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The Joy of Making a Difference by Clayton Stallings
Back in our May issue , Rocco Scarcello wrote a profile piece on Kayla Vasumans ’ rise in the cannabis industry with Latitude , Plume , and Lake Water , all while battling health issues as a single mother raising children in the Lake of the Ozarks area .
Recently , I randomly ran into the company ’ s GM of manufacturing , Mike Roe , on a Saturday night at the Green Lady Lounge in KC . As we sat and caught up while enjoying some of KC ’ s best live jazz music , Roe invited me to visit their facility in Humansville . The following week , early one morning , I was on my way to Arkansas for a fishing trip when I realized I would be going right by their facility . Calling Roe at the last minute , he welcomed me to stop by for a tour .
Over the last five years of helping with content development for The EVOLUTION Magazine , these chance encounters always seem to lead to the next , to the next , then to the next . Somehow , they all connect in some beautiful way .
After my fishing trip , I had to get back to KC the following Saturday night for the Smokus Pokus event , a cannabis magic show . It just so happens that it was at Crown Center , which was also where Boulevardia was having the last night of its festival . I got back from my fishing trip earlier than expected and unexpectedly got free passes to Boulevardia . Who did I happen to run into ? Rocco Scarcello . I didn ’ t even know that Elevate Cannabis was a main stage sponsor –– and boy , did they have a marketing presence there !
Elevate Cannabis was the main stage sponsor at the recent Boulevardia in Kansas City . From left to right are Elevate employees Alex George , shipping team lead , Rocco Scarcello , community engagement coordinator , and Maddi Coons harvest assistant manager .
While there , I also met more of Kayla ’ s extended work family , including Hunter Ruoho ( photo above ), their inventory control manager . Hunter showed me his tattoo of the pink cancer ribbon with a capital “ K ” for Kayla , and while explaining how Kayla is family to him and their team , he expressed his deepest gratitude for the article that Rocco wrote .
10 August 2024
I hadn ’ t even downloaded the pics of Hunter , but I had my camera with me and showed him the picture on my camera while telling him the story . Rocco , who recently just returned to work after losing his father , was at a loss for words about how much his article meant to Hunter and the entire Latitude , Plume , Lake Water team .
After telling him the story , I took this quick pic ( above ) of Rocco and the Elevate team . Thanks , Rocco , for everything you do for The EVOLUTION Magazine and the cannabis community . We are happy to have you on our team as well , as a freelance writer !