Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Neil McAlister. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Neil, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Everything started about a month after I got my first job in the industry at the Mint Cafe. The state sent me a letter kicking me out of the industry due to past circumstances and because of that I was banned from the industry for 7 1/2yr. I was not allowed to work in a dispensary or with any company that sold any products.
Because of that scenario and the fact that I did not want to go back to a regular kitchen or just being another employee somewhere. I decided to start my own educational business about cannabis. I took all my savings and invested into my consulting company “Chef Turtle’s Infusion Consulting LLC”. About four months after I started filming my culinary show to show patients how to put their base infusions into every day recipes and make it as simple as possible.
Even though I was not allowed to be involved in the majority of the industry I still wanted to teach patients how to do everything on their own. After getting my business and my show started I started getting contacted by different podcasts and magazines that wanted to learn about me. And about a year later I published my infusion guidebook.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Hello, my name is Chef Turtle, I started in this industry January 2, 2020 as the sous chef of the Mint Cafe co-writing their hotline menu in Recipes. Once I stepped away in April I decided to start my own Infusion Consulting business called “Chef Turtle’s Infusion Consulting LLC”. About 3-4months after starting that I got my infusion cooking show going to show patients how to do simple recipes.
Although I do not sell any kind of cannabis products I do have an infusion guidebook that patients can purchase to learn how to do all their own bass infusions at home. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Harvard bookstore, thrifty books, and many other websites and bookstores.
In my line of work I like to show patients how simple it is and cost efficient when you make your own edibles. Also I like to show them that you’re getting a full plant spectrum from the edibles you’re creating at home with cannabis compared to a distillate infused edibles that you would be getting from the dispensary.
I teach my patients about proper dosing, The Endo cannabinoid system and how different cannabinoids affect the body. Along with everything else I also work very closely with veterans and different charities and community givebacks to help those less fortunate. Plus I am also an advocate with Arizona NORML and I participate in lobby week with them to help fight for patient’s rights.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My reputation started while I was at the Mint Cafe and I was answering patient’s questions and helping others figure out solutions. Once I stepped away and started my consulting business I made it a point to be as transparent and upfront as possible with clients and business associates. I made sure that everybody knew I did not have a hidden agenda and I was just here to help build this industry along with teaching patients.
One of the biggest things is that I support everybody in the industry and I try to help out as many different businesses as possible. Along with that a lot of people have noticed that I am the exact same person on social media as I am in person. I love to see people smile and laugh. I work with a lot of different veterans groups and different charities.
But I think the biggest thing and the most important thing that has helped me is just always being there for others to help answer their questions or lift them up when they’re feeling down. Just being there to support and show folks that anything can be done as long as they’re willing to put in the work and they have a true passion for it. Honesty pays off in the longrun.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
If I could go back I would still choose the same profession. What I do now incorporates all of my passions from culinary and cannabis to helping others. Even as a youngster I always wanted to be an educator in some fashion and now that I am I would not change it for anything.
Every time I get to teach a client or help somebody out it just brings a big smile to my face. It’s amazing to watch your students and see that light go on in their head when they put it all together. Honestly what I do now is probably the best career path I could’ve ever chosen because there’s so many levels to what I do and there is so much room for creativity for expansion and growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.chefturtlesinfusionkitchen.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chefturtle420?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefTurtle42O/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-mcalister-557881161
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/chefturtle2
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMd96E3V7Gu0CNF-GpgPioA?sub_confirmation=1
- Other: SnapChat: https://t.snapchat.com/TLCWQhax Google my business: Chef Turtles’ Infusion Consulting LLC would love your feedback. Post a review to our profile. https://g.page/r/CcSpjRB_gW07EAo/review Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Turtles-Infusion-Cookbook-Savory-Baked-Recipes/dp/1639854703/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3CJREUFY11M2E&keywords=chef+turtle+infusion+cookbook&qid=1651071110&sprefix=%2Caps%2C1105&sr=8-1
Image Credits
Neil McAlister