Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jordan Stauder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jordan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

The cannabis industry is inherently unsustainable. We are looking to change that through my consulting company.

It’s almost a taboo to say it out loud, but let’s cut the chase – the cannabis industry, as booming and promising as it is, has a dark secret. It’s like that messy closet everyone has but never talks about. Unsustainability is woven into the very fabric of the industry.

Now, enter Stauderfish. We’re not your run-of-the-mill consulting firm. We’re the rebels with a cause, the misfits who looked at the status quo and said, ‘Nah, not on our watch.’ We’re on a mission, a crusade if you will, to flip the script.

We’re talking about an industry overhaul from the roots up, pun absolutely intended. We’re infusing sustainability into the cannabis narrative, making it not just a buzzword but the heartbeat of every operation. We’re the watchdogs, the guardians of ethical, eco-friendly cannabis cultivation and production.

Our approach is a cocktail of innovation, technology, and a dash of audacity. We’re reimagining processes, introducing eco-friendly alternatives, and slashing that carbon footprint down to a minimum. We’re the bridge between the green of the earth and the green of the leaf, ensuring that as the industry blossoms, our planet doesn’t wilt. Most folk don’t believe those two things can’t live in a world full of green paper bills.

So, when you think of Stauderfish, picture a world where every puff, every product, every plant is a testament to an industry that respects and honors our home. We’re not just consultants; we’re the revolutionaries making ‘green’ more than a color—it’s a movement, a lifestyle, an unyielding commitment to a world where cannabis and conservation coexist. And trust me, we won’t rest until ‘unsustainable’ is a word as outdated as a pager in a smartphone world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Oh, absolutely. I often say I was practically born with green fingers. My folks were wizards in plant genetics and tissue culture, so I guess you could say horticulture is in my DNA. I grew up surrounded by the annual, perennial, and ornamental plant markets, and it was like second nature to me.

Fast forward a few years, and here I am, blending that lifelong immersion in horticulture with my formal education in Environmental Sustainability. I’ve got this fire in my belly to steer the cannabis industry towards a future where sustainability isn’t just a nice-to-have, but the core of our ethos. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for me; it’s a mantra, a way of life.

I cut my teeth in the industry with a couple of dispensary groups and Rocky Mountain Green Inc., where I was the guy steering the ship. Eight years of my life were dedicated to turning ideas into reality, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride. In 2014, I had my hands deep in designing and managing licensed premises that even Boulder County, Colorado regulatory authorities tipped their hats to.

And pests? They don’t stand a chance. My Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan, woven into my CEA designs, has kept our cultivation facilities contaminant-free for up to 30 months. I’ve even dabbled in the art of extraction, crafting an award-winning proprietary concentrate back in 2017.

Now, as the Chairman of the National Cannabis Industry Association Cannabis Cultivation Committee and Policy Council, I’m not just in the game; I’m changing it. I’ve been at the helm of the Boulder County Energy Impact Offset Fund Steering Committee since 2020, channeling funds into carbon offset projects that are making real, tangible impacts in our community.

Stauderfish LLC is my brainchild, my pride and joy. It’s the vessel through which I’ve reached out to cannabis business owners across 19 U.S. states and 5 countries, helping them weave sustainability into the very fabric of their operations to create a tangible competitive advantage today. From Seed to Sale Chain of Custody Compliance to Environmental Homogenization and Integrated Pest Management, we’re not just ticking boxes; we’re setting the gold standard.

Every day is a new opportunity to push boundaries, to turn the green of the leaf, and the money that represents, into a green future for our planet. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Oh, absolutely. There’s a story that’s etched into my memory, a stark reminder of the unique challenges we face in the cannabis industry. We were in a phase where Stauderfish was making waves, but we were still navigating the turbulent waters of financial uncertainties, amplified by the banking and federal limitations that our cannabis clients grapple with. It’s a dance on a tightrope, balancing innovation and regulation, and let me tell you, it’s not for the faint of heart.

One particular month, the clock was ticking down to payday, and we found ourselves in uncharted waters. Our clients, bound by stringent banking regulations, were caught in a financial limbo and the ripple effect hit us hard. The funds were in a holding pattern, and we were staring at a payroll day with empty hands. The team, our backbone, had given their all, and the prospect of not meeting payroll was a gut punch.

But here’s the beauty of adversity – adversity is the mother of resilience. We rallied, reached out to our network, and explored every avenue to bridge the gap. It was a testament to the solidarity within the cannabis community, where challenges are collective, and so are the solutions. The cannabis industry’s growth is meteoric, but it’s a complex landscape where innovation often outpaces regulation.

We ended up making a late payroll, which was still a victory. It wasn’t just a win for Stauderfish; it was a stark reminder of the volatile yet exhilarating journey of pioneering change in an industry where the rules are still being written. Every challenge, every close call, it’s not a setback; it’s a step forward, a narrative of triumph against the odds that defines not just us, but the entire cannabis landscape.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

It’s been quite the journey. You know, after spending over a decade immersed in the cannabis industry as an operator, I’ve worn many hats. I’ve been in the trenches, hands deep in the soil, and I’ve navigated the complexities of operations in dispensaries, cultivations, and laboratories. But in 2018, something shifted. With the wisdom of those years echoing in my mind, I realized my journey was evolving. I was transitioning from an operator to something more – an advisor, a guide, a catalyst for change.

My side hustle (as you called it) wasn’t planned. It was organic, a natural evolution fueled by a decade of experience and insights. I found myself in rooms filled with bright minds and budding entrepreneurs, and there was this unspoken understanding that I had something valuable to offer – a compass to navigate the intricate landscape of the cannabis world, specifically influencing the industry to embrace sustainability as a value-add.

Stauderfish wasn’t born from a business plan etched on paper; it was carved from years of trials, triumphs, and an unyielding passion for the green gold that is cannabis. As an advisor, I became the bridge connecting theory to practice, innovation to execution. Every piece of advice is distilled from of years of hands-on experience.

Key milestones? There have been many, but the true turning point was the realization of the impact of shared wisdom. When the first client I advised scaled their operations, overcoming hurdles that once seemed insurmountable, it was a eureka moment. Stauderfish was no longer a side hustle; it was a vessel for change, a platform where experience met innovation and where the lessons of the past became the stepping stones for the future.

Today, Stauderfish and its affiliates stand as testaments to a journey that began in the fields and transcended to advisory work, where every seed sown and every harvest reaped over the past decade converges to empower, enlighten, and elevate the cannabis industry to unprecedented heights.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stauderfish.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stauderfish/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-stauder/

Image Credits
Stauderfish for all images!