Corey Hollister: American Cannabis Company (OTC:AMMJ)
His company’s vision? Seeking to redefine society’s relationship with cannabis through responsible stewardship and that’s exactly what they’re accomplishing in every passing day. Corey Hollister, CEO of American Cannabis Company (OTC:AMMJ), is inspired by the flow state, invigorated by the impact cannabis is having on medical patients, and is unwaveringly excited for the next step, the next level! Working hand-in-hand with cannabis operators and business professionals, he and his team are having a direct impact on the direction this industry is taking.
What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?
It was honestly a factor of “right time, right place.” I had re-located to Colorado from Boston, Massachusetts where my background was in advertising. I wanted to explore entrepreneurial opportunities; I wanted to do something for myself and I began looking in the fitness arena when the ‘green rush’ started to happen here in 2009/2010 and I met an individual who had the background of the greenhouse side, which really presented me with the right partner to go ahead and proceed into the industry and pursue the opportunity I saw in this rapidly growing space.
What were you doing before?
My background was primarily advertising and marketing in the Boston market, working on both the client and agency side. I worked with brands like Puma and Stride Rite and really developed a good professional base and was looking to apply that into a market sector that really excited me and presented a lot of opportunity.
Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?
It was really the Ogden memo in 2009. When that dropped here in Colorado, there was a ground swelling that began to occur and as somebody who was, at that time, seeking an entrepreneurial opportunity, the stars aligned quite well. We’ve been experiencing this surge ever since. We started a consulting company in 2013 and the growth we have experienced from it is exponential. So, for us, it’s been the past 5 years that we’ve been on the wave.
Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?
So, the vision for the company is to redefine society’s relationship with cannabis through responsible stewardship. How we propose to do that is through a combination of helping emerging markets and existing operators improve what they’re doing, how they’re participating in the industry, the choices they are making in their grow methodology, the grow they’re producing, and ensuring that everything they are doing is being done in a responsible manner that allows the unrolling of this industry to proceed accordingly.
So, the vision for the company is to redefine society’s relationship with cannabis through responsible stewardship.
Describe your work ethic to me in one word.
Focused. First boot on the ground, last boot off!
Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
I had a gentleman named Leo Rice, who I worked with in an agency in Boston, who really showed me a lot about working hard, having fun, and having a positive environment in the workplace and that those didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Everyone can grind hard and put forth good work and have fun doing it!
What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?
I would definitely recommend The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler. This book is really looking at the flow state from the perspective of action sport athletes and how people can achieve this flow state in their everyday lives and in their everyday work environment. It’s about accomplishing that team interplay and getting them to all pull in the same direction, while also being able to optimally perform in your given own task.
It’s about accomplishing that team interplay and getting them to all pull in the same direction, while also being able to optimally perform in your given own task.
Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.
I would say co-founding one of the leading cannabis consulting companies in the country!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
You know, generally it would be to take your time on the decision making and really understand the other perspectives and variables at play. I would say that in this industry specifically, there are so many opportunities that come at you and there’s the common mistake of trying to chase them all. So even though things may look like great opportunities, take into account that they may not be the right fit for your organization and rather than just rushing into adding additional service segments, understand what the impact of doing that will be on the business. Does it align with your primary focus? Always think about the effects that a decision will have on your business. Don’t get distracted from your main goal.
So even though things may look like great opportunities, take into account that they may not be the right fit for your organization and rather than just rushing into adding additional service segments, understand what the impact of doing that will be on the business.
What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal marijuana industry?
It’s still developing on a lot of fronts. Banking regulations are not there yet, federal regulation is not there yet, and so we need to continue to proceed wisely with caution.
If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?
That it’s still going fast and heavy! We will best being this occurring a decade or more. We’re converting a $60 billion dollar business into a legal regulated market and we’re only about $4 billion dollars into that. We love this industry and the community that is involved with it and we feel great about the positive impacts we are having on people’s lives who have medical needs. We are really looking forward to continuing to evolve this industry for the individuals, the community, and the country at large!
