At Vireo, the health and success of our patients is at the forefront of everything we do. Since day one, our patients have always been our focus and top priority! Vireo is committed to creating best-in-class medical cannabis products and patient experiences. Thanks to our incredible teams, we can deliver on this promise and maintain our patient-focused approach.
One of these incredible team members is Jaren Forbes, who started working in our Queens dispensary before being promoted to our Corporate Sales & Marketing Team. Jaren played an important role in creating amazing patient experiences at the dispensary and now she helps to create Vireo’s online shopping experience as a part of our eCommerce team!
Jaren recently became a Founding Member of the Vireo Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. This new initiative will be spearheaded by members of the Vireo team. The Council’s mission is to create programs, partnerships, and educational content that will support and promote minority groups, women, and veterans at Vireo, in our local communities, and across the cannabis industry.
We recently caught up with Jaren to hear about her background, her experiences at Vireo, and her work in eCommerce and patient care.
Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Do you have family you want to mention?
I am Vireo’s eCommerce Associate Analyst. I was born, raised, and still live in the great borough of Brooklyn, New York!
When did you start at Vireo and what is your official title?
I started working for Vireo as a Patient Care Coordinator in 2016. I worked with the wonderful Queens Dispensary team and patients for almost two years. I was promoted to my current position in 2019 where I took on managing our website from functionality to how our products appear on our website. I also work on our external platforms such as Leafly and Weedmaps.
What made you interested in the cannabis industry?
Shout out to my former boss and colleague Aashna for introducing me to the Vireo family! We used to work together in a traditional pharmacy. After we spoke about what Vireo offered, I felt that my passion for helping others would be best realized within the cannabis industry. By combining my interest in science and medicine with nature, it helped me to fully understand the many uses of cannabis. There is so much more to learn and by continuing in the industry, I will have the opportunity to help trailblaze the air of change serving one patient at a time.
What do you like about working at Vireo?
I love my team and I love Vireo. I love how the company listens to their teammates. I love how we’re helping to normalize the use of cannabis and pushing for legalization of the plant and its properties.
How does it make you feel to help patients find relief?
I am warmed by the fact that patients look to us for professional advice. It makes me happy when a patient leaves us a five-star review for the professionalism and quality our team provides. From creating educational content; to simplifying and beautifying our eCommerce website; to providing current patients more opportunity to be able to afford our products; we all have had a hand in providing patients relief for the condition(s) that ail them.
Any other quotes or stories about working in cannabis or at Vireo that you want to share?
During my time working in the dispensary, I remember coming across at least three patients who started their journey with us in so much pain and limited mobility. Through many follow-ups and revised therapies, those patients came back with better mobility and a significant drop in pain levels. It makes me proud to see the transformation people go through when they work with Vireo and our products.
What are your favorite activities outside work?
During my downtime, I love to write short stories and crochet. I’m currently working on a blanket for the upcoming winter weather.
Any coworkers to ‘shout out’?
I want to give a shout out to all my dispensary teammates in all of Vireo’s locations across the nation. They get up every day to serve the public and keep a professional composure during a time where our health is not guaranteed. Their hard work does not go unnoticed and I admire the courage each of them display on a daily basis. Stay safe!
Thanks to Jaren for sharing your story with us – we are glad she’s part of team Vireo!