Northwoods Cultivation’s story is a compelling testament to ambition and resilience in the cannabis industry. What began as a modest college basement venture has evolved into a multi-state operation. Here’s a look at how Northwoods grew from its humble beginnings to become a prominent player in the cannabis world.
Northwoods Cultivation’s roots trace back to CEO Brett’s teenage years. At just 13, he started selling cannabis at his local ski hill for extra income, an early sign of his burgeoning interest. This passion was further fueled by a chance encounter with a seasoned grower at an airport during Brett’s freshman year of college. This meeting proved pivotal, leading Brett to launch his first cultivation project in his college basement.
Around this time, Brett taught his high school friend Ben how to grow. He helped Ben set up a grow operation in his parents' basement, where Ben was able to refine his skills and develop as a grower.
Looking to expand beyond his basement grow, Brett found a 3,600-square-foot warehouse on Craigslist and, with the help of friends, including Ben (today the Head Grower), transformed it through extensive renovations into a larger facility.
They also brought in Spencer, today the Cultivation Manager, to help work in this new facility. Spencer, with a background in Medicinal Plant Chemistry, brought a level of scientific expertise that has played a key role in Northwoods’ expansion.
As Michigan’s caregiver market evolved and regulations became more complex, Brett recognized the need for advanced facilities. He partnered with a high school friend, and they leveraged a developed property as collateral to secure a license for their operation.
Initially, they operated from this facility before expanding into a state-of-the-art location in Traverse City. Despite the project timeline stretching from 8 to 17 months due to COVID-19 delays, their commitment and effort resulted in a top-tier cultivation center.
The team also operates a facility in Kalamazoo, where Head Grower Adam, with his diverse background, has been working alongside Brett, Ben, and Spencer since the early Caregiver days.
Brett and company also have another cultivation facility in Maine operating as WildFire.
With a new cultivation center underway in Ohio, Spencer will lead the Traverse City operations as Ben transitions to Northwoods' upcoming Ohio location.
Northwoods Cultivation’s success extends beyond its technical achievements to its strong, collaborative culture. Brett emphasizes the importance of team cohesion, with activities like skateboarding and basketball fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among employees. This culture is a cornerstone of Northwoods’ success, driving the team to continually push boundaries and achieve new goals together.
We recently sat down with Brett, Ben, and Spencer from Northwoods Cultivation to discuss their journey and challenges. Key takeaways include:
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