It all starts to set in when you’re standing at the foot of Washington’s tallest skyscraper, towering an impressive 76 stories above you. What brought you here? The answer, if you had an invitation in hand, was to attend OMD’s 3rd Annual Mixer – An exclusive networking event bringing together industry entrepreneurs, influencers, and leaders to celebrate the year before and the year ahead. We ran into a few other professionals dressed to impress and took the elevator 1000 ft. up to be greeted at the doors of the Columbia Tower Club with gold gift bags from Leafly & Printwest, the event’s main sponsors. As we walked into the venue, the sunset outside spilled light into a room full of elite professionals – We were here.
As we walked into the venue, the sunset outside spilled light into a room full of elite professionals – We were here.
And we mean that both physically, but more so figuratively. The cannabis industry has had more than its fair share of triumphs and failures, progressions and setbacks and this event last week really made it set in that we had come so incredibly far. We were a diverse group of cannabis industry professionals from across the country in Washington’s most exclusive venue celebrating the plant that brought us here together. It was most certainly one for the books. It’s annual events like these, that Jared Mirsky, CEO of OMD Agency and his team design that give its invitees a unique opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of their careers and passion for this industry.
“In this space especially, you have an incredibly passionate group of people who are aligned with this vision of ending cannabis prohibition” said Paul Campbell, President of Leafly. Around us, conversations wove together to create an unparalleled ambiance of intellect, passion, and business. There were both new introductions and age-old high fives and handshakes. Groups of well-dressed professionals gathered for photos, ordered alcoholic beverages from the bar, and slipped hand-rolled joints from the party favor table into their pockets for later.
It was a night that succeeded in new connections, fresh perspectives, and new partnerships to take into the new year.
Pairs of professionals gathered around floating cannabis leaf centerpieces at draped tabletops. The theme of the party was gold and it was everywhere – from the gold-leaf Evergreen Market logo glinting from the photo backdrop to the gold accessories everyone seemed to have on their wrists and bare necks. This collection of people made the air vibrate with energy – It was a night that succeeded in new connections, fresh perspectives, and new partnerships to take into the new year.
Standing tall in his light gray suit, event sponsor Cy Scott of Headset.io shared his excitement in seeing “the enormous number of new brands and products introduced every month.” Pair that with Cheryl Shuman adding that “marijuana is officially mainstream” and we knew were in the right place.
The best part? Having the opportunity to talk about cannabis 1000 feet above Seattle’s skyline. Cannabis industry leaders and influencers – If you are reading this – We’ve made it. Now let’s take this momentum and keep with the pace!