Thinking Outside The Bud

Navigating the Cannabis Landscape with Kris Walker Co-Founder at Hoodie

In this episode of "Thinking Outside the Bud," Bruce Eckfeldt welcomes Kris Walker, President and Co-founder at Hoodie, as the special guest. Together, they navigate the intriguing intersection of cannabis and data analytics, delving into the evolving landscape of the cannabis industry. The conversation explores how data insights are transforming various aspects of cannabis businesses, from product sales to strategic decision-making. Kris Walker, with a wealth of experience in data analytics and technology, sheds light on the unique challenges and opportunities within the cannabis space. The episode unveils how Hoodie is pioneering a revolution by making data as comfortable as a favorite hoodie, empowering businesses to thrive in the dynamic cannabis market. Join them for an insightful discussion on the current and future dynamics of cannabis and data.

Kris Walker is the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Commercial Officer at Hoodie. Hoodie tracks over 3.5MM daily unique offers in over 10,500+ dispensaries in the US & Canada, making Hoodie the largest and most impactful platform for next day insights into leading sales metrics such as cannabis pricing, promotion, stocking status, distribution and share of shelf. Hoodie combines this unparalleled coverage with first-of-its-kind, next-day insights so businesses can access market trends and data within hours. Kris leads Hoodie’s customer acquisition and customer experience efforts — overseeing sales, marketing, analytics, product strategy, and the delivery of successful client outcomes.

Prior to Hoodie, Kris was Senior Vice President and Global Client Leader for Nielsen, the S&P 500 firm and global leader in audience insights, data, and analytics that shape the future of media. At Nielsen, Kris drove product innovation, leveraging Nielsen's data marketplace and broad analytics capabilities to deliver exceptional value for clients' business performance worldwide. Kris is also the co-founder of Big Chalk Analytics, a technology-enabled analytics consulting firm that connects progressive companies with world-class analytics, insights, and talent — including individuals, teams, and suppliers through a proprietary talent network aligned with the most important analytics and insights issues facing the CPG/FMCG industry.

Kris is a passionate global executive with proven experience in transforming start-up and turnaround businesses. He’s awarded and recognized for leading through innovation, building enviable teams and clients, and leveraging strategic and analytical skills to consistently exceed revenue and EBITDA targets. Kris holds a Bachelors of Science in Commerce with Concentrations in Marketing and International Business from the University of Virginia.

https://www.hoodieanalytics.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoodieanalytics/

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Unveiling the green horizon: A conversation with Dan Huerter on CBD, Cannabis, and the Ever-Changing Landscape of Regulation and Business

Join us as Bruce explores the dynamics of the hemp and cannabis industry with Dan Huerter, CEO of Pure Spectrum CBD, unraveling the complexities of regulations, business challenges, and the transformative power of CBD in health and wellness.

Daniel Huerter brings his entrepreneurial spirit back to the company he co-founded in 2016.

After graduating from University of Kansas in 2012, Huerter pursued a successful career with a Fortune 500 software company. He quickly gained the trust of high-level clients in the public sector like SMU, Cal Poly, and even The United States Senate.

His drive and passion to create something he believed in, helped push him to take the risk and leave that career behind - rolling the dice with a cannabis startup in the early days of the CBD boom.

Huerter would become the first person to ever speak about the benefits of CBD for athletes on national television, highlighting the company’s partnership with The CrossFit Games on CBS Sports in 2018. He would continue to help Pure Spectrum grow and achieve history - making milestones, before stepping down as COO in 2019.

After co-founding and helping run a hemp distribution company from 2019 to 2021. Huerter answered the call from his first company asking him to return and take over as CEO.

If Daniel isn’t at his desk at Pure Spectrum's headquarters, you might be able to find him at the music studio he co-founded, volunteering for organizations that help young entrepreneurs or crushing a workout before spending time with his family, girlfriend, and dog.

https://purespectrumcbd.com/
https://www.instagram.com/purespectrumhemp/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/purespectrumofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/danielblakehuerter/?hl=en

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Cultivating Success: Inside the High-End Cannabis Industry with Joanne Wilson

In this episode, we have Joanne Wilson, Founder and CEO of Gotham NYC, a prominent cannabis dispensary in New York. Joanne shares her professional journey, highlighting her venture into the cannabis industry and the challenges faced within the New York regulatory landscape. The conversation delves into the intricacies of building a distinctive brand, emphasizing the need for a high-end luxury experience for customers. Joanne discusses the dynamic nature of the cannabis market, reflecting on her vision for the future, potential expansion into other states, and the incorporation of psilocybin products. 

Joanne is a successful early-stage angel investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist with a diverse background in retail, wholesale, media, real estate, and technology. She has over 140 companies in her investment portfolio such as Food52, Eater, Just Works and Parachute Home, and has invested in several restaurants throughout downtown New York City. Joanne is the co-founder of Frame Home, a Brooklyn-based residential real estate development company that prioritizes sustainability with style. In addition to her business ventures, Joanne is actively involved in non-profits as she sits on the board of The Highline and The Public Housing Community Fund in NYC. Joanne's passion for innovation and community development is evident in this latest venture, GOTHAM, which she cannot wait to share with the city she loves.

IG @gotham.ny - https://www.instagram.com/gotham.ny/?hl=en
TikTok @gotham_nyc - https://www.tiktok.com/@gotham_nyc

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Navigating New York's Cannabis Landscape: Insights from Legal Expert Katie Neer

In this episode of "Thinking Outside the Bud," host Bruce Eckfeldt welcomes Katie Neer, of counsel at Dickinson and Avella, to discuss the world of cannabis with a focus on the New York market. The conversation covers various aspects of the cannabis industry, including the challenges and opportunities it presents. Katie shares insights into her journey from law school to becoming involved in the cannabis sector, emphasizing the complexities of the legal landscape and the unique challenges faced by cannabis businesses. The discussion delves into the New York market, its regulatory environment, and efforts to address the illicit cannabis market. Katie provides a detailed overview of New York's social equity initiatives, highlighting the state's strong commitment to reinvesting tax revenue into communities disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition.

Katie is a cannabis regulatory attorney and the go-to expert for cannabis industry players who need help navigating this legal minefield in New York and throughout the Northeast.

She serves as Of Counsel at Dickinson & Avella, a leading New York government affairs law firm, where she assists dozens of clients on NY regulatory compliance issues in heavily regulated industries, including cannabis, gaming, and financial services.

Until recently, Katie was the General Counsel and VP of Industry Affairs at Lantern, an e-commerce marketplace that facilitated the home delivery of cannabis in Massachusetts, Colorado, and Michigan.

Katie also previously worked as the Director of Government Affairs for Acreage Holdings, a public company with a portfolio of cannabis cultivation, processing, and dispensing operations in the U.S., and served as Chair of the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association.

Website: https://www.dickinsonavella.com/
About Katie: https://www.dickinsonavella.com/katie-neer

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Bridging Equity: A Journey through Cannabis Entrepreneurship with Annu Khot

Tune in as Annu Khot shares her journey, challenges faced in the cannabis business, and insights into the evolving market dynamics. Emphasizing social equity, Annu shares her experiences employing individuals from impacted communities and explores efforts to rehabilitate those with cannabis-related convictions. The episode concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the industry's future, addressing product trends, regulatory changes, and the need for more research and education. Don't miss this insightful exploration of the multifaceted cannabis landscape.

Annu Khot is an award-winning Founder, CEO, and Innovator who is transforming the cannabis industry to foster greater inclusivity and benefits for all. Driven by a commitment to acknowledge, value, and empower every individual, Khot is on a mission to bridge societal divides, create economic opportunities for underrepresented communities, and enhance well-being.

https://www.annukhot.io/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annukhot/
https://www.instagram.com/annukhot/
https://www.tiktok.com/@annukhot9?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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Navigating Regulations and Reshaping the Industry Landscape with Leslie Bocskor

Tune in to this conversation with Leslie Bocskor, Chairman of Indoor Harvest and Executive Chairman at Electrum Partners. Delve into Lesley's seasoned perspective on the cannabis market's current state, regulatory challenges, and the potential impact of federal rescheduling. Gain valuable insights as Lesley discusses multi-state operations, historical parallels, and strategic approaches to position for success in this dynamic industry. Don't miss this thought-provoking exploration of the green frontier.

Beloved by policymakers and growers, technologists and scientists, doctors and patients, Bocskor has curated the unrivaled network necessary to shepherd them all into achieving goals and prosperity.

Pundit status aside, when he’s not winning over crowds, Bocskor is courting politicians, industry leaders, and investors, who seek out his groundbreaking analysis and insight into the cannabis economy.

At Electrum Partners, Bocskor advises global concerns, businesses, policymakers and nonprofits, using his unique lens and understanding of what is, what will be, and what is needed. His gregarious presence is indispensable everywhere from the International Cannabis Economy Conference in Barcelona to the National Cannabis Industry association [NCIA] Conference in New York City, to ArcView Conferences around the country, Bocskor has become one of the most influential people in the cannabis space, guiding policy and reform.

Named most valued investor member of the ArcView Investor Group in 2015, and CEO of the year by The Weed Blog, the most highly trafficked industry trade publication, it fortified his former designation by The Cannabis Business Executive (CBE) as one of the top 100 most influential people in the industry.

As founding chairman of the Nevada Cannabis Industry Association, he hopes to create the model for regulation and policy around the world, as Nevada did with gaming. Leslie began his career at Lehman Brothers and later went on to co-found Mason Cabot, a New York based investment bank focused on emerging technologies and finance. In 2005, he served as Managing
Partner with Lennox Hill Partners.

https://indoorharvest.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliebocskor
https://twitter.com/lesliebocskor

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From Challenges to Opportunities: A Deep Dive into the Cannabis Market with Paper Planes CEO, Paul Weiss

Beginning with market opportunities and challenges, Paul Weiss shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of a balanced management team. The discussion delves into the intricacies of cannabis products and operations, with a focus on strategic decisions, data-driven choices, and the challenges posed by industry volatility. Uncover the challenges and opportunities specific to the California cannabis market, addressing issues like liquidity, regulatory complexities, and the impact of illicit markets. Gain valuable insights into Paper Planes' growth strategy and their perspective on federal legalization.

Paul Weiss is the CEO of PaperPlanes, bringing passion, authenticity and skill to the role. After a career in financial services, Paul left the industry to focus on private equity investing in other sectors. Paul entered the cannabis space as an investor in 2018, and subsequently met PaperPlanes founder Carter Latimer in 2020. Over time Paul and Carter developed a shared vision of how to best develop and build Paper Planes into a world class brand, and Paul then joined the company as CEO in February of 2021.

As CEO, Paul works to keep the company adequately capitalized, raising $7 million since 2021 to secure the company’s operations. Additionally, Paul oversees PaperPlanes’ M&A activities and ensures the efficiency and quality of the company’s accounting, legal, governance and decision-making processes. Under Paul’s leadership, PaperPlanes has grown substantially, increasing revenue by millions of dollars and opening new cultivation and manufacturing operations while expanding the brand into several hundred dispensaries. As a leader, Paul is passionate about shaping the nascent cannabis industry into a great place for job-seekers to land.

Paul graduated from SUNY Purchase with a degree in economics. Beyond PaperPlanes, Paul spends time sculpting bonsai trees, practicing jiu-jitsu, golfing, and biking.

https://www.paperplanes-ca.com/
https://www.instagram.com/paperplanes.extracts/

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Data-Driven Strategies in Cannabis: A Deep Dive with Roy Bingham of BDSA

Roy Bingham co-founded BDSA in 2015 after recognizing that the cannabis industry lacked the kind of sophisticated data that is both commonplace and essential in other industries. His drive to help the industry understand consumer behavior and capture growth opportunities has built BDSA into the powerhouse it is today. As Chief Executive Officer, Roy drives company growth by working closely with the Board of Directors to oversee operations and implement strategic plans that help BDSA deliver the best solutions and expertise to its clients and partners, including leading cannabis brands, MSOs, LPs and financial services companies.

Bingham is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of data analytics and market research experience in the natural products, healthcare and nutrition industries. He has a deep understanding of the global consumer marketplace from both the investor and technology-based service provider perspective, with firsthand experience in the U.S. and internationally.

A Harvard MBA, former McKinsey consultant and chartered banker, Bingham has enjoyed a successful career as a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record in creating successful businesses that drive growth and impact. Before BDSA, he co-founded Realize Therapeutics, a health, wellness and longevity business, and Cutting Edge Cultures, a specialty microbiome company. His other ventures include Nutrition Business Journal, Health Business Partners, Health Strategies Consulting and the NBJ Summit.

BDSA Website: https://bdsa.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roybingham/
BDSA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdsa-insights/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Roybingham
BDSA Twitter: https://twitter.com/BDSA_Insights

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Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation and Market Expansion with Stone Road's CEO, Lex Corwin

In this episode, join us for an insightful conversation with Lex Corwin, the CEO and Founder of Stone Road. We delve into sustainable cannabis cultivation practices and Stone Road's journey of market expansion. Lex shares his experiences, including his background in farming and how his brand has thrived in various states, focusing on community engagement, unique branding strategies, and business growth. Explore the world of cannabis and gain valuable insights from Lex Corwin's extensive experience in the industry.

Founded in 2016 at the age of 23 by founder and CEO Lex Corwin, Stone Road was created as a queer-led, family run brand committed to harvesting and creating accessible, affordable cannabis products without sacrificing style. Through Stone Road, Lex is reimagining what affordable cannabis can look like, taste, and feel like with design-forward, sustainable packaging and avant-garde campaign imagery. Raised in New York City, Lex moved West for college and began working as the co-manager of a boutique, family-owned medical cannabis cooperative in Portland, OR. He cut his teeth in the legal cannabis space with roles in cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution while working towards his degree. Lex has come a long way since those early days in Portland and has propelled Stone Road to becoming one of the fastest growing cannabis companies in the California, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Michigan markets. Today, Stone Road is available in over 400 retail outlets across four states with New Mexico coming next, and additional expansions in the works. When he's not running the brand from Stone Road’s Venice office, Lex is tending to Stone Road's 57 acre, off-grid, biodynamic family farm in Nevada City, CA.

https://stoneroad.org/
https://www.instagram.com/stoneroadfarms/

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Crafting Successful Cannabis Brands: Tips from Evan Eneman, Founder & CEO, Sands Lane and Harmony Craft Beverages

In this episode, Evan Adelman, Founder and CEO of Sands Lane and Harmony Craft Beverages, shares his insights about the evolving world of cannabis. Evan discusses the importance of cannabis branding, lifestyle attributes, and navigating the complex regulatory environment. Evan shares his personal journey into the cannabis industry and explores the diverse range of cannabis products and their impact on consumers. Tune in to gain valuable insights into this dynamic and rapidly growing industry.

Evan Eneman is a New York born, L.A.-based entrepreneur, investor, and advisor specializing in the cannabis, psychedelic and beverage industries.He is the founder and CEO of Sands Lane and its operating companies, including a venture studio, creative and marketing agencies, an investment platform, and foundation that works with early-stage, high-growth lifestyle businesses and nonprofits that are intent on changing the world for the better.

https://www.sandslane.com/
https://harmonycraftbeverages.com/

@harmonycraftbeverages
https://www.instagram.com/harmonycraftbeverages/

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