Cannabiz Credit Association

Let’s elevate the cannabis industry toward better business. 

The Cannabiz Credit Association is the primary, member-based organization that advocates for better business practices and credit standards for cannabis creditors nationwide. The CCA believes that through the sharing of data, we can empower cannabis businesses to make better business decisions and raise the bar for extending trade credit. 

Trust. Transparency. Transformation.

www.cannabizcredit.com

Founder

CannaBIZ Collects

As Founder and Managing Partner at CannaBIZ Collects, Brett Gelfand operates the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency. He is passionate about advancing the industry forward to protect good actors from the bad in the cannabis industry. 

While helping clients recoup their outstanding accounts receivables is his core mission, Gelfand takes great pride in his leadership role towards improving credit and collection practices in the cannabis industry.

CannaBIZ Collects has worked with over 1,000 companies and processed over $100M debt to date. 

CannaBIZ Collects is a no collect, no fee agency. 

"Grow Your Green. We'll Collect It."

www.cannabizcollects.com

Managing Partner

PAQCASE

As Co-Founder and CEO of PAQcase, Brett Gelfand is responsible for articulating and steering the vision of the company that created the world’s first gasket-sealed, child-resistant case for rolled smoking material. 

His responsibilities at PAQcase including high-level stewardship for partnerships with industry leading brands including Canopy Growth, ZigZag, Alien Labs, Justin Bieber’s Peaches, Seth Rogan’s House Plant, and Snoop Dogg’s LBS.

Brett sold his equity in PAQcase in April of 2022 to focus on other ventures. 

Premium. Preroll. Packaging. 

www.paqcase.com

CEO, Co-Founder

Colorado Product Services

Oversight of 60+ employees and 5 brands, including Jimi Hendrix edibles, Mountain Flower and Double Black Extracts. Maintained investor relations, built sales team, managed payroll/expenses, established financial budget/projections, led overall strategy, and helped grow the business from $0 to $500,000 in sales in less than 1 year.

Chief Executive Officer

Executive Vice President

Assistant to the CEO of a start-up cannabis wholesale company in the Western Slope of Colorado. Colorado Product Services owns a newly built 43,000 sq ft high-tech indoor grow warehouse, a 7,000 sq ft marijuana infused product facility, as well as a retail dispensary located in Carbondale, CO. Direct involvement includes: new product development, financial forecasting, budgeting, accounting,  social media marketing, web design, marketing campaigns, branding, equipment/packaging decisions, HR/ recruitment, management and oversight, investor relations, and sales strategies.

Executive Assistant

Protiviti

•Created risk analysis survey to identify key risk areas impacting client

•Automized team’s project log dashboard 

•Drafted planning and scoping memos for multiple audits

•Reviewed and tested over 12 controls for interim SOX testing

Strategy Consultant

Caterpillar Financial

•Initiated and designed the first market intelligence report for Cat Power group

•Organized and segmented industry research 

•Actively participated in various client and deal facilitation meetings

•Presented market intelligence report to Cat Financial executives and employees

Business Development

Student Managed Investment Fund

•One of twenty students selected in the 2014 graduating class to manage the $200K portfolio for the University of Georgia Foundation

•Prepared and presented buy/sell recommendations through fundamental analysis of equities 

•Actively watched and managed six securities in the technology sector

Technology Sector Associate

Leech Gary Asset Management

•Assisted in allocation and management of portfolios ranging from $500K to $50 million 

•Analyzed client portfolios, researched stocks, and pitched potential buy and sell opportunities

•Participated in weekly meetings to understand short and long-term strategy goals 

•Compiled reports comparing performance of ETFs and REITs

•Promoted new business by cold call sales

Intern

Campus Protein

•Expanded Campus Protein to the University of Georgia campus

•Supervised the distribution, inventory, and sales of workout supplements

•Managed three college representatives to sell and distribute products

UGA Division Manager

Craze Entertainment

•Entertained small to large social events including mitzvahs, concerts, fraternity and corporate parties

•Avg event cost ranged from $1,000 - $5,000 

•Responsible for the marketing, production, and management of the company

Owner

Managing Partner @ CannaBIZ Collects & CCA | 🌎 Travel | Innovative Disrupter | Helping companies collect their 💰

I’m driven by the challenge to build great businesses with great people to solve real problems. 

My career began in 2015 after being promoted to CEO of a vertically integrated cannabis company in Colorado, where I gained hands-on experience and deep insights into the industry.

Later, I co-founded a specialty child-resistant cannabis packaging business, where I served as CEO. In 2022, I sold my shares in the company, achieving a personal exit while the business continued operating independently.

Currently I’m the Founder & Managing Partner of CannaBIZ Collects, the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency started in 2017. In this role, I work to support cannabis businesses in navigating the unique legal and financial challenges related to A/R and collections.

I’m also the founder of the Cannabiz Credit Association, the first trade credit group in the cannabis industry, where we provide tools for risk monitoring and credit assessments to help businesses make better financial decisions and manage risk effectively.

I earned a BBA in Finance from The University of Georgia, and today, I’m based in St. Petersburg, FL. I’m committed to exploring new opportunities, improving business practices in the industry, and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact.

Brett Gelfand

I'm excited to be moderating an important panel at #MJBizCon 2025. Let's catch up in Las Vegas this December 2 -5. See you at MJBizCon and use my 15% off discount code to attend: SPR25. 

Link to Registration: https://lnkd.in/dEU86_Qv

Recovering unpaid 💰 and reducing credit risk for cannabis companies | Founder @ CannaBIZ Collects & Cannabiz Credit Association (CCA)

The NJ market is starting to feel the same collection pressures that operators in CA, MI, CO, MA, etc have been battling for years.

Glad to see leading brands in the state working with us to get ahead of the problem, and not wait for it to blow up. 

A proactive credit and collections strategy beats the reactive scramble that has become far too common in cannabis today.

View company: Cannabiz Credit Association

We’re excited to announce that Jersey Smooth has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Jersey Smooth is a science-driven, research-focused cannabis brand rooted in New Jersey, committed to producing premium, flavorful extracts and vape products with precision and care. Their “gold in = gold out” philosophy ensures they source top-tier flower and extracts, delivering outstanding quality in every product. 

Their portfolio includes disposable vapes, cartridges, and pre-rolls, all crafted for a smooth, richly flavored experience — whether you're chasing potency, purity, or terpene complexity. 

As a family-owned business deeply rooted in its local community, Jersey Smooth brings not just innovation but also warmth, dedication, and a commitment to wellness.

We’re proud to welcome their leadership, craftsmanship, and passion for elevating the cannabis experience.

#WelcomeJerseySmooth #CannabisExtracts #VapeInnovation #CannabisCommunity #CannabisQuality #CannabisIndustry #CCAMembers

Pumped to be holding a panel with this amazing group of industry leaders on Thursday at 10:50am at #MJBizCon 2025. Let's catch up in Las Vegas this December 2 -5. Will be posted up at CannaBIZ Collects booth #7112.

See you at MJBizCon and use my 15% off discount code to attend: SPR25 Link to Registration: https://lnkd.in/djfR2YdB

Collections has always had a bad reputation.

But when we get feedback like this from our clients, it reminds us why we do what we do.

At CannaBIZ Collects, we take on the messy side of the industry: the unpaid balances, the tough conversations, the stress most operators don’t want to deal with. 

So our clients can focus on growth.

We appreciate the trust so many brands have placed in us, and we’ll keep pushing to raise the bar and move this industry forward.

It's been harder than ever not to lean on AI for writing content or emails.. 

It's almost like needing your big bro/sis to proofread everything you write, before you ship it. 

I kinda hate it...

But at the same time, I know the power of AI "polishing" up us humans. Esp in business. 

Making our ideas more clear. More concise. And potentially more impactful.

So if technology starts doing all the heavy lifting for us

Where not only do we not need to check our own grammar, we technically don't even need to write without a few bullets of an idea. 

It's evident our brains are starting to atrophy. 

For me, I notice my previous confidence of writing a badass email or proposal has dwindled. 

One of my strongest attributes to close a deal or mediate a situation in business.

And now, its like ehhh this could probably be written better. Or I don't feel like putting in the energy to look for a word or phrase. 

I'm already seeing more and more AI created profile pics on LinkedIn. 

And can guess that 90%+ of posts are AI generated or at least re-worked.

So not only are the faces "nonhuman" now the content is too. 

As exciting as the AI technology is.... 

I am least trying to write on my own. Once in a while..

Who else is trying to resist the new ultra comfort of AI dependency at work or in their writing?

Or are most just leaning in... and accepting their brains are being replaced by tech.  Cause I go back and forth on this one.

Insider tip... If you're trying to reach the MJBizCon audience this year, give this a look. Show directory that goes to every attendee with maps, booth listings, and notes pages. 

Contact sales@cannapages.com or 719-205-4127 for more info (you can get a 20% CCA discount if you mention us). Last call for ad placements is Thursday 11/13

Flipbook demo: https://lnkd.in/dEYKX9f8

CannaBIZ Collects and Cannabiz Credit Association will be in there... you should too. 

Always great working with Nathan Johnson.

Getting stronger every day to help push our industry forward. 

CCA provides the first and only way to check real-time credit scores and risk in the cannabis industry.

We’re excited to announce that Order.co has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Order.co is a modern, AI-powered procurement and finance automation platform that helps cannabis businesses streamline their purchasing lifecycle — from requisition to payment — with full visibility, compliance, and control. 

With Order.co, operators can:
- Eliminate manual ordering and invoice tasks with automated procurement and AP workflows 
- Gain real-time spend insights and enforce approval workflows to prevent out-of-policy purchases 
- Unlock flexible net-terms (30/45/60 days) for all purchases, improving working capital and cash flow 

Leverage AI sourcing to optimize supplier selection. The platform’s AI recommends cost-effective suppliers based on price, availability, and vendor reliability.

We’re proud to welcome Order.co’s innovation and strategic sourcing leadership to our association. They’re empowering cannabis businesses to scale smarter, save more, and operate with greater financial clarity.

#WelcomeOrderCo #CannabisProcurement #FinTech #CannabisFinance #CannabisOperations #SpendManagement #CannabisIndustry

Proud of the work our team is doing to uncover the gaps that rescheduling won’t fix. Tax relief is great, but without true credit visibility, cannabis operators are still playing with one hand tied behind their back.

Schedule III may remove 280E, but it won’t fix one of the cannabis industry’s biggest financial barriers — credit invisibility.

Even with potentially massive tax relief, most cannabis operators will still struggle to be seen by the traditional credit system. The major credit bureaus remain cautious about onboarding cannabis-related data as long as federal law hasn’t resolved the gap between state-legal markets and federal compliance frameworks.

And without credit reporting, improved cash flow doesn’t translate into better lending terms, lower interest rates, or stronger credit profiles.

In short:
 ✅ Better financials
 ❌ Still invisible to the U.S. credit system
Until federal banking reform addresses this gap, rescheduling alone won’t unlock true financial access for the industry.

📘 Read the complete analysis here - https://lnkd.in/gDH5pm2m

#CannabisIndustry #CannabisBanking #CreditReporting #ScheduleIII #CannabisFinance #CannabisBusiness #BankingReform

leah heise

Standard Wellness Maryland

Board Member

Wolf Meyer

As a Partner at Wolf Meyer, Leah Heise leverages her extensive experience as an executive and regulatory attorney to guide businesses through the complexities of scaling, compliance, and growth in the cannabis industry. She is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and innovation, helping clients navigate challenges and seize opportunities in highly regulated and emerging markets
• Advise future focused leaders, companies, and investors in the cannabis and hemp industry globally.
• Provide consulting services to drive strategic growth and market expansion.
• Serve on boards to offer valuable insights and guidance for business development.

Partner

Gemini Twin Consulting, LLC

Direct the overarching vision of the consulting firm. Steer operational plans that drive bottom line success and secure the company's reputation in the cannabis industry. Develop strategies that senior leaders and their advisory teams can employ to grow the valuation of companies in, and expanding into, the cannabis arena. 
Key Achievements
*CSC Events, LLC grew to a valuation of $8M in less than 4 years and led to a successful sale of the company.
*Guided Safe Arbor to develop a GTM and capital markets strategy for its innovative contactless product delivery system.

Founder & CEO

Kearney

Leverage my expertise in cannabis to provide customized solutions on strategic transformations, sku assortment, pricing and promotions, brand development, scalable infrastructure, team building, and labor management to meet their market penetration goals. 
Key Achievements:
*Won key accounts that established Kearney in the cannabis industry
*Aided new cannabis industry entrant through transformative processes to increase EBITDA
*Conducted demand planning, brand and assortment strategy for mid-size MSO

Constellation Advisor

Chesapeake Integrated Health Institute, LLC

Defined the dispensary's structure, design, and comprehensive operational plans executed by the leadership team. Negotiated multi-million dollar contracts with contractors and vendors. Coordinated the workflow to ensure deliverables were met on time. Forged partnerships with industry groups, government representatives, local business bureaus and community groups.
Key Achievements:
* Soft-circled $9M in re-application funding and raised more than $3M in capital.
* Orchestrated the acquisition of the dispensary by 4Front Ventures resulting in a 10x ROI to investors.

Founder & President

Heise & Heise, LLP

General Legal Practice: Medical Cannabis Licensing, Medical Cannabis Business Regulatory Compliance, Business Formation, Business Strategy and Growth Management, Property tax appeals, Condominium documents, Wills, Estates, Loan documents

Of Counsel

Ascend Wellness Holdings

Built and led the Legal, Administrative, Compliance, and HR departments in ways that allowed for continued scalability as the company grew. Established processes and procedures, such as a centralized document management system and better career training of standard operating procedures, that streamlined retail operations and lowered compliance violations. Built external stakeholder involvement with government regulators.
Key Achievements:
*Customer throughput increased transactions from 100 per day to 2000 per day in Ilinois market.
*New HR department resulted in employee headcount growing from 73 to 1,354 in 18 months.
*Oversaw new license and renewal applications and managed compliance operations in multiple states.
* Led COVID response efforts that kept the company operational while scaling from $19M to $266M in revenue in 18 months.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

4Front

Chief Compliance Officer

Created the company's HR infrastructure to support onboarding, job performance tracking, staffing plans and record management systems. Built Outreach and Compliance departments from ground up. Created and launched compliance protocols that guided the work of all employees and maintained compliance to established laws and regulations across six states. Worked interdepartmentally to ensure the timely build out of dispensary operations in PA and MD. 
Key Achievements:
*New workflow allowed for the rapid hiring and onboarding of 180+ employees in six months. 
*Introduced sustainable processes for investigating and resolving employee complaints and compliance issues. 
*Developed compliance trainings on issues such as sexual harassment training, bullying, and HIPAA compliance. Oversaw the drafting and implementation of SOPs and audits for complying with cannabis regulations in five states.
*In conjunction with COO, worked on design, throughput and fulfillment models of the retail locations.

Chief Experience Officer (CXO)

Women Grow

Built the overarching framework and led the largest professional network of females in the cannabis industry. 
Key Achievements
*Generated $300K in revenue in six months
*Built a profitable Leadership Summit with over 2,500 attendees
*Increased diversity by more than 300%

Arbonne International LLC

Network Marketing; sales of skincare and health wellness products; motivational public speaking; team management.
Key Achievements
*Built a team and sold sufficient product to qualify for Regional Vice President in 3 months
*Awarded a Mercedes in 6 months
*Developed and delivered trainings on how to sell successfully to thousands of entrepreneurs

Executive Regional Vice President

As a Partner at Wolf Meyer and the Founder and CEO of Gemini Twin Consulting, I specialize in providing strategic consultations to clients within emerging markets, including cannabis and hemp. With over a decade of operational experience and a background in law, I excel at:

* Navigating complex regulatory landscapes
* Optimizing operations and enhancing scalability
* Organizational design and change management
* Achieving growth and profitability objectives

Throughout my career, I have built a proven track record of delivering transformative solutions that drive measurable outcomes, including:

* Increasing EBITDA for both emerging and established highly regulated enterprises
* Founding and successfully exiting a dispensary
* Serving as a C-suite executive for two publicly traded multi-state operators (MSOs)

My passion lies in advancing highly regulated industries through:

* Innovation and fostering collaboration
* Designing and implementing productivity enhancement strategies
* Leading cross-functional teams
* Making critical, high-impact decisions to create value for clients and stakeholders

If you're seeking an experienced leader with a history of operational excellence, strategic insight, and industry advocacy to support executive or board-level roles, I’d welcome the opportunity to connect and discuss how I can bring value to your organization.

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Brett Gelfand

Leah Heise

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Leah Heise

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Brett Gelfand's LinkedIn Performance

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