Level Agency

Chief Executive Officer

Managing Partner & President

President

Senior Vice President of Operations

Developed product and market strategies that positioned the company to achieve long term growth, while meeting annual revenue and profitability goals. Continually identified and assessed new markets, product and technology opportunities and ensured resources were in place to drive marketing strategy and capitalize on opportunities. 

• Served as a key and active member of the senior management operating team
• Provided leadership for the development of global strategic marketing plans including objectives and strategy for targeted markets
• Drove efforts with product and business development to define an overall product and technology portfolio strategy to drive the long term growth of the organization
• Ensured the development of all strategic product roadmaps and corresponding marketing plans
• Continuously evaluated trends and adjusted strategy to capitalize on shifts in the marketplace. 
• Analyzed existing product and markets in terms of the ability to compete, gain market share, grow revenue and sustain or grow profitability
• Monitored business metrics in regard to revenues, profitability, market share and product portfolio mix. 
• Established metrics for the measurement of marketing program effectiveness
• Developed and manage the marketing budget
• Responsible (in collaboration with sales) for the development of the company’s revenue forecast
• Responsible for the overall management of the marketing team providing coaching, leadership and assistance with resources and strategy development

Vice President of Technology and Product

Member

Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

CallerReady LLC

Responsible for developing and implementing a product roadmap for the company that ensures development and testing of high quality, high value products/services that can be successfully marketed to consumers. Also responsible for leading the development of strategies to migrate customer service and sales onto a completely self service platform. 

• Drive the implementation of a Product roadmap within the company.
• Manage the existing stable of products and lead the ongoing development of enhancements to support increased value to customers.
• Gather and analyze feedback from sales, marketing, operations and partners/prospects to set the strategic vision for existing products and development of new products.
• Manage the execution of consumer research to further support rationale for product development and positioning within the marketplace.
• Direct our internal process to define the product strategy, roadmap and priorities.
• Research, develop & implement a best processes strategy for new product development, launch and analysis.
• Develop requirements documents and use cases for new product features.
• Monitor the status of development projects supporting new features
• Become an expert on other products in the marketplace
• Product life cycle & profitability management.
• Provide guidance and direction to the team on developing new products and managing the lifecycle of existing products
• Build a team to support rapid growth expectations.
• Develop & implement strategy to drive product and customer service onto the web.

Director of Interactive and Product Development

EDMC

As a member of EDMC Online Higher Education marketing department, the Search Manager is responsible for leading and executing search engine strategy for all OHE brands. This position entails development & management of search marketing plans, keyword campaigns, SEO, search inclusion and interactive advertising programs; negotiating contracts, monitoring results and making necessary adjustments in order to generate high-quality, cost-effective student inquiries. 

•	Direct and coordinate multiple “cross-platform” projects while working within established deadlines. 
•	Develop and implement strategy for Internet advertising campaigns designed to increase web site visitors, generate quality student inquiries, and strengthen all EDMC online brands. 
•	Manage and administer EDMC brands’ online budgets.
•	Ensure accuracy (BPC compliance) and quality of all electronic advertising and marketing creative.
•	Develops a collaborative relationship with EDMC to assure online marketing initiatives are in sync with EDMC philosophies and procedures.
•	 Adhere to budget constraints and adjustments while continuing to increase inquiries and web site traffic through the respective EDMC brands’ online marketing campaigns. 
•	Remain current with and possess a thorough understanding of available online advertising, SEO and marketing vehicles as well as measurement tools. 
•	Analyzes current procedures and processes to assure optimal utilization of web-based and email marketing initiatives. 
•	Monitor/track results of online marketing vehicles purchased.

HIGHLIGHTS
•	Launched 3000+ page online education directory portal site from concept to completion in 3 months (2010)
•	Directly managed $20+ million marketing budget to drive year over year growth and drive direct response initiatives (2008-2010)

Search Marketing & Display Advertising Manager

• Analyze Web traffic using Omniture, Google Analytics, and other data collecting sources to support the analytic needs of the business
• Lead driving core insights from the data to suggest, create and execute multivariate or a/b/c tests that drive fundamental improvements to the site experience
• Develop and implement data strategy across multiple “listening posts” (websites, surveys, testing, CRM systems, market research etc) to provide a comprehensive view of students, faculty, and prospects across the online web experience 
• Work  with the Web Strategies team to identify gaps in the data capture strategy and implement enhancements  Improve and document processes for gathering metrics and data analysis

HIGHLIGHTS
•	Implemented multiple analytics software packages throughout web experience to facilitate creation of executive dashboards and reports (2007-2009)

Web Strategies Analyst

• Ownership for operational results of recruitment websites.  Personally manage and drive daily performance of metrics against internal requirements as well as competitive positioning
• Web strategy development including ensuring the brand experience by combining the convenience of on-line education with the experience of a top traditional school and making it come to life through our recruitment websites to support a consistent web-based end to end student experience.   Creates web environments to support the student recruitment goals and provide automation that supports growth and scale to the organization. 
• Provide leadership on web solutions development for the OHE organization.  Develop and manage scope, resources and project plans to deliver appropriate web solutions.
• Partner with OHE Marketing organization to implement marketing strategies.

HIGHLIGHTS
•	Introduced Landing Page Optimization and MVT testing to company leading to 100-300%+ increases in conversion across three different brands (2007-2010)
•	Successfully oversaw implementation of new student recruitment initiatives including: marketing site redesigns, microsite launches, online student tours, and admissions tools (2008-2010)

Web Producer, Student Recruitment

Recruit new students to meet new student plan. Develop and maintain positive relationships with students. Provide creative solutions to complicated admissions problems. Contribute to a positive results driven professional work environment. Serve as a job knowledge expert, trainer, and mentor for new hire and veteran ADAs.

Director Of Admissions

The Dinner Pantry, Inc

Developing and executing the go-to-market strategy for a food service startup. Creating and fully developing company network infrastructure and e-commerce website. Responsible for the content and publication of said website by coordinating, designing, and monitoring electronic publications for distribution. Developing and implementing strategies to improve group marketing.

Head of Marketing & Product

In his tenure as president & CEO of Level Agency, Patrick Patterson oversaw its transformation from a pioneering, fast-growing higher education shop into the performance-marketing powerhouse it is today. Under his leadership, the agency’s revenue grew 30% or more annually; its profit margin increased 4X; its marketing spend now tops $50M annually, and its capabilities have broadened to offer more complementary services for more industries.

Great marketing starts with asking great questions. From the outset of his career, Patterson applied his background in computer science and math to the challenge of reaching and engaging audiences (and carefully measuring every result). In an industry increasingly driven by automation and machine learning, he excelled, ultimately managing a $30+ million budget for Education Management Corporation. Patrick then took his passion for creating value to product development, implementing lean methodology at a technology startup that focused on using data to drive efficient sales enablement.

His drive for efficiency, performance, and continuous improvement led him to join agency founder Thomas Donohoe in 2012 to oversee Level’s operations and strategic direction - eventually purchasing the company in 2021 with his partner, Patrick Van Gorder.

Patterson’s vision for Level Agency is to be the go-to performance marketing agency when clients want real, measurable results. Reaching this goal requires an uncompromising commitment to performance: platform excellence, compelling creative, client partnership, growth mindset, and constant innovation. By surrounding himself with talented, adaptable colleagues, he knows he’s set the agency up for success.

Patrick Patterson

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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