Retail
10 cannabis retail operations experts
These ten professionals have led retail operations for cannabis dispensary operators, with titles ranging from director of retail to senior vice president of retail. A reader can learn from them how cannabis retailers run dispensary teams, keep stores compliant and open or grow store networks.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brianna Harper
LinkedInExperience: Director of Retail · Elevated Roots
Director of Retail at Elevated Roots since April 2021, with General Manager (2021–2022) and Operations-Inventory Manager (2021) roles at the company. The profile describes a Massachusetts cannabis retail leader with hands-on experience across the full store lifecycle, from Inventory Manager to General Manager to Director of Retail.
Casey J. Efting
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Of Retail Operations · Greenlight Dispensary
Senior Director Of Retail Operations at Greenlight Dispensary since October 2020, overseeing the operations and national expansion of the retail division in states including Missouri, South Dakota and Illinois. At The Green Solution the roles were Senior Regional Manager of Retail- Colorado (2017–2020) and Retail General Manager (2015–2017).
Craig Evans
LinkedInExperience: Director, Retail Operations · Curaleaf
Director, Retail Operations at Curaleaf since March 2024, a role the profile lists at director level in operations. Other Curaleaf roles include Senior Manager, Retail Operations (2022–2024), Retail Field Operations Manager (2021–2022), Regional Manager (2020–2021) and Dispensary Manager (2019–2020), the last of these in Lake Worth Beach.
Josephine Poupet
LinkedInExperience: Director of Retail Operations · ILLA Canna - A Blaze Life Company
Director of Retail Operations at ILLA Canna - A Blaze Life Company since April 2021, where the profile describes opening a retail store that generated $1.9M in net revenue in its first year, growing revenue 30% year over year and managing the acquisition and transition of a second retail location. Former General Manager at Urban Treez (2018–2021).
Michelle Stormo
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Retail · PharmaCann Inc
Senior Vice President, Retail at PharmaCann Inc since January 2025, leading retail operations, merchandising, marketing and planning across an 8-state network of 1,000+ employees. Other PharmaCann roles include Vice President of Stores and Operations (2023–2025), Vice President Of Retail Operations (2022–2023) and Director Of Retail Operations (2020–2022).
Ryan Woolrich
LinkedInExperience: Director of Retail Operations · Silver State Relief
Director of Retail Operations at Silver State Relief since June 2022, overseeing compliance, sales and customer service at one of Nevada's largest medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries. Other Silver State Relief roles include Compliance Manager (2020–2022), Store Manager (2018–2020) and Store Supervisor (2016–2018).
Sara Gunther-Jackson
LinkedInExperience: Retail Operations Director Missouri · Curio Wellness
Retail Operations Director Missouri at Curio Wellness since October 2025 and Regional Manager - Southeast Missouri at Greenlight Dispensary since November 2023. Former General Manager at Greenlight Dispensary (2020–2025). The profile describes over five years leading multi-unit cannabis retail operations across Missouri, including sales performance, compliance execution and workforce planning.
Shannon Dolson
LinkedInExperience: Director of Retail Operations · Trulieve
Former Director of Retail Operations at Trulieve (2023–2025), and Director of Retail Solutions there since September 2025. Other Trulieve roles include Retail Operations Manager (2022–2023), Area Manager (2018–2022) and General Manager (2017–2018). The profile describes over a decade in cannabis retail with a focus on process improvement and scalable systems across multi-state retail.
Vinit Patel, PharmD.
LinkedInExperience: Snr. Director Retail Operations · Curaleaf
Snr. Director Retail Operations at Curaleaf since March 2023, and former National Director Of Retail Operations at Curaleaf (2020–2023). Other roles include Regional Sales Manager at Curaleaf (2018–2020). The profile describes a multi-state cannabis operations professional focused on operational excellence in retail operations, revenue growth and customer experience.
Yessenia Vargas
LinkedInExperience: Director of Retail Operations · AYR Florida
Director of Retail Operations at AYR Florida since October 2022. Other AYR Florida roles include Director of Retail Sales (2018–2022), a role in which the profile describes growing the retail landscape from 45 employees to 300+ and opening 45 dispensaries, and Senior Manager of Patient Care Operations & Logistics (2018–2019).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's state markets and store count to your own, since cannabis rules and competition vary a lot by state and a single dispensary runs differently from a multi-state chain. Also consider whether your main need is compliance and inventory control, store openings and expansion, or sales and customer experience.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you set up dispensary processes so that inventory tracking and compliance hold up under state audits?
- 02What do you look at first when opening a new dispensary location or taking over an acquired store?
- 03How do you hire, train and keep dispensary staff in a fast-changing regulated market?
Reaching cannabis retail operations experts
How can I contact one of these cannabis retail operations experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Elevated Roots, Greenlight Dispensary and Curaleaf, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach cannabis retail operations experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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