Interviews | ForceBrands Newsroom

Cannabis Matters with Max Rudsten of POSIBL

Max Rudsten didn’t set out for a career in cannabis but ever since a ‘utopian’ moment inspired him to journey into the industry, he’s never looked back. In this episode of Cannabis Matters, series host and ForceBrands’ Client Strategist Eric Rosen goes behind the scenes of POSIBL, an organic farm in Monterey County, Calif., that’s on a mission to grow the perfect flower, ethically, sustainably, cost-effectively, and free of pesticides year round. Watch our exclusive interview with the company’s Chief Revenue Officer and read the transcript from the conversation below (edited for clarity). Eric Rosen: Tell us about your background. […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED November 7, 2023
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Impactful Search’s Rhonda Taylor On Hiring Trends and 2024 Planning

Successful growth strategies require thoughtful planning. That’s why the last half of the year — particularly September through November — are especially important months for companies to assess their upcoming annual budgets, set goals, and build their team. Executive Director of Business Development at ForceBrands’ Impactful Search, Rhonda Taylor, discusses end-of-year hiring trends, how purpose-driven leadership has evolved, and how companies can leverage ForceBrands’ talent market data to level up their growth strategies. What current trends are you seeing that will define how we hire and plan our growth strategies in 2024? The businesses that we support have become more […]

CATEGORIES Impactful Search
PUBLISHED September 12, 2023
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

How Jacquin’s is Bringing America’s Oldest Cordial Producer Into the Future

Located in a historic building in the heart of Philadelphia, Jacquin’s has been family owned and operated for the past three generations. The company’s portfolio consists of the country’s oldest produced cordials and exciting new innovations, including Pennsylvania Dutch, Bartenders Trading Co, Irish Manor, and more. While the company has a deep-rooted heritage and a strong family legacy, the team is focused on the future and forward-looking innovations to remain relevant to today’s consumer. The newest member of its portfolio, Union Forge, launched in 2022 and was named ‘the best domestic vodka’ by The Fifty Best. We caught up with Jacquin’s Vice President, […]

CATEGORIES Beverage
PUBLISHED August 8, 2023
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Cannabis Matters with Dr. Swathi Varanasi of Element Apothec

More than just a CBD brand, Element Apothec is at the intersection of wellness and beauty. Its founding members came together through LinkedIn networking and, after several conversations, the company was born. Through innovation and impact, Element Apothec seeks to address health and well-being through a preventative and integrative lens — all while taking care of the planet, too. We caught up with Element Apothec’s Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder Dr. Swathi Varanasi to learn more about how the company is making an impact on the health of people as well as the planet. Watch our exclusive interview and read the […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED April 20, 2023
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

For Calirosa, Tequila Is the Celebrity

Not all creator brands are created equal. Some put the creator at the forefront of their branding and messaging while others focus on implementing the creator’s talent behind the scenes. Calirosa Tequila, the brainchild of couple Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo, is a blend of both. “What we’ve tried to do differently is let Calirosa be the celebrity,” Calirosa Tequila president David Gimpelson said. Read on to dive into our conversation about creator brands, hiring, and launching a brand that has staying power. Alexis Benveniste: Would you call Calirosa a creator brand?David Gimpelson: Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine are our founders […]

CATEGORIES Beverage
PUBLISHED March 24, 2023
AUTHOR Alexis Benveniste

Cannabis Matters with Jason Vegotsky of Petalfast

Petalfast helps power today’s most exciting consumer brands to scale through sales, marketing, and capital. With its roots in California, the company has since expanded into other states and, as a result, its team has grown. For serial entrepreneur Jason Vegotsky, Petalfast’s CEO and Co-Founder, building resilient, sustainable teams starts with fostering a culture of growth and learning. We caught up with him to learn more about Petalfast’s expansion, what he’s most proud of in his career, and the best advice he has for budding cannabis brands entering the market. Read the transcription of the conversation below (edited for clarity). Eric […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED March 21, 2023
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Cannabis Matters with Gary Seelhorst of Justice Cannabis Co.

Justice Cannabis Co. is one of the largest private multi-state operators in the United States. Founded on the premise that feeling good is always the destination, the team at Justice has a long-standing and impressive reputation for quality products, unique dispensaries, and a modern approach to service. In this episode of Cannabis Matters, we caught up with Gary Seelhorst, the company’s Senior VP of National Compliance and Government Affairs Officer to learn more about the rules and regulations inside the not-yet-federally-legal cannabis industry. Watch his interview with ForceBrands’ Client Strategist and series host Eric Rosen and read the transcription of the conversation below: Gary […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED December 21, 2022
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Cannabis Matters with Tyneeha Rivers of Curaleaf

For Curaleaf‘s Chief People Officer Tyneeha Rivers, cannabis is personal. A true believer in the power of the plant, she overcame insomnia after being introduced to the healing properties of cannabis. Now, she combines her passion for the industry and experience in human resources to make Curaleaf a leading place to work in the space. In this episode of Cannabis Matters, we caught up with her to learn more about why she champions inclusivity in the workplace, what she looks for in new hires, and more. Watch her interview with ForceBrands’ Client Strategist and series host Eric Rosen and read the transcription of […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED November 29, 2022
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Cannabis Matters with Cory Rothschild of Cresco Labs

Cresco Labs is poised to become the most important company in the cannabis industry. As one of the largest vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis operators in the U.S., Cresco has a strategic geographic footprint and one of the leading distribution platforms in all of North America. We caught up with the company’s National Retail President Cory Rothschild who brings his background in traditional CPG to his expanding role at Cresco Labs. In this episode of Cannabis Matters, Rothschild explores the great cannabis opportunity, what to look for in new hires, and more. Watch his interview with ForceBrands’ Client Strategist and series host Eric Rosen and read the […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED November 1, 2022
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Cannabis Matters with Travis Tharp of Keef Brands

Launched in 2010 in Boulder, Colorado, Keef Brands is a leader in the cannabis beverage space. And while beverage makes up only a small percentage of the market, it has the potential to be one of the most disruptive categories. We caught up with the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Travis Tharp who just celebrated his five-year anniversary at Keef Brands. In this episode of Cannabis Matters, Tharp takes us behind the scenes of how he approaches hiring, industry challenges, and more. Watch his interview with ForceBrands’ Client Strategist and series host Eric Rosen and read the transcription of the conversation below: Eric […]

CATEGORIES Cannabis
PUBLISHED October 18, 2022
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Accelerating Brands: Go Behind the Scenes of NoBull Burger

The key to finding success (and national distribution in Whole Foods)? Starting small. Founders and mother-daughter duo Crissanne and Elizabeth Raymond started selling their family’s lentil soup-turned-burger recipe at farmer’s markets and at local restaurants. A testament to their perseverance, grit, and ambition, NoBull Burger is now available nationwide. We caught up with them to learn more about how they’ve scaled NoBull Burger through the years, what it’s like running a family business, and more. Watch their episode of Accelerating Brands — a video series from ForceBrands in partnership with SKU — here: Read the interview below: Crissanne Raymond: NoBull Burger started out as […]

CATEGORIES Food
PUBLISHED October 17, 2022
AUTHOR Rebecca Fryer

Cannabis Matters with Jim Baudino of Sands Lane Holdings

As an experienced marketer and business development leader with a successful track record of brand building for startups and Fortune 100 companies, Jim Baudino entered into the cannabis space through media and hasn’t looked back. Coming into the industry, not as a grower, but more as a storyteller has its limitations, Baudino said, but helping to move the industry forward in a positive direction is what excites him most about being in cannabis. “If I can help tell the story about why cannabis should be legal — about the atrocities of being jailed or people who can’t get medicine — […]