Natural brand and his work with the VA to bring medicinal cannabis to our veterans. Bob provides great insight into how he honed his unique growing techniques and why he never thought cannabis would be legalized in the U.S. during his lifetime.  

At a time where the medicinal benefits of cannabis and its influence in treating our veterans can be quickly forgotten, it was refreshing to chat with Bob about how this plant truly helps our men and women of the military.  

Don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!

Bob Luciano – Founder of Mr. Natural

A Vietnam veteran, Bob “Natural” Luciano’s continued cultivation of high-quality strains offers relief for people suffering from post-traumatic stress (PTS), chronic illness and pain. During his military service, Bob and many of his compatriots discovered the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. When he returned home, Bob discovered access to cannabis, the only viable treatment for his ailments, was no longer available to him. This launched Bob’s lifelong mission to educate and advocate for medicinal cannabis.

A 100% disabled veteran with PTS, Bob has been a strong advocate for the medical use of cannabis for veterans. Advocacy and growing cannabis in a culture predisposed to view cannabis negatively was a constant challenge. Bob continues his pursuit to cultivate strains specifically for PTS, chronic illness and pain to enable other veterans to gain relief. Bob has actively worked with the Veterans Administration since 1972 to educate others on cannabis and its use for treating PTS.

Links to guest’s social media:

Links and Mentions:

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Nick Opich and Anne Donohoe of KCSA Strategic Communications.

Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana Today

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

Twitter: @The_GreenRush

Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Shea Alderete, the CEO and co-founder of Gen X Biosciences

By on May 9, 2019 in podcast

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Shea Alderete, the CEO and co-founder of Gen X Biosciences, a cannatech firm focused on using innovative technology and scalable extraction methodologies to deliver premium cannabis products is this week’s guest on the Green Rush. Shea is one of the true “OGs” of the cannabis industry and has worked with some of the well-known brands in the space like Moxie and HTH, where he set the innovative standard for cannabis extraction and paved the way for their success. Now at the head of his own company, Shea has focused on revolutionizing cannabis and the extraction process in order to provide clean medicine and high-quality extracts to cannabis users.

In this week’s conversation, Lewis is joined by producer Nick Opich as the two chat with Shea about his bonafides in the cannabis industry and what his experiences have been like building a small business into an extraction powerhouse. Shea also touches on the company’s ongoing RTO process, Gen X’s proprietary molecular perfection extraction process and how he was able to shake down his 98 year old grandfather for some early investment cash.

For listeners interested in the growth of the extraction and distillate space then you’ll love this interview. So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy!  

Shea Alderete – CEO and Founder of Gen X Biosciences

Shea Alderete is a passionate and strategic entrepreneur with over 15 years’ experience in the cannabis industry. Previously, Shea had a professional career in baseball and recognized that there was a gap in the market for anti-inflammatory medicines for pain relief. Shea has a long term experience working with famous brands in the cannabis industry such as Moxie and HTH, where he set the innovative standard for cannabis extraction and paved the way for their success. He won numerous cannabis product awards with the Cloud Vapes brand, which today is a $70M USD-a-year profitable business. In addition to this Shea has won the Chalice Cup of California for the best CBD products as well as the Canada Karma Cup for the best vaporizer and terpenes in 2016.

Shea Alderete has focused on revolutionizing cannabis for the past decade to provide clean medicine from its extraction. He brings the technical background to produce high quality cannabis and the innovation of such cuttingedge technological processes to Gen X.

Links to guest’s social media:

Links and Mentions:

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Lewis Goldberg and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.

Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana Today

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

Twitter: @The_GreenRush

Instagram: @thegreenrush_podcast

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenRushPodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

Doug Cortina and Jigar Patel of NorCal Cannabis

By on February 6, 2019 in podcast

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Doug Cortina, CEO, and Jigar Patel, President, of NorCal Cannabis, one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis operators in California, are our guest for this week’s episode of the Green Rush! Subbing in on hosting duties for Lewis this week is our old pal Nick Opich who joins Anne to chat with Doug and Jigar.

In case NorCal is a new name for our listeners, it’s one that you should get on your radar quick. Currently the company operates state-of-the-art production facilities, including more than 100,000 sq. feet of indoor flower canopy, manufacturing, processing, packaging and distribution assets. In addition, NorCal also operates the leading network of statewide delivery depots, and had a coming out party of sorts this past week when they announced the company raised $27M as part of its Series A round.

Anne and Nick chat with Doug and Jigar for a deep dive into the operations of NorCal and discuss what the company has planned for the new financing. In addition, our hosts touch on NorCal’s potential plans to go public, how Doug and Jigar found each other, and the evolving California cannabis delivery landscape. To top things off, Doug and Jigar let us in what they would tell California Governor Gavin Newsom if they get the chance to bend his ear about the California cannabis industry.    

Sit back and enjoy!

Doug Cortina, CEO, brings a strong background of hands on business and entrepreneurial experience to NorCal Cannabis. Doug has successfully led the planning, development and execution of three cannabis projects in the Bay Area. Douglas has been involved in the real estate development industry in the Bay Area for the past five years. During this time he has structured and administered numerous real estate partnerships and is directly responsible for the acquisition of over $50MM in Bay Area properties. Prior to moving to San Francisco Douglas worked in NYC for the investment bank Brown Brothers Harriman.

Jigar Patel, President, has been an instrumental leader in the California cannabis industry.  He is the founder of four state and locally compliant cannabis businesses, playing pivotal roles in real estate sourcing, entitlement, funding, design, build and operations.  He is an industry leader in bringing local regulatory compliance to many jurisdictions including San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County. His depth of knowledge of the rich history of California cannabis, regulation, cultivation, and sales in a compliant marketplace provides a distinct advantage to achieving NCC’s business objectives.  An experienced entrepreneur, Mr. Patel has also been the founder of a successful Sonoma County winery, Jigar Wines. As President of NorCal Cannabis Company, Mr. Patel is responsible for oversight of all operations.

Links to guest’s social media:

Links and Mentions:

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Nick Opich of KCSA Strategic Communications.

Special thanks to our Program Director Shea Gunther at Marijuana Today

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

Twitter / Instagram: @KCSA_Cannabis

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-rush-comms/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KCSACannabiz/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEQkvdjpUnPyhF59wxseqw?disable_polymer=true

 

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