April 1, 2019—CLEVELAND, Ohio—Due to the unprecedented growth of Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary magazines, as well as Cannabis Conference—the industry’s leading educational event—parent company GIE Media Inc. is pleased to announce that Michelle Simakis will join the team as editor of Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary.
This announcement coincides with the opening of Cannabis Conference 2019, which takes place in Las Vegas and is poised to draw thousands of attendees from nearly 30 countries.
Simakis has been with GIE Media since 2012 and was promoted to editor of Garden Center magazine in 2015. Under her direction, that magazine has become the leading trade publication serving independent garden centers. Most recently she launched an engaging, must-read newsletter for the market and, with the help of an advisory board that includes some of the most influential leaders in the industry, she organized an educational conference for key decision-makers. That experience and knowledge will guide her leadership at Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary.
She is looking forward to applying her knowledge of horticulture and retail industry trends and her knack for clear editorial decision-making to the cannabis market.
“We’re very proud of how Michelle has grown as a leader at GIE, and the cannabis market will be in good hands with her as editor of both publications,” Group Publisher Jim Gilbride said. “She’ll bring an innovative voice to Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary, and she’ll get off to a great start by meeting our audience at Cannabis Conference 2019.”
“We’re thrilled to have Michelle join our team as editor of both CBT and CD,” Editorial Director Noelle Skodzinski said. “Her expertise has guided GIE Media through a period of tremendous growth, and we believe that her skill set will drive our cannabis publications’ goals—especially given the market’s rapid development and increased competition. We’re here to serve a growing base of cannabis businesses, and Michelle will be a shining light in that work.”
About GIE Media
Established in 1980, GIE Media Inc. has grown from one publication into a leading marketing and communications business-to-business media company serving 17 industries. The company goal of Group Interest Enterprises is to publish the highest-quality business magazines, websites, e-newsletters, conferences, reference books and other forms of business media in growth industries, with a quality standard based upon editorial value and market leadership.
GIE Media Inc. is headquartered in Valley View, Ohio, and is privately owned by its founder Richard Foster. The company employs nearly 100 editors, publishers, sales representatives, marketers and other professionals.
