Qualla Enterprises, LLC

?? Exciting News! ?? Qualla Enterprises, LLC, and Great Smoky Cannabis Company are partnering with the Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD) to launch a groundbreaking K-9 program! This specially trained police dog will help detect dangerous drugs while aligning with modern cannabis policies—enhancing safety and innovation in our community. Read more about this historic collaboration!

Celebrating Qualla's Employee of the Month: Kaitlyn Wright Kaitlyn Wright, Employment/Training Coordinator at Qualla Enterprises, is originally from the Painttown community. A WCU graduate with two B.A. degrees (History & Religion/Philosophy), she currently resides in Sylva with her partner and two pets--Vincent Price, her rescue dog and Yue, her cat. In her time off, Kaitlyn likes to knit, crochet or read and she is an avid gamer. Kaitlyn sees herself continuing in her current field for the foreseeable future--she says the work at Qualla has been exciting, specifically navigating HR in our new industry. Working at Qualla is important to Kaitlyn as she enjoys being involved in a project that gives back to the community. She says, “It’s been amazing watching the company grow and helping our team members develop professionally, move into leadership roles, and be successful.” Quote from management: “Kaitlyn Wright has been an invaluable member of the Qualla team since 2022. As one of the first points of contact for new employees, her welcoming demeanor and positive outlook ensure that every individual feels supported and valued from day one. In 2024, Kaitlyn transitioned into the role of Employment/Training Coordinator, where she demonstrates a strong passion for fostering professional development and career growth within Qualla. Always tech savvy, Kaitlyn recently developed an internal website designed to provide employees with easy access to essential information on employment, training, benefits, and employee relations-related subjects. This site is rapidly evolving into a central resource that is increasingly utilized by both leadership and staff alike. We’re fortunate to have Kaitlyn on the HR team at Qualla--her innovative thinking, unwavering work ethic, and dedication to Qualla’s success consistently raise the bar for our organization.” Congratulations, Kaitlyn!

Celebrating Qualla's Employee of the Month: Carl "Los" Esquivel Carl Esquivel, a dedicated member of the Security Team at Qualla Enterprises, represents the Birdtown community with pride. Known for his shining personality and commitment to excellence, Carl has been recognized for his hard work and positive contributions to the team. Outside of work, Carl has a deep passion for traditional Cherokee weapons. He explores the craftsmanship and history behind these cultural artifacts, and his unique hobby reflects his strong connection to Cherokee heritage and tradition. Carl loves working at Qualla Enterprises because of the incredible atmosphere and team camaraderie. He shares that, “everyone gets along, and everyone helps everyone,” making Qualla Enterprises a truly special workplace. For Carl, being part of the team means taking on exciting challenges and contributing to the growth of this new company. He is passionate about seeing others succeed and hopes to grow into a leadership role within the organization over the next five years. Quote from management: "Carl has been with us here at Qualla Enterprises since just before our medical opening in April of 2024. Since then, Carl's dedication and leadership have been instrumental in shaping our team and the success of the Security Department. Carl's consistency and commitment to the development of our team has helped to give us a strong foundation for the future. We are very proud of Carl, and this recognition is much deserved." Congratulations, Carl!

Please join us in celebrating Qualla Enterprises' employee of the month: AJ Hull AJ Hull, a Budtender in the Retail division at Qualla, is from the Big Cove community. AJ is married with four children aged 10 to 19 years old. In his spare time he enjoys working on crafts—everything from working on glass engravings to making arrows for Cherokee’s Qualla Arts & Crafts Co-Op. AJ enjoys his work at GSCC because he gets to meet so many new people, help them find the right strain of product and ultimately help them with any issues they might have. He also enjoys talking with folks in the community about the great “vibe and energy” of working for Qualla/GSCC. AJ hopes to be in a leadership role with his own team one day. Quote from management: “AJ Hull brings positivity and professionalism to every shift; he's consistently striving to make GSCC a better place for both our customers and our team. AJ has been our top seller for the month, and he always demonstrates hard work, passion, and commitment in all that he does. Thanks, AJ!” Congratulations, AJ!

Please join us in celebrating Qualla Enterprises' employee of the month: Mikhail "Mike" Hernandez Mikhail Hernandez is from the Wolfetown community. He enjoys hunting and playing stickball in his free time, and he loves his job here at Qualla Enterprises. He hopes to eventually move into a leadership role within the company. He loves working at Qualla because the environment makes his job feel not like a job at all! He has great coworkers who make the workdays fly by and he gets to meet all sorts of interesting people in the dispensary. Working at Qualla is important for him because he can say that he was an integral part of EBCI history as one of the first retail employees at the company. Quote from management: “Mikhail Hernandez consistently goes above and beyond and it's greatly appreciated! Mike’s work ethic reflects the very essence of what makes our company culture exceptional; his dedication and commitment to work hard every day, ALL day motivates others on his team. Mike always takes great care of our customers-- he’s fast, friendly and his work is the epitome of great customer service.” Congratulations, Mike!

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day from your friends at Qualla Enterprises! When you support us, you support the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Linked below is a wonderful YouTube video we produced last year. Please take a moment to look back with us and reflect on why Tribal sovereignty is essential to our mission. https://lnkd.in/exJWfdj8

A big congratulations to our Cherokee Nation friends in North Carolina! April 20, 2024, The Great Smoky Cannabis Dispensary opened for medical cannabis purchases.?A referendum was then passed in July to begin adult-use sales on-site. The first 'recreational' cannabis sales began last Saturday. The ordinance approved by the EBCI only allows legalization status within the Qualla Boundary. This means North Carolina has legalization on sovereign land while remaining illegal in the rest of the state. Between this and being a fully vertical operation, Qualla Enterprises, LLC is taking things to a whole other level in the Southeast.