Elite Craft Consulting is a Minnesota-focused firm specializing in building cannabis businesses across cultivation, manufacturing, retail and compliance. From boutique cultivation sites to high-performance retail environments, we strategically guide and tailor your vision to execute and build a successful business.
We’ve been in your shoes! Our team has built and operated cannabis businesses in Minnesota, integrating cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and cannabinoid processing under one system. We bring practical insight, having navigated these regulatory and operational challenges firsthand!
We operate at the intersection of regulation, strategy, and execution. With a deep understanding of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and METRC, we provide operational guidance with clarity, confidence and precision.
We don’t just help you start — we position you to lead.
Our thoughtful and disciplined approach to every client engagement, supported by a trusted network of partners across key business functions, allows us to align the right systems, resources and partnerships to maintain a consistent and high-quality experience. From initial concept through launch and beyond, we remain actively engaged with your team to support tactical operations, growth and regulatory inspections when you need it most!
(From left to right: Miley Haines, Judy Garcia, Grace Cramond, Megan Aber, Jim Cramond)
Jim is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience building and scaling businesses, including vertically integrated cannabis operations spanning retail, cultivation and manufacturing.
He is founder and CEO of Strains, LLC, which began as an online store and evolved into a multi-location retail operation with in-house manufacturing, multiple product brands, and distribution across multiple states.
Jim has played a key role in developing large-scale cannabis operations, including partnering with a tribal entity to build a fully integrated seed to sale facility overseeing cultivation, production and product manufacturing. He has successfully launched and developed multiple cannabis brands and operational systems designed for scalability and long term performance.
Under his leadership, Strains became one of the early licensed operators in Minnesota, pioneering deli-style flower sales and delivery services while expanding into cultivation, manufacturing, and multiple licensed endorsements.
Jim is known for his ability to execute, build and scale real world operations. His strength lies in aligning business strategy with practical implementation, creating systems that perform consistently, efficiently and at scale.
Grace brings over 25 years of expertise in financial operations, regulatory, documentation and customer service across highly regulated industries. Her background includes banking, financial services, and corporate operations, with a strong focus on compliance, cash management and financial systems.
She transitioned her expertise to the Minnesota cannabis market as the CFO of Strains of the Earth, where she plays a critical role in operational and regulatory success. Grace oversees licensing applications, financial strategy, tax optimization, and the development of internal operating procedures that support compliant, efficient business operations.
Her leadership has been imperative in securing multiple cannabis licenses and endorsements, including retail, cultivation, manufacturing and event operations. Sher works closely with internal teams, vendors and regulatory frameworks to align all aspects of the business.
Grace is known for her precision, organization, and ability to bring structure to complex businesses providing compliance and financial stability for long-term sustainability.
Miley is a highly experienced cannabis cultivator, facility builder, and genetic specialist with over 34 years of cultivation experience across both indoor and outdoor environments. He is known for producing premium, award-winning flower and for his ability to scale cultivation operations without compromising quality.
Miley has extensive knowledge managing large-scale indoor and outdoor cultivation operations, overseeing full-cycle production from clone through harvest. He has successfully built and operated high-capacity facilities, implementing efficient cultivation systems designed to maximize yield, potency, and terpene expression.
In addition to cultivation, Miley specializes in commercial facility buildouts, with the ability to design and execute grow operations from the ground up. His skills include environmental control, irrigation systems, lighting strategies, and workflow optimization to create long-term operational success.
Miley is also proficient in cannabis extraction and post-harvest processing, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the full production pipeline from seed to sale.
He is currently the General Manager at Strains of the Earth, where he oversees retail operations, cultivation strategies and product quality. Throughout his career, Miley has led teams across both cultivation and retail environments, delivering performance and strong operational execution.
His strengths include indoor and outdoor cultivation systems, facility design and buildout, genetic selection, environmental optimization, and large-scale production management.
Judy is cannabis operations, inventory, and compliance specialist with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She brings a strong background in business operations and has built her career around developing structured, scalable systems within highly regulated environments.
Judy currently serves as COO at Strains of the Earth, where she oversees seed-to-sale tracking, METRC compliance, inventory systems, and regulatory adherence under Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) guidelines. She has played a key role in building operational frameworks that keep businesses audit-ready while maintaining efficiency across all departments.
Her experience spans cultivation, manufacturing, and retail operations. Judy has helped manage large-scale cannabis operations, contributing to the development of SOPs across all stages of production including cloning, veg, flower, harvest, cure, and post-production workflows. She creates repeatable systems that support consistency, compliance, and long-term scalability.
In addition to operations, Judy is proficient in cannabis product development and manufacturing, as well as packaging, labeling, and brand alignment. She understands how to balance regulatory requirements with strong market presentation, ensuring products meet both compliance standards and consumer expectations.
Judy has managed teams across multiple departments and plays a critical role in aligning workflows between cultivation, retail, and administrative operations. Her ability to organize complex systems and streamline processes makes her a key asset in building efficient, compliant cannabis businesses.
Her strengths include regulatory compliance, METRC systems, inventory control, SOP development, product strategy, and operational efficiency.
Megan brings 15 years of experience in the financial services and operations, with a strong foundation in customer service, field operations, and business strategy. She has built her career around improving systems, streamlining workflows, and enhancing both internal operations and client experience.
Transitioning into the cannabis industry, Megan now serves as the Director of Executive Operations for Strains of the Earth, where she plays a key leadership role in daily operation and strategic execution. She works closely with executive leadership to support business development, refine operational processes, and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements set by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
Megan is known for her ability to identify operational gaps and implement structured, scalable solutions. She collaborates across teams, vendors, and systems to create efficient workflows that support compliance, consistency and long-term growth.
Her strengths include operational strategy, SOP development, process documentation, cross-functional collaboration, and building systems that translate complex ideas into clear, actionable processes. She brings clarity, structure, and execution to environments where precision and consistency are critical.
Copyright © 2026 Elite Craft Consulting LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Elite Craft Consulting LLC (“Elite Craft Consulting”) provides independent strategic advisory and consulting services only. We do not represent, warrant, or imply that we can influence or obtain favorable outcomes from any regulatory authority, including the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Elite Craft Consulting is not a law firm or a CPA firm, and our services do not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. All guidance is provided for information purposes only. All business decisions and compliance obligations remain the sole responsibility of the client.
Certain members of Elite Craft Consulting LLC are currently employed by or affiliated with licensed cannabis businesses in Minnesota. All consulting services are provided solely through Elite Craft Consulting LLC in an independent capacity and not on behalf of any licensed entity, employer, or regulatory body.