The Green Market Report recently celebrated Midwest women in cannabis, and we are thrilled that CannaCarton Director of Sales, Jennifer Whiteley was honored with an award! They spoke highly of Jennifer in their praise, and we couldn’t agree more:
“After developing her own career as a packaging professional in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and health & beauty markets, Jennifer Whiteley pivoted and was indispensable in the founding and startup of CannaCarton. A bold leader and mentor to many, she generously shares her knowledge and experience with stakeholders across the board in hopes of mitigating the packaging pain points that cannabis business operators deal with every day.”
The award was given at the Green Market Report Midwest Women’s Cannabis Summit in Chicago on November 2. Several incredible women involved in different categories of work across the Midwest were recognized for their work at the forefront of the Midwest region’s cannabis industry growth. Learn more.
We are so proud of Jennifer! We wanted to give you the chance to get to know Jennifer and the important work she does at CannaCarton and within the cannabis industry. We sat down with her to learn more about her journey in the cannabis industry so far.
Tell us about your career before CannaCarton.
I came to CannaCarton with 10 years of experience selling packaging. At CartonCraft, I started as a new Sales Rep and over time worked my way up to Sales Manager and then to Sales Director. During this time I worked with global brands as well as startups, each having their own set of requirements and expectations in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, liquor, and CPG secondary packaging categories. This gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to accept a new dynamic leadership role at CannaCarton. My decade of experience taught me how to better support our customers in a timely and efficient manner.
What do you like about working at CannaCarton?
For me, it’s the people. From the amazing and hardworking team within our organization and supply chain to our exceptional clientele to the new faces we come across throughout the year, the people keep me going because I know I can’t let any of them down.
What’s the best part of your day?
I love getting a phone call or email from someone who really needs us because their previous packaging supplier let them down in some way. I enjoy knowing that we can help.
What excites you about the cannabis industry right now?
The opportunities! There’s so much going on in the industry right now—compliance and regulations, new and improved cultivation/distribution technology, evolving automation, emerging sustainable practices, and more. We have to be aware of what’s going on in the market to support our clients and help establish their brands without any hiccups during their packaging process.
What are your goals when working with your customers?
My #1 goal is to always be honest with my clients no matter the circumstance. Trust comes with honesty, and trust is the foundation of a good partnership between the client and their supplier.
What is something you are passionate about?
I’ve always been passionate about understanding the needs and pain points of our clients and how our offerings fit into that picture. I work to connect with our customers and build upon those relationships so we can better support their needs. My goal is to understand our clients’ particular frustrations, future goals, and unique expectations, which helps me to focus on how we can continue to improve as a company, year after year.
Who is someone who influenced you?
A strong group of OG superhero women influenced me growing up: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Sally Ride, Tina Turner, Rosie the Riveter, Amelia Earnhardt, and, of course, Wonder Woman—but this particular crew of resilient female leaders has influenced me because of my Mom. A lot of who I am today is because of her. She’s taught me to be the independent, strong minded, humble human being I attempt to be every day. My mom has also been in the printing and packaging industry for over 30 years. This industry was a heavily male dominated trade, yet she surpassed a lot of those men and is still inspiring the younger generation with her wealth of knowledge in this space and her compassion and willingness to influence the people around her.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love being Mom to my family. I have a husband and two boys (10 and 7) who support me and what I do! Generally, my hobbies and my interests are their hobbies and interests but anyone who really knows me fully understands my side passion for plants/horticulture, construction/building, and just being outside in the fresh air and dirt. That’s my happy place! I like challenging myself in other ways outside of work—whether this is through exercising, reading, or cooking something new when I have the time—but generally on the weekends, you will find me either covered in mud while gardening; working on or around the house; or on the sidelines at a Lacrosse tournament screaming my head off cheering for my boys. I’m truly blessed and grateful for what I’m doing today!
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Again, congratulations to Jennifer on the award. It is so deserved!
Are you interested in working with CannaCarton to create your packaging? Contact us today!
