Grassroots Marketing discusses Cannabis Brand Management Consulting with Eric Rogers, Co-Founder of LEVIA and a cannabis entrepreneur.

He is an innovator, storyteller and brand marketer who has helped leading brands like AT&T Wireless, The Home Depot, Goodyear and Aflac through times of disruption and change.

He started his career with Havas Media and Digitas where he helped Cingular rebrand to AT&T Wireless; transitioned The Home Depot from “You can do it. We can help.,” to “More Saving. More Doing.” When Vonage launched, Eric was a critical member of the team that began developing standards for e-commerce measurement.

Eric has also guided brands on the publishing side, creating engaging and authentic digital content to connect directly with consumers online. His love of both storytelling and data propelled him to partner with Bank of America to identify, engage and convert audiences using the Aol ONE platform. That project provided a single view of the customer across households with multiple screens, enabling brands to control the narrative regardless of format.

Eric’s marketing background was especially helpful when he decided to launch his own brand: LEVIA, a cannabis-infused seltzer. The inspiration to start this venture was sparked by a central problem: the desire to consume cannabis without smoking. He realized edibles were especially slow-acting for him, and often loaded with sugar. He started tinkering in his kitchen to first create a tincture, and later, using a sodastream, created and formulated the first three cannabis beverages for LEVIA. Rooted in simple, all-natural ingredients, have no added sugar, and most importantly, taste great!

Once the product was created, Eric and team also had to find a place to manufacture it, leading the team to complete a 6,000-square-foot manufacturing facility which houses the brand’s operations, complete with cannabis extraction lab and beverage production.

LEVIA, as we know it today, was born in February 2017 with the help of Cyr Creative. By 2021, the brand had explosive growth throughout Massachusetts featuring three products: Achieve, Celebrate & Dream.

By 2022, LEVIA focused on going national after being acquired by AYR Wellness in February 2022.

After a well-deserved break to spend time with his 3 kids, Eric created Rogers Cannabis Consulting, a platform that marries his marketing background and cannabis industry expertise. He loves being able to help other cannabis brands navigate the ever-changing industry regulations and avoid pitfalls to realize their dreams. He began this company with a focus on social equity participants in Massachusetts, but has since grown the mission helping brands across the country.

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Guest Reporters Jonathan Bischoff and Erik Nilsen of Vrio speak with Joe Linne with Hemp Brand Builders and Earthmost Foods at NoCo Hemp Expo 2023.

Hemp Brand Builders was formed to facilitate and support a quality, sustainable hemp supply chain for food, fuel, and fiber. 

They represent several hemp and cannabinoid brands in the hemp industry, who follow all the requirements needed to work with mainstream retailers and distributors. 

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Hempoint is Internationally Distributing EU Registered Hemp Seed and we learn more from Hana Gabrielová, a CEO / Consultant for farmers for Hempoint / KonopiUS.

Hana has over 20-years of experience in the hemp and cannabis industry and is the founder of Hempoint established in 2010. Hempoint engages in the following: distributing EU registered hemp seed varieties internationally, Hempoint food brand, farming and farmer contracting, harvesting, post-processing, and consulting. Hana is an international hemp consultant touching on several disciplines: farming, standards, manufacturing, food production, policy and regulations.... During the course of her career she has experienced a wide range of EU and international cannabis policy work and education focused on sustainability. Since 2018 Hana has been president of the CzecHemp cluster which is the leading association involved in the strategy of hemp and cannabis market development in the Czech Republic with goal to introduce hemp industry in the bioeconomy. In beginning of 2022 co-founded company konopiUS.com which imports hemp seeds genetics for fibre and grain cultivation from Europe for US farmers and offers them consulting. to Hana has over 20-years of experience in the hemp and cannabis industry and is the founder of Hempoint established in 2010. Hempoint engages in the following: distributing EU registered hemp seed varieties internationally, Hempoint food brand, farming and farmer contracting, harvesting, post-processing, and consulting. Hana is an international hemp consultant couching on several disciplines: farming, standards, manufacturing, food production, policy and regulations.... During the course of her career she has experienced a wide range of EU and international cannabis policy work and education focused on sustainability. Since 2018 Hana has been president of the CzecHemp cluster which is the leading association involved in the strategy of hemp and cannabis market development in the Czech Republic with goal to introduce hemp industry in the bioeconomy. In beginning of 2022 co-founded company konopiUS.com which imports hemp seeds genetics for fibre and grain cultivation from Europe for US farmers and offers them consulting.

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We discuss the State of Employee Retention Credits For Cannabis Business with Sultana DeJesus, General Counsel at ERC Provider.

"I am representing ERC Provider and along with our filing partner, ERC Specialists, we have helped over 35,000 US businesses secure over $6 billion in Employee Retention Credits (ERC).  

This is a government Covid relief program administered by the IRS that helps put up to $26,000 per full-time W2 employee they retained on payroll back into the business. It is the only Covid relief measures that businesses can still apply for if they meet the program’s criteria. Our company helps determine if the business qualifies and, if it does, then handles all the paperwork with the IRS.  

We are not a payroll company or a law firm. We are a team of qualified ERC specialists – and we’ve streamlined the Employee Retention Credit process. Since ERC qualification is all we do, we understand the regulations inside and out and literally write the White Papers for the ERC industry."

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Grassroots Marketing speaks with Karin Meadows, the Owner of Herb Meadows Medicinals, LLC.

"We are committed to giving our customers the very best that nature has to offer, keeping the plants as whole as possible. When the plants are whole, the “entourage effect” allows the plants to offer their fullest natural potency. 

We offer our USDA organic herbs to our customers without the use of synthetic chemicals at all. We pride ourselves on honoring the plants, humanity and our planet Earth."  "We have a USDA Organic hand-crafted whole plant full spectrum hemp oil for sale from our 2020 crop year. It was extracted naturally using USDA Organic Grape alcohol for two years. We evaporated the alcohol so nothing but the hemp was left, then we added USDA Organic hemp oil to make our full spectrum product. It has a nutty, earthy flavor and if you prefer bubble gum flavor over real plant flavors, this is probably not for you. No offense to those selling bubble gum flavored CBD products. Everyone has different tastes!"

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BuildMySOP is setting Up Custom Standard Operating Procedures For Cannabis, and we learn more from Founder and CEO Kady Cravens. She spoke at the Expo on the Benefits of having Standard Operating Procedures.

Kady Cravens is the Founder and CEO of BuildMySOP, serving the regulated cannabis industry with standard operating procures, management software and tools, and education so that operators build a professional and profitable business.

As a compliance expert, Kady has been a featured speaker at expos in the industry, including Lucky Leaf Expo, Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, and NoCo Hemp Expo. Kady is also an experienced podcaster, co-hosting the monthly podcast Ask The Regulator alongside former

Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division regulator Tom Mohan.

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We go from Brown Family Farms to Hempfinity with their owner Patrick Brown. We also discuss the ongoing issues of social, racial, and gender equity and justice through sustainable agriculture in developed markets.

Patrick Brown, an American Entrepreneur, Born in 1982 in Henderson, NC. During Patrick’s adolescent years he grew up on his family farm as the 4th generation heir learning to cultivate Tobacco, Soybean and Wheat alongside his father the late Rev. Dr. Arthur A. Brown. Currently farming on land that his family has owned for generations in a small community called Hecks Grove in southeastern Warren County, North Carolina. Outside of operating his family business Patrick is still employed by the federal government at the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. And also consults independently as a Project Manager of Research for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, MD. Patrick is a highly motivated leader that possess self-awareness, empowers others, constant and consistent who exhibits humility and focuses on building working relationships.

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Grassroots Marketing welcomes Liam O'Brien, Co-Founder Chief Marketing Officer of Fernway. Amid general volatility in the Massachusetts cannabis industry, Fernway's story is one of success and expansion. They were founded only two years ago — and were started by four best friends (one of whom is Liam) who wanted to create a true best-in-class product. Now they have Massachusetts’ number one selling cannabis vape, are one of the top 5 cannabis brands to watch nationwide — and they’re hoping to win more customers and fans through their flower offerings.

Fernway is best known for their innovative vapes and delicious flavors in their products. Now, consumers can expand their cannabis experience with Fernway's terpene-infused joints and the highest quality bud in the state. For those who prefer smoking over vaping, this is a much-anticipated addition to their line as Fernway is the only company in Mass. using reusable ceramic tips on joints, which create a true premium approach to the joint form factor.

This is also a great opportunity for consumers to find consistently great flower as no other company is approaching the challenge of how to sell great cannabis like Fernway.

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Solving Logistics and Supply Chain Issues with Kevin Schultz, Co-Founder and President The 357 Company, the makers of 357 Hemp Logistics.

357 Hemp Logistics, a division of The 357 Company, is setting the standard of excellence for hemp logistics and supply chain management, centered around compliant standard operating procedures and dedication to unparalleled customer service and education. Headquartered in Illinois, 357’s leadership team collectively has over 50 years of transportation, logistics, medical device, and supply chain management experience, in addition to developing operational processes and procedures for some of largest brands in the restaurant home delivery and highly regulated medical cannabis industries, including GrubHub, Verano, and PharmaCann.

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We discuss the Status of a Limited Texas Cannabis Market with Richard Cheng, Member at Weaver Johnston Nelson, PLLC as part of our coverage of NoCo Hemp Expo 2023

Weaver Johnston Nelson, PLLC a Texas law firm which focuses on healthcare law, as well as corporate and general business law, with an emphasis on representing hospitals, surgery centers, free standing emergency departments, physicians, dentists and other healthcare providers.

Richard Y. Cheng’s practice focuses on corporate transactions and advises clients on cannabis regulatory matters. Richard developed a cannabis regulatory and corporate practice in 2013 and grew his practice by representing a variety of cannabis related clients at a national law firm. Subsequently, Richard was an equity partner and chair of the hemp/hemp cannabinoid products practice at a global AmLaw 100 law firm, leading multiple initiatives in building the firm’s reputation in cannabis. As a leading cannabis attorney, Richard represents cannabis businesses, investors, private equity groups, healthcare providers in medical marijuana programs and cannabis ancillary providers. Richard has represented the Texas Cannabis Industry Association (TCIA) as its external general counsel, served as a board member for a hemp cannabinoid bio-pharmaceutical company, co-authored multiple cannabis publications and has been named a top 250 cannabis legal expert by Databird Research Journal.

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