CannaReps – A Year in Review from our Principal
Julie Domingo
January 24, 2023
In 2022, more cannabis retail stores closed down than opened. Many licensed producers downsized, merged or were acquired. This extreme volatility impacted people across our community who experienced massive shifts in their careers, from layoffs to new jobs and promotions.
As CannaReps moved through last year’s rough waters, we held our breath, took on some risks and delivered bespoke educational events to stimulate the industry and empower you and other cannabis professionals, like you, across the country.
Education, Corporate Training & Continued Education
This year, CannaReps certified another 500 Level 1 Cannabis Sommeliers to our alumni of 2000. These Cannabis Sommeliers displayed dedication to improving the industry through impactful product recommendations and deepening the cannabis conversation with their customers. Congratulations to all our new graduates on furthering their careers in the cannabis industry.
As the tsunami of COVID slammed the industry, CannaReps shifted away from the turbulent waters and established new collaborations with LPs. With full faith that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” we partnered with organizations that shared our vision of empowering the Budtender community. These collaborations took shape in private training sessions, group tastings and Collector’s Cup events. By strengthening our partnerships with the Budtenders Association, Lift, O’Cannabiz, and Grow Op, we connected with thousands of industry professionals across the country.
Not only did we rise with the tide, but CannaReps also provided customized training sessions to organizations across Canada including Sensi Brands, STÓ:LŌ Aboriginal SASET group, Healing House Medicinal, Tantalus Labs, Inspired Cannabis, and Rose Life Sciences. Whether these companies were onboarding new staff or developing employees for improved effectiveness, these organizations linked arms with CannaReps to grow our community. For organizations looking to improve their offering with better knowledge, skills, and service, please reach out to us for custom training sessions that focus on your products and brands.
Community & Events
Study Hall Sessions
These continuing education sessions are reserved for our Cannabis Sommelier students and graduates, old and new. We meet virtually every week to dive deep into the latest cannabis research and discuss the market’s hot products, poor-performing SKUs and product reviews of the latest drops. Our group includes LP product reps, product makers, growers, retail managers and product purchasers, and of course, Budtenders. If you are a student or a graduate, stay tuned for a special survey to lock down the schedule for 2023.
In July of 2022, CannaReps co-founder and Headmaster Adolfo Gonzalez departed CannaReps. This was a heavy blow to our team and students as his passion and knowledge are entrenched in the Cannabis Sommelier programs. As Adolfo continues his career in the industry as a Brand Ambassador for Sensi Brands, we will hold space in our hearts for him as a friend, mentor, professor and colleague.
One of our favourite cannabis immigrants from France, Axel Holin, our Business Development Manager, dedicated 9 months with us before moving on to work as a Sales and Training Manager at Seed and Stone. As with all CannaReps students and team members, we are proud to have provided a positive work experience that develops cannabis enthusiasts into skilled professionals that take their careers to new heights.
Mike Chyczij, Master Grower and Living Soil educator welcomed a new baby into the world. Dymetrius Mykhailo Chyczij was born prematurely at 28 weeks and in critical condition. We hope and pray that baby recovers to live a full life. As Mike’s newborn requires 24/7 care, he had to step away from work to care for his baby. The financial burden of being a new father can be overwhelming so we encourage you to read about and donate to baby Dymetrius here.
Sharon Singh, our COO and Dean of Students, has touched the lives of every single student through virtual or in-person support. Her operational and technical expertise has helped build the machine that runs our school so that we can deliver exceptional online and in-person educational experiences. You can see her work come to life on our website and learning platform, in live course productions and community events to name a few. Her passion for equitable cannabis and educational empowerment programs is the foundation for her unwavering kindness and dedication to the CannaReps community. She earned her right throughout her 4+ years and became a part owner/shareholder of CannaReps last spring.
2022 was a year of transition as society adjusted to the destabilizing effects of the COVID pandemic. For myself, over the pandemic I had transitioned from being an independent professional toker to reducing my cannabis consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding my firstborn child. When I lost Adolfo as a business partner, I transitioned out of my maternity leave and placed my baby boy into daycare. This massive shift in my personal life came with guilt for leaving my child at daycare but at the same time newfound excitement for diving back into the cannabis industry. There is no other industry that I’ve worked in that holds an abundance of love and support. The community that we have built is thanks to you, our students and supporters. The community support that I experienced through our huge network of volunteers eager to help and our students sharing their success stories has been the fire and fresh air that stokes my motivation to continue to serve the cannabis industry through our educational programs. I am more excited than ever before to bring the CannaReps programs to life by engaging with cannabis retailers and producers of fine cannabis products.
With that said, Sharon and I will be going on tour across Canada and look forward to connecting with you in 2023.
Julie Domingo
CEO & Principal, CannaReps
MORE FROM THE BLOG
WAIVER & RELEASE (the “Release”)
This event is conducted by CannaReps Consulting Ltd. (“CannaReps or Company”). Please read and submit below.
I am an attendee at an event hosted by CannaReps (the “Workshop“). I release CannaReps from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me while participating in the Workshop.
I understand and agree that:
CONFIDENTIALITY
Any confidential or proprietary information or material relating to the Company’s operations or business which I obtain from the Company or its officers, employees, agents, suppliers or customers or otherwise by virtue of my participation with the Company or by the Company’s predecessor. Confidential or proprietary information or material includes, without limitation, the following types of information or material, both existing and contemplated, regarding the Company or its parent, affiliated or subsidiary companies: corporate information, including contractual licensing arrangements, plans, strategies, tactic, policies, resolutions, patents, trademarks, printed or digitized materials, handouts and brochures. Including any marketing information including sales, investment and product plans, customer lists, strategies, methods, customers, prospects and market research data. Including trade secrets; technical information, including drawings, designs, personal information (the “Confidential Information”).
I understand that the copyright and proprietary interest of any material provided to me belongs to CannaReps. All shared experiences from the Workshop are to remain confidential and private. I agree not to disclose any of the information learned during the Workshop outside of the Workshop except with others who attend the Workshop. I will not use any audio or video recording equipment during the Workshop, unless CannaReps approves of the recording and filming by providing prior written consent. I understand that any audio or video recording made during the Workshop is the property of CannaReps. I will not use CannaReps’ information for business or commercial purposes, without first obtaining the prior written consent of CannaReps.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
I understand, acknowledge and agree that all copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, intellectual property rights, and any other rights arising from any designs, and all of the work products and materials conceived, developed or created by the CannaReps and any rights ancillary thereto (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) which were solely or jointly with others, conceives, designs, creates, derives, develops or makes in the course of or in connection with the work with CannaReps shall belong solely to CannaReps. If you haven’t already, you shall promptly disclose to CannaReps in writing any and all Intellectual Property Rights, conceived, created, derived, developed or made in the course of or otherwise in connection with my participation with CannaReps, whether alone or with others, and whether during work shop hours or through the use of facilities and properties of CannaReps.
INDEMNITY
I agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CannaReps, its officers and directors, employees and its affiliates and their respective successors and assigns and each other person, if any, who controls any thereof, against any loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened or any claim whatsoever) arising out of or based upon any false representation or warranty or breach or failure by me to comply with any covenant or agreement made by me herein or in any other document furnished by me to any of the foregoing in connection with this transaction.
CONSENT
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, I consent to and grant CannaReps, the Workshop, and its assignees, the right to photograph and record me, my name, voice, appearance and likeness and other material furnished by me for use on trusted online media which include, but are not limited to, their website and social media pages. My hereby release said matter in perpetuity to CannaReps without prejudice and acknowledge that this consent is freely given without expecting compensation.
By submitting my email address below, I agree to receive electronic communication from CannaReps including personal course information, news, updates and promotions regarding CannaReps’ products. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time.
PRIVACY POLICY
Protecting your privacy is important to CannaReps. This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) set outs the ways in which we use your information and how we ensure its protection.
CannaReps will only collect personal information (“Information”) that will allow us to provide, enhance, market or improve our events and services. Information is collected by means of registration for any CannaReps sponsored event or service. Information collected may include name, age, gender, address, email address, payment information, and geographical information.
CannaReps may share Information. CannaReps retains the right to share Information and other statistics with our partners, prospective advertisers, and other third parties for the purposes of improving, protecting, enhancing, and promoting our events and services. CannaReps may also disclose information to our affiliates, agents, contractors, and service providers in order to facilitate the functioning and maintenance of our events and services. We will not sell any information to advertisers or other third parties.
This Privacy Policy only covers the treatment of Information and other non-identifiable information gathered by CannaReps. This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of any third-party services. CannaReps does not take responsibility for the content or privacy policies of any third parties. CannaReps recommends that you review the privacy policies of any third-party service providers or events you access, use, or register for through our events or services.
This Privacy Policy has been established to help you understand our commitment to protecting your privacy. CannaReps reserves the right, at any time, to change or replace any portion of our Privacy Policy. You will be notified of any changes, if we believe, they materially impact your experience at our events or services. Continued use of our services after any change to the Private Policy constitutes an acceptance of those changes.
By submitting this Release and providing Information during the registration process, including the Exhibitor’s Agreement, you consent to the collection and use of your Information for these purposes.
If you have any questions or concerns please email us at info@cannareps.ca.
