Amanda Riley
Amanda Riley is a Cannabis Compliance and Operational Excellence leader based in Greater Orlando, Florida, with nearly nine years of experience in the medical cannabis industry following a career transition from military service and federal government work. As a veteran, she was motivated to enter the space after recognizing the therapeutic potential of cannabis in supporting individuals managing chronic pain and PTSD. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Maryland and has built her career around advancing compliant, efficient, and mission-driven cannabis operations.
Throughout her career, Amanda has held senior roles with leading multi-state cannabis operators, including Director of Production at TRP Co, Director of Seed to Sale at The Flowery, and Florida State Compliance Manager at Cresco Labs. She has also contributed to operational and compliance leadership at Noa Botanicals and other organizations across the country, working in fast-paced startup environments where she has helped build systems, scale operations, and strengthen regulatory frameworks from the ground up. Her expertise spans compliance strategy, production oversight, and operational efficiency across cultivation, manufacturing, and retail functions.
Today, Amanda is the Founding Principal of Cannaloha Consulting, where she provides fractional compliance leadership and operational advisory services to cannabis and emerging regulated market companies. She is passionate about advancing craft cannabis practices, emphasizing clean, high-quality plant medicine over mass production, and is committed to closing the education gap within the industry. Through her consulting work, she continues to help organizations build compliant, sustainable operations while advocating for greater public understanding of cannabis and its benefits.
• Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
• University of Maryland - BBA, Business Administration
• Veteran advocacy for cannabis products in Florida
• Hawaiian Marine Animal Rescue - Community outreach and lifeguarding
• Veterans Employment
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being determined and making this work, no matter what challenges come my way. It's really about surrounding yourself with good people that's been a learning curve in itself. You have to find people who are like-minded, because when you do, the conversations become endless and that creates more innovation as we move forward. I think having the right team around you, people who can advocate for you and back you up, is essential. It takes real support to succeed in this industry.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to stick with female mentors and to not let the noise get to you. It's very challenging - a lot of industries are male-dominated, but this one is particularly heavy. There's a lot of ego, and especially in the Florida market, there's a lot of politics and what I would call the good boys club that exists. My advice is to not get discouraged by that, because there are a lot of strong females coming up in the wings. I think you just need to be patient, work hard, and lean on your female support as much as possible. Find a good support system that can give you good advice and constructive criticism in the industry, and rely on that support.
Locations
Cannaloha Consulting
Deland, FL 32724