Managing Partner @ CannaBIZ Collects & CCA | 🌎 Travel | Innovative Disrupter | Helping companies collect their 💰

I’m driven by the challenge to build great businesses with great people to solve real problems. 

My career began in 2015 after being promoted to CEO of a vertically integrated cannabis company in Colorado, where I gained hands-on experience and deep insights into the industry.

Later, I co-founded a specialty child-resistant cannabis packaging business, where I served as CEO. In 2022, I sold my shares in the company, achieving a personal exit while the business continued operating independently.

Currently I’m the Founder & Managing Partner of CannaBIZ Collects, the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency started in 2017. In this role, I work to support cannabis businesses in navigating the unique legal and financial challenges related to A/R and collections.

I’m also the founder of the Cannabiz Credit Association, the first trade credit group in the cannabis industry, where we provide tools for risk monitoring and credit assessments to help businesses make better financial decisions and manage risk effectively.

I earned a BBA in Finance from The University of Georgia, and today, I’m based in St. Petersburg, FL. I’m committed to exploring new opportunities, improving business practices in the industry, and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact.

Brett Gelfand

I’m honestly getting tired of hearing cannabis professionals constantly complain about being owed money… while doing almost nothing to change how they operate.

Past-due A/R is not bad luck.
It’s not “just part of cannabis.”
And it’s definitely not solved by founders or sales leaders playing bill collector.

I fully sympathize with the challenges our industry face today. Which is why I take this so seriously. And passionately. 

Chasing invoices yourself is one of the worst uses of your time and energy:
-You have no leverage
-You have no system
-You delay escalation because it’s uncomfortable
-And you end up training customers that late payment is acceptable

That’s not grit. That’s inefficiency.

What actually works is boring, disciplined, and proactive:
-Clear credit decisions before product ships
-Defined terms with consequences
-Faster escalation, not endless “checking in”
-Delegating collections to people whose job is to collect, not hope

Every hour you spend sending “just following up” emails is an hour you’re not selling, operating, or fixing the root problem.

Cash flow is a strategy issue, not a personality issue.
If you’re constantly owed money, the system is broken, not just the customer.

At some point, you either course-correct with better process and accountability… or you keep complaining while funding other people’s businesses.

Your call.

Recovering unpaid 💰 and reducing credit risk for cannabis companies | Founder @ CannaBIZ Collects & Cannabiz Credit Association (CCA)

I used to think leadership was about force.

More effort.
More pressure.
More control.

That mindset worked early. Until it didn’t.

At some point, I stumbled into the ideas of Wayne Dyer, and it completely reframed how I try to show up as a founder and leader.

Not in a “woo-woo” way.
In a practical way.

Here’s the shift that mattered most:
You don’t build better companies by trying harder.
You build them by becoming clearer.

In business, that shows up as:
• Leading from intention, not ego
• Making decisions from alignment, not fear
• Letting go of outcomes you can’t control
• Creating environments where people rise naturally instead of being pushed
• Understanding that your inner state quietly dictates your external results

When I’m anxious, the company feels tight.
When I’m grounded, problems untangle faster.
When I trust instead of force, better people step up.

Wayne Dyer used to say:
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

That applies directly to leadership.

The best operators I know aren’t the loudest in the room.
They’re the calmest.
They listen deeply.
They act decisively without desperation.
They don’t confuse control with competence.

Modern leadership isn’t about dominance.
It’s about presence.

Pumped to have Seed Talent and Kurt Kaufmann onboard with the CCA.

CCA isn’t just for brands checking retailers. We support ancillary cannabis businesses as well, giving them visibility into the full B2B ecosystem. Whether you’re extending credit to retailers, brands, manufacturers, or service providers, better data leads to better decisions.

View company: Cannabiz Credit Association

We’re excited to announce that Seed Talent has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Seed Talent is a cannabis training and workforce enablement platform providing education and professional development tools to brands and retailers, helping teams perform better and scale with confidence. 🌱

We’re proud to welcome their expertise and commitment to advancing workforce excellence in cannabis.

#WelcomeSeedTalent #WorkforceEnablement #CannabisTalent #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness #CCAMembers

CCA is only picking up steam starting of 2026. 

Appreciate the team at AE Global for prioritizing best practices for protecting their revenue. 

Being the first and only true credit reporting platform in cannabis. Shedding light on critical insights so operators can finally KNOW THEIR CUSTOMER. 

Members of CCA take their cash flow and A/R seriously.

They choose to take a proactive approach to collections versus a reactive one.

Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to credit extension and AR collections in cannabis.

In fact, the opposite.

Chat with a member of www.cannabizcredit.com today if you want your team follow suit. And make a change to the way things were done in the past.

We’re excited to announce that AE Global has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

AE Global is a leading provider of turnkey extraction equipment, engineering solutions, and processing innovation for the cannabis and hemp industry. Their high-performance extraction systems, automation platforms, and process expertise help operators scale production with precision, efficiency, and compliance.

From equipment design to systems integration, AE Global empowers cultivators and manufacturers to optimize workflows and elevate product consistency across the supply chain.

We’re proud to welcome their innovation and technical leadership.

#WelcomeAEGlobal #CannabisTech #CannabisExtraction #PostHarvestInnovation #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness #SupplyChainCannabis #CCAMember

Heading into December 31 with delinquent, unpaid invoices raises an important question: how long are you willing to wait before escalating?

Tired of chasing? Visit www.cannabizcollects.com
and let our team get to work. 

We operate on purely contingency-only basis so you don't throw good $ or time after bad. 

Recovering lost money for cannabis operators has been our only focus since 2017.

Open article: Leading Cannabis Debt Collection Agency USA | CannaBIZ Collects by cannabizcollects.com

Leading Cannabis Debt Collection Agency USA | CannaBIZ Collects

Thanks Alex Halperin for doing a great job shedding light on what I believe is the most important topic in cannabis today. 

Shout out to the team at www.cannabizcredit.com for helping cannabis companies truly know their customers through first-of-its-kind credit reports, insights, and AR monitoring.

Hey #cannabisindustry,

Here's a new story from WeedWeek:

The industry has a dire problem with unpaid accounts receivable debt.

Cannabiz Credit Association is trying to fix it

Link in the comments

Bon Appétit Management Company

At Bon Appetit, I deliver operational excellence with a customer focus to delight our students with a wide-range of quality dining options. I’m committed to increasing student satisfaction and exceeding sanitation and safety standards through innovative, continuous program improvements. My passion is cultivating a positive atmosphere of growth, trust, and respect, through alignment with students, employees, and leadership. Here, I negotiate collective bargaining agreements to achieve multi-unit business objectives in record time. I apply an HACCP model for documenting operations, sanitation, and food safety standards.

Key Accomplishments: 
► Manage $14M budget for 6 campus location; directs 105 union employees.
► Achieved 8% improvement to budgeted projections in 2020, pre-COVID.
► More than doubled customer satisfaction rating to 89%, up from 39%. 
► Integrated composting practices of pre and post-consumed waste to significantly reduce garbage.
► Acquired local farm and artisan products equal to 28% of campus-wide food purchases.
► Increased meal plan participation up to 80% through enhanced offerings.

Director of Operations

I spearheaded initiatives to improve staff relationships, cultivating loyalty and respect campus-wide, resulting in achievement of projected company goals. I aligned with Wesleyan Dining to develop fiscal projections and accurate benchmarks for reporting. I streamlined key operational processes, implementing automated programs for greater efficiency. Additionally, I managed payroll, accounts payable, and inventory.

► Optimized $11M in sales volume.
► Transitioned team to automated time and attendance programs, improving efficiency.

Site Controller

Restaurant Associates, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum 

At Restaurant Associates, I Improved systems and workflows to better serve café customers. I practiced comprehensive forecasting, reporting, and sound analysis of trending financial data. I committed to serving clients, customers, and staff, carrying out operations through the holiday season though the corporation had decided to opt out of the museum contract.

Key Accomplishments: 
► Orchestrated $1.1M in sales volume and 3 direct reports.  
► Systematically improved efficiency and maximized revenue in café through new reservations program.
► Supported staff through end of the year, including two months post-completion of museum contract.

Food Service Director

Bee and Thistle Inn 

Chef, Proprietor 

Vienna Inn 

Kitchen Manager, Owner

Director of Operations | General Manager

Steering Bon Appétit's operations, my tenure reflects a steadfast commitment to elevating the student dining experience through cutting-edge improvements and meticulous safety practices. With a sharp focus on customer relations and attention to detail, my leadership has been pivotal in managing a $14M budget and directing a robust team across multiple campus locations.

Our mission transcends mere sustenance; it's about creating communal joy and satisfaction in every meal. Leveraging hospitality industry insights, I've excelled in fostering a culture where trust, respect, and growth flourish. It's this passion for reimagining food service excellence that continues to inspire our team to deliver outstanding results and forge a legacy of innovation at Bon Appétit.

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Brett Gelfand

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