Known for their discipline, leadership, and problem-solving abilities, military veterans are recently seen excelling in a new field with exceptional skills. The cannabis sector is gradually evolving into a booming industry with a new wave of military veterans who are leveraging their knowledge, refined through years of military experience.
Leadership Embracing Adaptability
For veterans like Ellen Brown, founder of Green Path Training, adaptability and teamwork are the pillars of success. Brown, a US Air Force veteran, believes that her military background has created the strong foundation of her business, helping her handle unexpected changes in the cannabis sector. She is a Massachusetts-based cannabis educator who is utilizing her military-acquired skills to train her team to excel in an industry where rules can change overnight.
Military veterans also rely on their strategic leadership skills honed through years of service. Some veterans, like Socrates Rosenfeld, co-founder and CEO of Jane Technologies, are adept at building teams and leading them in an industry known for complex regulations.
Rosenfeld has served as an Army Apache helicopter pilot, proving his impeccable leadership philosophy. He believes that leadership is a service position, and this principle still applies to his role in the cannabis e-commerce sector.
Building a Cohesive Work Environment
Military veterans excel in creating positive, collaborative work environments. Their experience managing diverse groups during military teamwork has created a cohesive work culture in the cannabis industry.
For instance, Amber Senter, founder of Makr House, owns a portfolio of cannabis brands. She attributes her success to her time in the US Coast Guard’s officer training program, where she learned essential skills like problem-solving and effective communication. This wisdom has helped Senter deal with people many don’t want to but still have to deal with in the workspace.
Senter’s military background has equipped her to thrive in an industry that is not just challenging for its unpredictable regulations but is often dominated by male entrepreneurs. It is her dedication to helping veterans, particularly those struggling with PTSD, that motivated her to be a leading advocate for the benefits of medical cannabis in promoting mental and physical health.
Perseverance Under Pressure
The relentless perseverance cultivated during military training has become an asset for veterans trying to build a scaling venture in the cannabis industry. Craig Henderson, founder of Extract Labs, believes that the lessons learned as a young Army enlistee have armed him to overcome any uncertainties in the entrepreneurial journey.
The discipline required to push through difficult moments as a military personnel has played a crucial role in his journey from an Army sergeant to the CEO of a multimillion-dollar cannabis extraction company in Colorado. His story exemplifies the resilience that military veterans channel into building successful cannabis ventures.
After returning from the Army, Henderson completed a degree in mechanical engineering and launched Extract Labs from his garage. Today, the company generates $10 million in revenue, showing that the grit instilled by his military background fuels his ambition to scale higher in the cannabis industry.
Veterans Opening a New Chapter in the Cannabis Industry
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, military veterans are utilizing their skills to shape every aspect of this sector. Leaders like Rosenfeld, Brown, Henderson, and Senteronly are creating a thriving career for them and elevating the industry through their outstanding professionalism, dedication, and resilience. Their contributions to the industry have proved that veterans can transition from military service to civilian life while making a strong impact in a new, regulated field.
Honoring Veterans Day, the inspiring stories of these show the unique values they have added to the cannabis industry. Their journey from the battlefield to the boardroom has made them role models in the entrepreneurial world who lead, inspire, and drive growth.
