team kulture inc.
Jason D. Washington, founder and CEO of Kulture, Inc. is a legacy cannabis operator who began operations in 2009. Kulture's dedication to bridging the gap between legacy operators and the current legal cannabis market has lead the kulture team to projects across 7 states and two countries.
Federal agents raided 11 of Jason’s business locations in november 2011 ultimately leading to a long legal fight and jury trial which sent Jason to federal prison for 2 years.
Jason returned to the industry in 2019 with renewed purpose as the Director of Operations for the Ignite Cannabis Company. With an emphasis on authenticity, equity, and inclusivity of legacy cannabis operators Jason’s commitment to honoring the roots of cannabis culture while navigating its evolving legal framework has positioned him as a respected leader and advocate for meaningful change within the industry.
Bill & Jeff Levers - Kulture Cultivation: Directors of Indoor Cultivation
The indoor department heads of Kulture Cultivation Bill and Jeff Levers are also co-founders and owners of one of the most well known, well respected, brands in the industry, Beard Bros Pharms.
Their stellar reputation was built first by cultivating some of the finest, connoisseur grade indoor flower in the country over the course of the last decade.
Since moving to California in 2011, they’ve diligently worked to expand their imprint on the industry by securing licensed distribution and manufacturing operations in Los Angeles. They also established Beard Bros Media in 2018, a grassroots media entity that has quickly become the most trusted source of information among many industry leaders.
Their past experiences in horticulture and operations management combined with an understanding of the untapped potential of data collection and analysis leaves them in a unique position to drive performance while maximizing efficiency at Kulture Cultivation.
Eric Brandstad - Kulture Cultivation: Director of Greenhouse Cultivation
Eric is head of the Greenhouse department at Kulture Cultivation with 30+ years of expertise in the field. Eric was a key component of the design, build, and operations of a 65,000 sq ft Greenhouse Kulture Cultivation project in Arizona.
Eric has helped pioneer light deprivation techniques that are used throughout the industry today. He has written articles, blogs, recorded many videos, and podcasts. Eric has had the opportunity to speak, judge and moderate panels at many industry events. Eric has traveled throughout the US and abroad consulting different greenhouse projects with a host of different climates and conditions.
Eric is also a resident instructor at Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California teaching Greenhouse operations and Sustainability courses.
Chelsea Candelaria - Operations Director
Chelsea Candelaria, is a UC Berkeley Alumna and problem solver turned cannabis Operations, Marketing and Sales professional.
Aside from her work as Director of Operations in the Kulture Sales vertical, she has worked with companies such as SF Roots, Hanu Labs, Oakland Extracts, and Equity Trade Distro. It is her mission to use her skill sets to build cannabis companies that make a positive impact.
Prior to making the jump to legal weed Chelsea spent a decade managing environmental and innovative energy programs. She has spoken on numerous panels and has been featured in publications such as The Huffington Post and the East Bay Express.
Chelsea is also the Founder of Calling Marijane, a platform that promotes authentic culture through cannabis, business and a healthy lifestyle.
Melissa Burgstahler - Director of Sales
Melissa brings over seven years of experience in the cannabis industry, with a proven track record of driving revenue growth, brand development, and strategic account management.
As Head of Sales at KULTURE, she has led with precision and professionalism—generating over $45 million in sales across Northern California through strong retailer partnerships and streamlined inventory systems. Her leadership was instrumental in the successful launches of both the FLWR and POP! brands.
Melissa specializes in bringing brands to market, managing high-value accounts, and developing operational protocols that support long-term, scalable growth.