Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, A.J. Sullins was destined to become an entrepreneur. His mom Kim was a youth pastor who eventually became a court reporter, and his dad Walter owned several Baskin Robbins retail shops. With seven sisters who were also independent thinkers, A.J. started his first successful business at just 13. He successfully negotiated contracts to manufacture and supply cotton candy and kettle corn to the N.M. State Fair and International Balloon Fiesta vendors. He added the local collegiate and semi-pro sports stadiums to his client list and, at age 21, upgraded to supplying alcohol and concessions as well.
A.J. continued to fulfill his contracts, but upon graduating college, he decided to spread his wings and worked as a financial analyst for Intel, putting his degree in Business Management & Finance from the University of New Mexico to good use. Not long after, he and his future business partners considered the potential in the cannabis space. In 2016 they struck a deal, and by 2018 they started expanding High Grade. Now, he's in multiple states and employs almost 200 people. High Grade produces premium-grade flower and extracts, ensuring environmental controls are set to optimal levels in a manner that produces only the cleanest, most potent, terpene-rich cannabis in all its forms. And customers agree! High Grade is in 80% of the dispensaries in Arizona, will start production in Michigan in December, and was recently awarded a retail license in Illinois.
High Grade uses just about all of the Growlink products in their state-of-the-art 120,000 square foot cultivation facility. It's currently the largest indoor cannabis cultivation operation in Arizona. The High-Grade team is committed to "Elevating Higher" in everything they do.
When A.J. isn't lighting the cannabis industry up, he's hanging with his fiancé Rebecca, a criminal defense attorney, as well as having fun with his five nieces and nephews. Growlink is honored to work with dedicated and passionate businesses like High Grade and A.J. You make us look good. Hit up A.J. on social media, @a.j.sullins @wearehighgradeaz
