- Entrepreneurship10
- Sales8
- Customer Service8
- Business Development5
Hi there! My name is Karson, and I am the Founder & CEO of Vangst. Thanks for stopping by my Vangst profile and being part of our community! I love skiing, running, hiking, road bicycling, golf, and almost any outdoor activity you can think of (besides football and baseball). I also love listening to audiobooks and podcasts (and always looking for new recommendations). I am passionate about entrepreneurship and I love meeting and connecting with other entrepreneurs and people working in startups. When I was in college, I was running a student travel company called On Track Adventures. I sent my database of students and recent college graduates an email asking which industries they were interested in landing a job in. When 75% came back saying cannabis – I had an aha moment. I set out to Colorado to launch Gradujuana (now Vangst) which has become the cannabis industry’s largest network of professionals.
- Retail4
- Compliance4
- Account Management6
- Workforce Planning2
- Recruiting9
I love building relationships, and relationships are what this industry is built upon. I have a deep network of trusted partners, talented connections, and a wealth of industry knowledge to set my candidates and partners up for success. As one of the original team members at Vangst, I’ve had the privilege of building some of the most beloved brands in the industry. I’ve partnered with cannabis companies in 25+ states and 5 countries working with teams ranging from first time license winners to multi-state-operators and everywhere in between. I know what companies need and I know how to scout, coach, and cultivate top tier talent for each of my partnerships. Why? Because I’m going to tell you the truth. Working in this industry is not easy, and love for the plant is not enough. In order to build a successful career in cannabis, you’ll need to rely on people who have your best interest and long term growth in mind. My goal is to go beyond a typical recruitment process to ensure that each company and candidate I work with is set up for success — whether its creating hiring plans for companies or educating my candidate pool on local compliance regulations, I strive to do more than your average recruiter.
- Communication5
- Customer Service10
- Relationship Building5
- Training & Development3
- Business Development4
Making connections is one of my strong suits. Whether I am assisting in technical support or facilitating a monetary transaction I ensure a pleasurable experience. I deliver timely solutions to customers and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction. My attention to detail allows me to handle various tasks while keeping calm and collected. I am able to simultaneously work through projects while keeping a clear channel of communication. I currently work for Vangst on the Customer Support team. Vangst is about community and connection. Vangst combines technology + human touch to provide a mix of job placement, career advocacy, customer consultation, on-demand expertise, and personalized growth for members of our network. I am process-oriented. I am able to identify business needs and understand what should be done. I find the most beneficial and efficient way of solving problems. I have a strong understanding of business needs therefore I have the ability to train and influence clients and customers.
- Recruiting2
- Salesforce.com3
- Networking7
- Marketing Strategy5
- Sales5
I am currently a cannabis professional working at Vangst as a BDR! I have done everything with Vangst from sales, recruiting, to even handling some of the marketing material at trade shows and pushing our name to the public! Cannabis Compassion: Cannabis should not be something that you have to hide or that you are ashamed of taking part in. Cannabis has helped me in both the medical and recreational sense. I had to have collar bone surgery when I was 18, cannabis helped me with the pain in healing from that surgery. As we see states across the nation beginning to legalize and decriminalize cannabis, I would like to see areas of public consumption, or coffee shops and bars that allow cannabis consumption. It would be nice to enjoy a public setting with your friends while also consuming cannabis openly.
- Recruiting2
- Leadership1
- Client Relations1
- Creativity3
- Candidate Acquisition2
I am a motivated and excited employee of the Cannabis Industry! I work with the Gigs team and with Gigs clients to match top temp to hire talent to top companies. Connect with me and let's chat about your opportunities in Cannabis! We’ve got work. As a seasoned member of the Gigs team at Vangst, let me help you tune your profile and get your foot in the door for a career in Cannabis. Maybe you’re just looking to make some extra cash, maybe you aspire to something more permanent. Whatever your station, getting your feet wet with a Vangst Gig is a great way to start networking and gaining experience in the tight-nit, close community that is Cannabis. We are always looking for great candidates for temporary and temp-to-hire opportunities across positions including Trimming, Packaging, Budtending, Harvesting, Joint Rolling, Drivers, Accounting, Human Resources, and everything in between.
- TV
- Sales2
- Recruiting2
- Salesforce.com1
- Sales Prospecting1
- Organization Skills10
Probably the most relaxed and motivated recruiter in the industry! Helping others who are passionate as I am about the cannabis industry start their career is what I am all about! With experience ranging from formatting resumes to walking candidates through the hiring process as they travel to their first cannabis related job, I can help you with it all! We’ve got work. As a seasoned member of the Gigs team at Vangst, let me help you tune your profile and get your foot in the door for a career in Cannabis. Maybe you’re just looking to make some extra cash, maybe you aspire to something more permanent. Whatever your station, getting your feet wet with a Vangst Gig is a great way to start networking and gaining experience in the tight-nit, close community that is Cannabis. We are always looking for great candidates for temporary and temp-to-hire opportunities across positions including Trimming, Packaging, Budtending, Harvesting, Joint Rolling, Drivers, Accounting, Human Resources, and everything in between
- Cannabis Product Knowledge4
- Business Development5
- Marketing Strategy10
- Cannabis Laws and Regulations4
- Campaign Strategy10
Learn more about Ben and his work at www.HeyMervis.com Ben Mervis is a marketing and operations consultant working throughout New England, primarily in Massachusetts and Vermont. Prior to working in the cannabis and hemp industries, Ben built and managed public health brands for local, state, and federal government agencies. For nearly a decade, Ben has brought passion and authenticity to mass marketing and communications, creative content production, partnership development, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Ben’s work focuses on education, destigmatization, and inclusion of underrepresented and marginalized audiences, with a personal dedication to the LGBTQ+ communities. Ben is a fierce proponent of reducing the industry's carbon impact, implementing B-Corporation sustainability standards, and organizational policies that address diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Expansion Strategies7
- Business Development5
- Brand Development10
- Sales12
- Management12
Natasha began her career in the natural foods industry working as a sales management professional for high-growth trailblazing brands such as, Udi’s Gluten Free, Teatulia and Simple Mills. Being a Colorado native she was close to the burgeoning cannabis industry and after an unexpected health event found herself looking for a new career that kept her closer to home. Natasha’s first foray into the cannabis industry was with Pax Labs Inc, where she established the dispensary channel and launched the Era Vaporizer in Colorado and California. Following her time with Pax, Natasha consulted for several distinctive cannabis brands such as Lord Jones, Vangst and Mary’s Nutritionals prior to joining the 1906 team as Director of Corporate Development. As Director of Corporate Development, Natasha is an early employee and works alongside the CEO & Founder of 1906, Peter Barsoom. Over the last four years she has focused on a range of corporate development projects including product, business and organizational development, competitive licensing and growth strategy. In addition to her role at 1906 Natasha serves as an equity advisor at STO Responsible and Vangst.
