2022 Cannabis Leadership Awards: The Inspirers

Many of us can likely recall at least one person in our lives who has inspired us to be better people—whether it was a family member, a teacher, a friend, a colleague or someone else. There is a good chance that person is or was a natural leader who inspired others, too; not by choosing to lead so they could be a leader, but just by being driven, strategic, supportive and empathetic to others and the world around them.

Leadership, while a difficult quality to quantify, is usually easy to identify. We at Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Conference believe that leadership is especially important to recognize in a young industry still working to get its sea legs, as it is the people, the leaders in this industry who are driving it forward and helping to shape it for the better.

Cannabis is a challenging industry for so many reasons, and working in it day in, day out can try even the most passionate and steadfast among us. So it’s crucial to celebrate those who champion others, inspire their teams, make every day better just with their drive and perspective, and have a positive impact on the world around them.

Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Conference, with the generous support of FOHSE—Future of Horticultural Science + Engineering, are honored to celebrate the recipients of the second-annual “Cannabis Leadership Awards”:

• Wendy Bronfein - Co-founder, Chief Brand Officer, and Director of Public Policy, Curio Wellness
• Drew Duval - Senior Vice President, Cultivation, Cresco Labs
• Ian Hackett - President, Napa Valley Fumé
• Kema Ogden - Co-Owner, Top Notch The Health Center (THC)
• Lindsey Renner - Owner, Native Humboldt Farms

These individuals were nominated for this prestigious award by their peers, and they exemplify the leadership qualities needed to inspire and empower those around them and work toward the betterment of the entire industry, and Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Conference, and FOHSE congratulate them on this well-deserved award.

Whether it be through charitable activities, a values-driven approach, community and industry involvement, or a combination thereof, each one of this year’s honorees has made a positive impact on their coworkers, their companies, their communities, and the cannabis industry at large.

In this special edition, these leaders share their personal stories, what has helped shape them, what inspires and drives them, and lessons they learned along the way. Family, friends and close colleagues also share how these leaders have made a difference in their lives and careers. Winners are being honored at a private Cannabis Leadership Awards reception, taking place at Cannabis Conference 2022, Aug. 23-25, in Las Vegas.

Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Conference and FOHSE are pleased to honor these outstanding individuals. We congratulate this year’s honorees once again and look forward to continuing the tradition in the coming years.