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

“We already know who the good and bad payers are…”

We see this every day at Cannabiz Credit Association.

Then six months later they place $100,000+ in collections to CannaBIZ Collects.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Anecdotal memory is not a credit policy.

In cannabis, most credit decisions are still made based on:
- A rep’s personal experience
- Word of mouth
- “They’ve always paid us”
- A relationship from three years ago

That’s not risk management. That’s optimism disguised as familiarity.

And in a capital-constrained market, optimism is expensive.

The operators who’ve been humble enough to adopt data-backed credit risk ratings have seen something very different:

- Reduced DSO
- Fewer surprise defaults
- More disciplined credit limits
- Faster approvals with less internal debate

Because they stopped relying on:

1. Traditional trade credit associations with long meetings and delayed decision-making or 2. Legacy credit bureaus or new credit risk startups with little to no meaningful cannabis payment data

And started leveraging real cannabis payment data built on over 10 years of credit and collections experience in the industry.

Cannabis is not CPG.
It’s not manufacturing.
It’s not distribution in any other vertical.

You cannot underwrite it with generic data.

The best operators don’t assume they “just know.”

They validate what they think with real data… and not just blind scoring/heresay they trust. 

That humility is what protects margins.

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

We see these credit mistakes every day in the cannabis industry, not because teams don’t care, but because structure is missing.

1. Extending credit without vetting - Trust isn’t credit data. Without visibility into payment behavior and existing trade debt, you’re guessing and guessing is expensive.
2. No written escalation process - If there’s no clear plan for 30, 60, or 90 days past due, invoices stall. Delay weakens leverage and signals tolerance.
3. Waiting too long to act - The longer an invoice sits unpaid, the harder it is to recover. Early action protects both cash flow and relationships.
4. Confusing loyalty with risk tolerance - Familiar partners can still be high risk. Longevity doesn’t cancel financial reality.

In cannabis, credit discipline isn’t aggressive. It’s necessary. Good intentions don’t pay invoices.

Want to spot risk earlier? Cannabis-specific credit data makes the difference. 

#CannabisBusiness #CannabisFinance #TradeCredit #AccountsReceivable #CannabisCredit #CashFlowManagement #CannabisOperators #RiskManagement

Credit Mistakes - CannaBIZ Collects

Big news. And big moves with the team over at Cannabiz Credit Association.

View company: Cannabiz Credit Association

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

TerrAscend is one of the leading vertically integrated cannabis operators in North America, with operations spanning multiple states and a reputation for disciplined growth.

Adding strong, established MSOs like TerrAscend to the CCA network continues to strengthen the quality of shared trade data across the industry. The more leading operators who participate, the more transparent and accountable cannabis credit becomes for everyone.

We’re proud to have them as part of the community.

#WelcomeMarijuanaVenture #CannabisMedia #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness #CannabisInsights #CannabisCommunity #CCAMembers

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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