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 honestly getting tired of hearing cannabis professionals constantly complain about being owed money… while doing almost nothing to change how they operate.

Past-due A/R is not bad luck.
It’s not “just part of cannabis.”
And it’s definitely not solved by founders or sales leaders playing bill collector.

I fully sympathize with the challenges our industry face today. Which is why I take this so seriously. And passionately. 

Chasing invoices yourself is one of the worst uses of your time and energy:
-You have no leverage
-You have no system
-You delay escalation because it’s uncomfortable
-And you end up training customers that late payment is acceptable

That’s not grit. That’s inefficiency.

What actually works is boring, disciplined, and proactive:
-Clear credit decisions before product ships
-Defined terms with consequences
-Faster escalation, not endless “checking in”
-Delegating collections to people whose job is to collect, not hope

Every hour you spend sending “just following up” emails is an hour you’re not selling, operating, or fixing the root problem.

Cash flow is a strategy issue, not a personality issue.
If you’re constantly owed money, the system is broken, not just the customer.

At some point, you either course-correct with better process and accountability… or you keep complaining while funding other people’s businesses.

Your call.

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

I used to think leadership was about force.

More effort.
More pressure.
More control.

That mindset worked early. Until it didn’t.

At some point, I stumbled into the ideas of Wayne Dyer, and it completely reframed how I try to show up as a founder and leader.

Not in a “woo-woo” way.
In a practical way.

Here’s the shift that mattered most:
You don’t build better companies by trying harder.
You build them by becoming clearer.

In business, that shows up as:
• Leading from intention, not ego
• Making decisions from alignment, not fear
• Letting go of outcomes you can’t control
• Creating environments where people rise naturally instead of being pushed
• Understanding that your inner state quietly dictates your external results

When I’m anxious, the company feels tight.
When I’m grounded, problems untangle faster.
When I trust instead of force, better people step up.

Wayne Dyer used to say:
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

That applies directly to leadership.

The best operators I know aren’t the loudest in the room.
They’re the calmest.
They listen deeply.
They act decisively without desperation.
They don’t confuse control with competence.

Modern leadership isn’t about dominance.
It’s about presence.

Pumped to have Seed Talent and Kurt Kaufmann onboard with the CCA.

CCA isn’t just for brands checking retailers. We support ancillary cannabis businesses as well, giving them visibility into the full B2B ecosystem. Whether you’re extending credit to retailers, brands, manufacturers, or service providers, better data leads to better decisions.

View company: Cannabiz Credit Association

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

Seed Talent is a cannabis training and workforce enablement platform providing education and professional development tools to brands and retailers, helping teams perform better and scale with confidence. 🌱

We’re proud to welcome their expertise and commitment to advancing workforce excellence in cannabis.

#WelcomeSeedTalent #WorkforceEnablement #CannabisTalent #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness #CCAMembers

CCA is only picking up steam starting of 2026. 

Appreciate the team at AE Global for prioritizing best practices for protecting their revenue. 

Being the first and only true credit reporting platform in cannabis. Shedding light on critical insights so operators can finally KNOW THEIR CUSTOMER. 

Members of CCA take their cash flow and A/R seriously.

They choose to take a proactive approach to collections versus a reactive one.

Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to credit extension and AR collections in cannabis.

In fact, the opposite.

Chat with a member of www.cannabizcredit.com today if you want your team follow suit. And make a change to the way things were done in the past.

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

AE Global is a leading provider of turnkey extraction equipment, engineering solutions, and processing innovation for the cannabis and hemp industry. Their high-performance extraction systems, automation platforms, and process expertise help operators scale production with precision, efficiency, and compliance.

From equipment design to systems integration, AE Global empowers cultivators and manufacturers to optimize workflows and elevate product consistency across the supply chain.

We’re proud to welcome their innovation and technical leadership.

#WelcomeAEGlobal #CannabisTech #CannabisExtraction #PostHarvestInnovation #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness #SupplyChainCannabis #CCAMember

Multi-versed cannabis industry marketer with over 14 years of experience. I have worked inside recreational cannabis markets since 2016 assisting all levels of the supply chain and ecosystem with marketing, content, positioning, and lead generation.

As a former legacy operator holding previous experience across the music, apparel, and real estate industries, I have found a purpose in being a conduit between culture and business.

I am currently the Director of Community Relations & Brand Partnerships at ACTIVE, a leading cannabis vape hardware manufacture that was birthed from the plant and powers over 400 brands across the globe.

Mitch Pfeifer

My must attend cannabis industry events in 2026...

- Mary Jane Berlin: This is the BIGGEST cannabis event in the world. The largest companies with global supply chains are there, the energy of a continent coming online with eager consumers. You can see what branding, strains, and conversations are reaching from the US/internet to this hungry consumer demographic. You also get a glimpse of the future of the industry IMO.

- Hall of Flowers: After all these year's, this is still an insight into the heartbeat of the industry (California). The brands, the genetics, the players, the format that's often imitated and rarely duplicated.

- NECANN Boston: One of my favorite shows in the biz. I love Boston, love the Masshole homies, and am continually impressed with the quality of conversations and things to make this trip worthwhile and the ability to connect with so much of the buzzing NE in one place (plus incredibly fair entry price).

- MJ Unpacked: MJU has created a cool format and true community around those events. I have built new and strengthened old relationships at every one of their events. Intention really shines here.

- KIND Summer Fair: a great insight to the Canadian market, products, brands, and culture. Additionally, Canada is a LARGE player in the current International market and worth keeping a pulse on as the EU expands.

Other notable events: Zalympix, OCHBS, Flower Expo, MoCann, The Network Show, Interchange, MJBizCon

What region or event makes the most sense will always correlate to your individual and company goals. Not every event makes sense for every person and each one is what you make it whether you have a booth, sponsor, or are just attending...hustle is ALWAYS sold separately. 

For me, meeting new people is my #1 personal KPI that propels all aspects of business that I do, forward. Additionally, being in new places and having new conversations brings forth incredible inspiration and ideas.

What events are on your list for the year?

taplio

The Battle

Brett Gelfand

Mitch Pfeifer

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreBrett Gelfand's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMitch Pfeifer's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Brett Gelfand

Mitch Pfeifer

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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

Performance ScoreMitch Pfeifer's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreBrett Gelfand's LinkedIn Performance