Noelle Skodzinski, editorial director for Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and the Cannabis Cultivation Conference, was honored June 7 as part of Folio’s list of 2018 Top Women in Media.
An honoree in the Entrepreneurs category, Skodzinski launched the cultivation-focused Cannabis Business Times brand in 2014 as website and newsletter, selling it to GIE Media in 2015. The brand has grown into a monthly print magazine and has also launched the annual Cannabis Cultivation Conference and expo and Cannabis Dispensary, a bi-monthly publication, website and newsletter for cannabis retailers.
“Through her work ethic, dedication, willingness to raise the bar and team-player attitude, Noelle has driven the editorial team to creative, multiple award-winning publications and has developed a superior educational track for our industry-leading conference—all of which provide an invaluable service to those navigating a complicated, challenging and federally illegal market,” said Group Publisher Jim Gilbride.
During her acceptance speech, Skodzinski referenced a story from Christopher Walken in Catch Me If You Can, describing the two mice that fell into a bucket of cream. One gave up and drowned, while the other ran, turned it into butter and climbed out of the bucket. Women in media are the second mouse, Skodzinski said.
“I have worked my ass off,” she said. “A start-up is not an easy task. This is not an easy industry … Here’s to all of you for working your asses off, too.”
