My Story

I’m a cannabis chemist and industry expert based in Michigan with nearly a decade of hands-on experience in retail, cultivation, and processing. My work bridges the gap between scientific precision and business reality, helping brands make smarter decisions grounded in data and real-world insight.

But none of this started in a lab. It started on a fire engine!

In 2016, I medically retired from the fire service and began navigating chronic health issues. Cannabis entered my life not as a career move, but as a last resort. What started as relief quickly became a curiosity and I quickly found myself diving headfirst into the industry. After obtaining a medical card and enrolling in the caregiver program, I started work as a budtender. From there, I moved into the processing lab, managing ethanol and hydrocarbon extraction, product formulations, and general operations. I helped build and scale two caregiver labs during the early days of Michigan’s yet-to-be-regulated market.

When legislation changes and struggles to obtain licensure paused processing lab operations in 2019, I didn’t walk away. I decided to double down on cannabis as a career and enrolled in Lake Superior State University’s Cannabis Chemistry degree, one of the only ACS-accredited chemistry degrees in the country with a cannabis focus. I earned my B.S. in Cannabis Chemistry with a minor in Biochemistry, plus a certificate in Microscopy and Microanalysis. That training gave structure to everything I had already been learning on the ground.

At LSSU, I leaned in. I served as President of the campus cannabis club and Vice President of student government, where I focused on political action and university development. During my term, I introduced or co-sponsored eight resolutions that helped direct over $120,000 in funding toward student-focused initiatives. These included a new food pantry, wellness and safety programs, infrastructure improvements, and the formation of a Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter.

In parallel, through my leadership in the cannabis club, I secured over $50,000 in external industry donations for safety attire and lab equipment. These funds were sourced from partnerships I built with cannabis operators and brand leaders, many of whom supported our mission to expand access to cannabis science education and connect students to real-world opportunities.

I also served on the academic curriculum committee, where I collaborated with faculty to strengthen the Cannabis degrees through industry-aligned course recommendations. As part of my outgoing advocacy, I introduced a successful vote of no confidence through the Student Government in the interim university president, which addressed growing concerns about transparency and fair treatment of students in cannabis-related programs. This became a turning point that initiated broader institutional dialogue around inclusion and accountability.

That commitment to accountability didn’t stop at the campus level. We challenged the industry too!

For my senior research, I led a study investigating polymer leaching in cannabis vape cartridges - a topic that, until recently, had received very little attention. What began as an attempt to develop a method for heavy metal detection evolved into something unexpected. Our analysis uncovered evidence that certain polyester-based thermoplastics used in vape hardware were leaching into cannabis oil under heat. Specifically, our findings suggest that PCTT, a copolyester commonly used in hardware marketed as food-safe, may not be as chemically inert as previously assumed.

The research is currently undergoing peer review and is being prepared for publication in ACS Omega. While the findings are still early, they raise critical questions about consumer safety, product labeling, and the materials science behind regulated cannabis devices. For an industry that often markets purity and precision, the presence of undetected microplastic leaching poses deeper implications than most realize.

I understand this industry from both sides of the glass. I’ve pitched to investors, built supply chains, led scientific research, and created public-facing content that bridges the gap between what happens in the lab and what matters to consumers. Whether I’m developing formulations, interpreting data, or designing systems, I bring depth, range, and real field experience to every project.

This site is more than a resume. It is a snapshot of what I’ve built, what I know, and what I’m still exploring. If you’re looking for someone who can blend science with business and deliver under pressure, I’d love to connect.