So You Wanna Get Into the Canna Biz?

Erica Ricky Blaze

Erica Ricky Blaze is a Boston native and proprietor of the hit Youtube show, The Blaze Estate. Blaze has been a member of the Boston Real Estate Community since 2016 and transitioned into Cannabis in 2019. In 2020, she launched The Blaze Estate to elevate the Boston Cannabis scene and help up-and-coming brands gain exposure. Dubbed “The Wendy Williams of Cannabis,” Erica Ricky Blaze gets Cannabis entrepreneurs to spill the tea on their journey of what it’s really like in the industry.

Keith Schmidt

I’m Keith, a digital media specialist who ventured into the cannabis industry in 2019. Over the past five years, I participated in everything from seed planting to packaging products and customer-facing design. At CommCan, This Non-MSO vertically integrated cannabis company helped me achieve significant milestones, including launching the state’s first Cannabis Infused Soda in 2019 and introducing the renowned brand Cookies to the Massachusetts market in 2021. I’ve also excelled in digital marketing, growing CommCans’ social media presence to over 10,000 followers and managing a newsletter with an impressive 40% open rate. In April 2022, I launched SIP Energy Drink, the first recreational energy drink, and designed an SEO-optimized website for commcan.com. My journey in the cannabis industry has been marked by innovation, collaborations with major brands like Blue River, and an unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and building local cannabis brands.

Andrew Switz

Andrew holds a degree in Horticultural Sciences from the University of Connecticut and is the Co-Founder of RopaNa Wellness, Moksha Cannabis and Ananda Distribution. From working in academic research to consulting medical cannabis patients and working for a medical cannabis facility in Vermont, his focus always centered on hemp and cannabis. His passion is helping others through teaching and sharing knowledge whether it be through writing educational blogs, teaching yoga, plant medicines or delicious recipes. Innovation, creativity and service to others are the driving forces of his entrepreneurial spirit. Yoga especially plays a central role in daily life and hence is incorporated into the company name and philosophy.

Julio Casado

Julio Casado is the CEO of ANJA, a licensed recreational Cannabis dispensary in Highland Park, NJ. ANJA is an NJ-certified MBE (Minority-owned Business Enterprise) with a focus on education and curating positive cannabis experiences for Highland Park and the NJ community. Julio is a digital marketing and organizational development professional with over a decade of work experience in management consulting, e-commerce, and B2B marketing. He is also Founder and Managing Partner of Full Funnel Growth Inc., a NYC based digital marketing agency.