Under the Microscope with Jenny
Podcast Description
Welcome to Under the Microscope Podcast, and I am your host Jenny Germano the founder of ICS Consulting. I have 16 years experience working in Regulated Cannabis operations in the United States. Iโve run and operated vertically integrated licensed Cannabis facilities in Colorado for 6 years and have been consulting for 10 years Nationally. I help new and existing operators navigate the challenges of running a Regulated business in the Cannabis Industry.
This Podcast is for new and existing Cannabis operators and for people who are specifically looking to start-up their new Cannabis business - such as a licensed Dispensary, Cultivation, Manufacturing, or Transport/Delivery facility in their State or in multiple States.
Each weekly episode will have a topic of discussion related to starting up a Regulated Cannabis business, and/or operating an existing licensed cannabis business in the US National Cannabis marketplace. Under the Microscope Podcast will have guests who are experts in their field each month, along with weekly discussions with Jenny Germano on compliance topics, tips, operating in different markets, pitfalls, managing the overwhelm of a new business and navigating the challenges of running a Regulated Cannabis Business.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores a variety of themes pertinent to cannabis operations such as legal structures, compliance, funding strategies, and market nuances. Notable episodes include discussions on how to properly structure a cannabis business, manage compliance, and understand costs of goods sold. The focus areas include navigating state regulations, real estate considerations, and operational best practices.
I am your host, Jenny Germano – the founder of ICS Consulting. With over 16 years of hands-on experience in the regulated cannabis Industry, I spent 6 years operating vertically integrated licensed facilities in Colorado and the last 10 years consulting nationally across the U.S.
This podcast is dedicated to new and existing cannabis operators and those looking to launch a licensed cannabis business in one state or across multiple. Expect candid conversations on compliance, market-specific insights, startup pitfalls, operational strategies, and tips to manage the overwhelm that comes with launching and scaling in this complex industry.
Join Jenny Germano every Wednesday at 12pm EST in navigating cannabis compliance and launching successful regulated cannabis operations. Whether youโre just entering the industry or scaling up, this is your go-to resource for real talk, real truths, expert insights, and actionable strategies. I’ve got a great line up of interviews, expert breakdowns and host insights.
๐In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Evan Bliss, Owner and Design Director of Studio Bliss, to discuss what it really takes to design cannabis facilities in emerging markets. Evan shares his journey from traditional architecture into cannabis starting with extraction labs in California and expanding into cultivation and dispensary projects across the country. Together, they break down common misconceptions operators face, including underestimating total building size beyond licensed canopy and misallocating budget dollars. They emphasize the importance of engaging experienced design, engineering, and construction teams early to prevent workflow inefficiencies, storage and vault constraints, biosecurity gaps, and costly code-compliance issues. Key topics include phasing facilities for scalable growth, understanding the budget impact of HVAC and utility infrastructure, avoiding redesigns caused by fire egress and permitting missteps, navigating multi-agency approvals, managing equipment lead times, and preventing expensive power upgrade surprises through early load calculations.
This episode delivers practical, real-world guidance for operators planning new builds or expansions in emerging cannabis markets.
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๐ฟ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting
๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: https://www.icsconsultingservice.com
๐ฟ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐: Evan Bliss, Owner and Design Director of Studio Bliss
๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ: https://studioblissla.com
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โฐ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐โฐ
01:24 Evanโs Origin Story
04:24 Emerging Market Reality Check
05:05 Canopy vs Facility Size
06:19 Phased Build Strategy
07:46 Engage Design Team Early
11:19 Budgeting and Delivery Model
14:53 Profit Drivers HVAC First
16:01 Designing for Licensing Success
17:44 Avoid Redesign and Code Traps
20:31 Permitting Delays and Cities
24:44 Upfront Steps and Equipment Lead Times
27:10 Operational Flow and GMP Thinking
29:24 Dispensary Layout Pitfalls
34:02 Vault Design Essentials
35:20 Space Constraints in Dense Cities
37:48 Inspections and Regulator Variability
43:13 Scaling Manufacturing Infrastructure
46:41 Phased Grows and Flexible Buildouts
48:14 Costly Pitfalls Utilities and Power
59:38 Plan Ahead and Final Takeaways
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๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: The content shared on this channel – including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcastโs guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.
Disclaimer
This podcastโs information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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