Appointments

The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., a sustainable global cannabis company is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Nichola Thompson to the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). A finance veteran with more than 20 years, Ms. Thompson joins the senior management team at TGOD, having most recently held the position of CFO at Galaxie Brands Corporation, which was acquired by TGOD in November 2021. Ms. Thompson brings a broad range of experience guiding the finance departments of both public and private companies. Her experience includes CFO roles in the cannabis industry at Embark Health Inc., and Entourage Health Corp.

Truss Beverage Co., the joint venture between Molson Coors Canada and HEXO Corp., announced Dave Schlosser as the company’s new President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He joined the cannabis-infused beverage company in November 2018, serving as Chief Financial Officer of Truss Beverage Co., prior to assuming the role of CEO in January 2022. With more than 17 years of business leadership experience at consumer-packaged goods companies alone, including The Kraft Heinz Company and Maple Leaf Foods, and having played an integral role in building Truss Beverage Co. from the ground up, he is wellpositioned to continue driving Truss’ growth strategy through innovation and the evolving needs of the consumer.

Flow Scientific, a subsidiary of BC Hop Co., is delighted to announce the appointment of Stephanie Ostrander as the International Sales Director. She will be maintaining and growing the company’s Canadian market while expanding into new global territories such as the EU, US, Central, and South America. She comes to Flow Sci after three years as Sales Manager at Keystone Labs. Stef, as she is also known, has been avidly working, volunteering and networking in the cannabis industry since 2014. Flow Scientific is a Canadian GMP manufacturer of pure concentrated terpenes and sells its compliant formulations globally. Hydra Unlimited, a leading manufacturer of water management and grow media solutions for craft and commercial hydroponics growing, has appointed Justin McQueen as product marketing manager. McQueen comes to Hydra Unlimited with a strong track record of developing profitable, scalable and strategic marketing initiatives. Most recently, he was a marketing business development consultant with Perspective Communications. Prior, he was the marketing director for KPS Essentials. McQueen holds a bachelor of science in advertising and public relations from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan.

Hydra Unlimited, a leading manufacturer of water management and grow media solutions for craft and commercial hydroponics growing, has appointed Daniel Muschiana as graphic and web designer. An established arts and design professional, Muschiana was most recently a partner at Allie & Muschiana Design LLC. Prior, he was a partner and project manager at Bonfire Media Midwest and senior graphic designer at Part Pit Stop. He holds two bachelor of fine arts degrees from Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan, in design and visual communications - multimedia, and graphic design. GoldCann International Inc., a Canadian wellness company that intends to produce cannabis products in Mexico for the Mexican market, announced that Jeannette VanderMarel has been appointed as President and CEO. Jeannette VanderMarel is a Canadian cannabis industry veteran and former pediatric ICU nurse. She co-founded The Green Organic Dutchman in 2012, one of the first licensed producers in Canada, which remains an industry leader. In 2018, she also co-founded Good and Green, acquired by 48North Cannabis Corp, after which she assumed the role of co-CEO and Director of 48North. She was appointed as Director and Advisor to Goldcann on November 29, 2021.

In early February, the Board of Directors of Aleafia Health Inc. named Tricia Symmes, previously the Company’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), as the Company’s new CEO. Symmes became Aleafia Health’s CCO in August 2020 and led the move into the branded recreation market. She has extensive executive C-suite experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, consumer-packaged, and cannabis industries in both North American and international markets. Before joining Aleafia, Symmes served as Chief Operating Officer of multinational companies, including Alcon Canada and Novartis Pharmaceuticals, as well as General Manager at CX Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Entourage Health Corp.

Tastemakers, Explore your Senses.

Leave Reviews. Earn Rewards.

By Kelsey Cannabis

When cannabis legalization occurred for Canadians in October of 2018, many were excited about this growing industry and the potential opportunities for working alongside the therapeutic plant. Cannabis retail workers became the face of the industry as consumers sought knowledge and product insight from budtenders, store managers, store owners, cannabis connoisseurs and even influencers. As industry members gained cannabis knowledge, they also gained additional opportunities to discover, understand and educate on the wide variety of cannabis products and formats available to consumers. With this newfound information, consumers learned the benefits that come with using different cannabis cannabinoids and terpenes found in products varying from flower to topicals.

Nonetheless, when it came to supporting those we seek advice from, Health Canada and The Cannabis Act itself made it challenging to do so from a regulatory standpoint. Brands wanting to test, sample and qualify their products in the market were met with limitations and left at a standstill. These restrictions further affected retail cannabis workers, connoisseurs and influencers. In addition to having to buy vast amounts of cannabis at their own expense, their wisdom, insight and educational resources about brands and their products have generally gone unnoticed by the masses; until now.

Introducing Tastemakers

O2O, a company that connects Canadian cannabis brands and retailers, has recently announced the launch of Tastemakers, an exciting community of cannabis connoisseurs who are rewarded for their trusted feedback and insights. Driving our industry higher, Tastemakers is designed to support product education, knowledge and collaboration, as cannabis retail workers, connoisseurs and influencers provide product reviews in exchange for enticing rewards. Participants are also able to share reviews across the cannabis community and feel more educated and empowered when selling a product to the end consumer.

Along with rewarding cannabis retail workers and connoisseurs who influence our market for the better, Tastemakers simultaneously allows brands to connect more deeply with their audience to refine products available and understand performance.

How the Review Process Works

After completing an online registration that includes flavour profiles, format preferences and more, Tastemakers is then offered product review opportunities that can be either open/organic or directed reviews.

Open/organic review Tastemakers will receive a ballot and entry into a monthly giveaway of exciting compliant prizes, varying from cash, lifestyle products and gift cards. These reviews are open to any product available in the market with no limitations for which products you choose to review, and in turn, O2O will share Tastemaker reviews with brand partners at no cost. To be included in open/organic product review opportunities, all one needs to do is opt-in to Tastemakers!

When it comes to structured review opportunities, O2O will reach out directly to Tastemakers for reviews on specific brands, formats or products. To take part, Tastemakers will provide proof of purchase, proof of current employment in the industry, fill out a survey and provide profile/demographic information. In turn, expect to be compensated for the time taken to provide engaging feedback!

With the launch of Tastemakers and the opportunity to provide both open/organic and structured reviews, cannabis retail workers can now have their opinions heard by cannabis brands. The Tastemakers community values perspective and empowers our voices in the industry and if you support product innovation, knowledge and collaboration, sign up for Tastemakers today!

Become a Tastemaker, visit:

https://tastemakers.co/register https://www.instagram.com/useo2o

Kelsey Cannabis is a certified cannabis Educator, Speaker, and Consultant who makes plant science more approachable for patients, professionals, and recreational users.