OUR LEADERSHIP

Scott Sparks spent 45 years in food service, with the last 30 years spent in food service sales management. His most recent food service position was as VP of Sales for Black River Produce, a local Vermont company bringing farm-to-table products to the marketplace. 

In 2017, after a major corporation purchased Black River Produce, which was no longer locally owned and driven, Scott decided to jump off a cliff and open a hemp store. In April 2018, that vision became Vermont Hempicurean, a retail and online business in Brattleboro, VT, offering locally grown and produced hemp products. 

In 2022, Scott moved Vermont Hempicurean out of downtown Brattleboro into a big red barn in West Brattleboro and expanded to include his new businesses, Vermont Grow Barn, selling cannabis grow supplies, and Vermont Bud Barn, offering legal cannabis. He also started a cultivation business called In The Weeds. 

Scott has "grown" with the hemp and cannabis marketplace in Vermont and looks forward to adding his input to the future of cannabis in Vermont.

Miriam Wood is a long-term Vermont resident who is a mother, entrepreneur, and advocate for minority representation in the cannabis industry. She is passionate about the role cannabis can play in the holistic approach to wellness and self-care. She has strong beliefs in the strength of community outreach, social equity, and movement towards policy changes in social justice. 

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and multiple cannabis related knowledge proficiency certificates. In her free time, Miriam enjoys spending time with her kids, cooking, kayaking, gardening.

Dusty brings a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to his role as Vice Chair of the Cannabis Retail Association of Vermont (CRAV). With over 15 years of leadership in high-end retail sales at Luxottica, Dusty transitioned to the legacy cannabis market, first as a grower, then as an expert in extraction, creating a line of legacy topical and edible infusions. In June 2022, Dusty founded Cambridge Cannabis Company, assembling a team dedicated to bringing the best cannabis products to the community. Leveraging his expertise in purchasing and negotiation, he has created a thriving retail cannabis market. Dusty's entrepreneurial spirit has also led to the launch of Vermont Heady Labels and Heady Decals, Modern Day Kannabis, and a new line of infused beverages. Additionally, he has been involved in bringing many cannabis products to market. Dusty's dedication to the cannabis industry continues to drive innovation and excellence in every venture he undertakes.

Michelle brings a unique and heartfelt perspective to our organization, with her diverse background and dedication to our mission. Her journey from education to the cannabis industry, driven by personal experiences and a desire to make a positive impact, adds compassion and empathy to our board. Her commitment to supporting medical patients and driving philanthropic initiatives is evident in her actions, guiding us toward sustainable growth and meaningful community engagement. Michelle possesses expertise in the cannabis industry, including business management, cultivation, and compliance. Her passion for advocacy and patient-centered care complements her professional knowledge.

As a leader, Michelle demonstrates strong communication skills and a collaborative spirit, guided by a firm ethical compass. These qualities make her a valuable asset in shaping our strategic direction, enhancing fundraising efforts, and developing impactful programs. Michelle's ability to incorporate personal experiences and insights into her work ensures that our organization remains grounded in empathy and authenticity, leading to positive outcomes for all stakeholders. We are confident that her contributions will be instrumental in advancing our mission and achieving our goals.

Capital Cannabis Company was founded by Lauren Andrews, a registered nurse, clinical aromatherapist, and a graduate of University of Vermont’s Cannabis Science and Medicine Certification Program.

Lauren has always been drawn to those struggling with mental illness and served as a charge nurse/nursing supervisor at the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Vermont and at the Vermont State Hospital, roles which clarified her desire to explore and expand complimentary options for addressing both physical and mental dis-ease. The growing body of scientific evidence supporting the use of cannabis inspired Lauren to launch AroMed Essentials in Montpelier, an organic essential oil and Vermont CBD retail and online company in 2013. She felt called to introduce and educate her community about plant-based health options that support a higher quality of life, along with providing affordable, effective, evidence based Vermont sourced products.

Opening Capital Cannabis Company was a natural next step in normalizing the sale and use of cannabis to both locals and visitors alike.

Kate is a native Vermonter, lifelong cannabis advocate, and entrepreneur as the founder of Yellowbird, a tier-one cannabis company in Jericho. Before transitioning to the regulated market, Kate was an active participant in Vermont’s legacy cannabis scene, building a deep connection to the plant and community.

In addition to her cultivation experience, Kate has a strong background in customer relations and communication. As co-owner of Kate’s Food Truck with her husband, Jon, she has honed her business and leadership skills while building meaningful connections within the community.

Kate brings her passion, industry knowledge, and dedication to building a thriving, equitable cannabis market to her role on the board.

In her free time, she enjoys exploring Vermont’s outdoors with her dogs and horse, as well as attending live music events.

Prior to launching Polestar Cannabis, Jon spent 14 years streamlining retail operations for Vermont-based Spare Time Entertainment, the largest privately held FEC (Family Entertainment Center) chain in the US. Earlier in his career, Jon held a number of technical consulting positions including tenures with PwC and Blackbaud Inc., where he managed the implementation of accounting and ERP systems. Jon’s technical and accounting skills led to multiple startup opportunities in CA and VT where he led technical operations and managed teams in the US and abroad.

Jon’s professional career began in Princeton NJ where he grew up and where he founded a landscape contracting company in 1987 after graduating from St. Lawrence University. He still loves to work outdoors, growing his personal Cannabis Garden, inspired initially by the positive effects that the plant has had on his own life and health which includes three successful cancer surgeries.

Jon moved to Vermont with his family in 2003 and is the proud father of three girls, all of whom grew up in Williston VT and attended UVM. Jon’s passion for the outdoors, and skiing in particular, has landed him in Crested Butte, CO and San Francisco CA prior to moving to Vermont. It has also inspired him to launch a ski-inspired Cannabis brand called Reprieve.

Jon is the founder and CEO of Polestar Cannabis located in Randolph VT.

Born and raised in South Burlington, Vermont, Sam has always had a passion for agriculture and entrepreneurship.  After graduating from American University in 2017 with a degree in finance, Sam decided to return home and work at his family’s dairy farm in Alburg, Vermont. During this time Sam decided to grow 10 acres of hemp, beginning a journey that would lead to the creation of Sunset Lake CBD, a vertically integrated business crafting CBD products with hemp grown at the family farm. Sunset Lake CBD now sells CBD products to all 50 states, all while remaining true to its roots as a family farm, now located in South Hero. In 2022 Sam launched Sunset Lake Cannabis, another farming business designed to serve Vermont’s new recreational cannabis market. In 2023, Sam launched Lake Effect, a Cannabis dispensary in South Hero, Vermont.

Sam believes that Vermont’s small locally-owned businesses are what give our cannabis market such a unique character.  As a CRAV board member, Sam is working hard to preserve what makes Vermont’s cannabis market special, while also meeting with lawmakers and the Cannabis Control Board to develop policies that improve the market for licensees and consumers.

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