NUG Appoints Timeka Drew Chief Growth Officer - Expands Retail Footprint to Los Angeles With Retail Partnership

OAKLAND, Calif., March 28, 2022 (Newswire.com) - NUG, Inc. a vertically-integrated California cannabis company announced today the appointment of Timeka Drew as Chief Growth Officer. This appointment comes as NUG transitions its focus from a Northern California-based operator to having a presence in multiple states, with pending projects in New Jersey and New York. Drew joins newly appointed Chief Operations Officer Alissa Berihu and Chief Technology Officer Jessamyn Stephania, creating a powerhouse team of experienced women of color leading NUG's growth and operations strategies.  

Timeka Drew is an experienced cannabis executive and highly respected social equity advocate. Prior to joining NUG, Drew served as the VP of Licensing and Operational Compliance for multi-state operator Eaze and also held executive positions with multi-state operator 4Front Ventures and California-based Field Extracts. She currently serves on the board of the Cannabis Equity Retailers Association and is a member of the Social Equity Owners and Workers Association. Drew also serves on the board of advisors for Social Equity LA and as a member of the Social Equity Advisory Committee for Hall of Flowers. She is a proud part of the national Equity Trade Certification Leadership Coalition and serves as a member of their Policy Committee. Drew is also a cannabis licensee and entrepreneur - she is the founder of Biko, a Los Angeles-based brand serving cannabis connoisseurs with consistency and award-winning production quality while helping normalize black women as curators of luxury cannabis experiences. 

As Chief Growth Officer, Drew will lead the company's national expansion efforts with a focus on supporting and empowering social equity partners and businesses, "When I shared my vision of a social equity-based growth strategy with the NUG leadership team, they were not only open to considering it, they decided to bring me on board to help build and implement that vision, truly expanding upon the foundation the company was built on. As a social equity licensee and medical cannabis patient, I remain passionate about equity and access - this new role will allow me to address cannabis business development in a creative, community-focused way."             

Timeka chose NUG as her partner to operationalize her Los Angeles retail storefront license, awarded as a part of the Department of Cannabis Regulations Phase 3, Round 1 process. The store will be located in the Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan Area and is estimated to be open to the public this summer. As a result of the partnership, Drew will scale her brand Biko through NUG's existing retail channels while simultaneously collaborating with the NUG brand to bring unique product activations and innovative experiences to Southern California cannabis enthusiasts. 

"NUG is thrilled to have Timeka part of the team," said Dr. John Oram, CEO. "NUG's primary mission has always been to 'Normalize the Cannabis Experience.' We want to change the way people think about cannabis, the way they purchase cannabis, and the way they consume cannabis. The addition of Ms. Drew to the NUG team allows NUG to expand on this mission through the lens of social justice and social equity."

Source: NUG Inc.