What does it mean to build a cannabis brand in 2024? A brand is far more than just a logo, slogan, or eye-catching design—it’s a multifaceted concept that weaves together identity, values, and the emotional connections it fosters with consumers. At its core, a brand reflects a vision: a product or service perfectly aligned with the needs and aspirations of its audience. Behind every great brand is a visionary leader—a creative force shaping how we experience and value it. Today, let’s honor the exceptional minds behind the brands that define our lives.
And if you haven’t yet, go vote in the 2024 ADCANN awards.
Canada
Michelle Circosta – Director, Brand & Innovation, Cronos
Michelle has been with The Cronos Group since 2019. She, along with their team of cannabis marketing all-stars, manages their portfolio and innovation planning and execution for their fan-favorite brands Spinach® and Lord Jones®.
Jacob McKeeman – Ontario Operations Manager, grnhouse agency
Jacob McKeeman is the Ontario Operations Manager at grnhouse Agency, a leading force in the cannabis industry. Jacob has played a pivotal role in elevating top-tier brands like Freedom, Craftport, GRDNWRKS, Aspire, Partake, Higgs, Yandi Fresh, and Ghost Drops across the province. When he’s not driving operational excellence, you’ll find him exploring the industry behind the scenes on his YouTube channel, where he tours cannabis facilities and brings unique insights to his audience. With a passion for growth, collaboration, and storytelling, Jacob is shaping the future of cannabis in Ontario and beyond.
Matt Coulson – Director of Marketing, Crop Circle Cannabis
With over 15 years of marketing experience, Matt Coulson has been deeply immersed in the cannabis industry since 2017. He has collaborated with both large corporations and smaller startups, successfully developing and launching numerous cannabis products and brands. His most recent role at Crop Circle Cannabis provided the opportunity to create the brand The Goo to launch 100% solventless craft-made live rosin products in Canada.
Jesse Colosimo – Partner, Contra Agency
Previously nominated as the Director of Marketing for Adastra, Jesse is a seasoned marketer in the Canadian cannabis industry. He’s helped to develop brands such as Endgame Extracts and Phyto into major players in the concentrates market. At Contra Agency, he’s continuing to provide expert marketing consultation to cannabis brands.
Katie Pringle – CEO, Marigold Marketing & PR
Katie Pringle is the CEO of the award-winning agency Marigold Marketing & PR, serving cannabis, technology & construction since 2016. Marigold values innovative, effective, and creative approaches that best serve clients’ needs.
USA
Lisa Weser – CEO, Trailblaze
Lisa runs Trailblaze, an award-winning boutique cannabis and wellness agency leveraging deep industry intelligence and connections to deliver creative brand strategy, marketing, and communications services. From the High Times to The New York Times, they put next-generation brands on the map with media relations, creator partnerships, and PR campaigns designed to catapult them into the zeitgeist.
Ricardo Baca – Founder & CEO, Grasslands
One of Fortune magazine’s 7 Most Powerful People in America’s Marijuana Industry, Ricardo Baca is a 20-year veteran journalist, TEDx veteran, and cannabis futurist. Ricardo launched Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency in 2016 to work directly with business leaders in highly regulated industries, from cannabis and psychedelics to spirits and healthcare. He was named Marketer of the Year by ADCANN in 2019, and Ricardo is nominated yet again for his consistent dedication to high-quality, integrity-based journalism in the industry.
Allison Disney – Co-Founder & Managing Partner, MixMix
Allison Disney is a founding board member of the Cannabis Media Council (CMC), Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MixMix, Stupendous Lettuce, and Vice Chair of the Marketing & Advertising Committee (MAC) of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Having graduated with a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University in 2016, she’s built upon her experience as a marketer since then in a variety of roles, having recently launched the MixMix drinkable, mixable cannabis product line. For the first time, she is trailblazing her way into the ADCANN Awards Marketer of the Year Finals.
Have your voice heard and vote for your favourite Cannabis Marketer in this year’s ADCANN Awards!
Chelsea Bates – Director of Social Media, PufCreativ
From being one of PufCreativ’s first-ever interns to leading one of the most robust cannabis social media strategies in the industry, Chelsea has consistently pushed boundaries. She’s kept their clients from being shadowbanned on Meta while creating content that resonates and delivers results.
Cristina Consalvo – Marketing Director, Cannabis Creative
Cristina has 12 years of Marketing experience, working most recently for a local cannabis company before joining the Cannabis Creative Group team. She is driven by her passion for cannabis and the importance of strategic Marketing efforts to find success. This, combined with her organizational skills and positive attitude, has allowed her to become a well-rounded professional who joined the team to lead internal Marketing initiatives and support their business development team.
Which of these cannabis marketers are you voting for?
Last Updated on December 28, 2024 by ADCANN
