About us
A cannabis industry where equity and inclusion are at the forefront
About us
The mission of the NJCEA is to assess issues impacting the cannabis industry through the lens of equity, to build consensus among critical stakeholders, and to advance related public policy.
Acknowledging New Jersey’s fundamental commitment to social equity at the heart of its medicinal and adult-use cannabis programs, the NJCEA maintains the same commitment and works to promote responsible, viable, equity-oriented public policy solutions. The NJCEA strives to be the “go-to” thought leader on all things cannabis in New Jersey.
NJCEA Co-Founders and Co-Chairs Susanna Puntel Short and Suzan Nickelson
The NJCEA is an advocacy group comprised of many stakeholders that speaks with a unified voice to the State Legislature, Cannabis Regulatory Commission, and Executive Branch through its government affairs representation.
The Board collaboratively develops thoughtful policy positions through the lens of equity and works with its government affairs representation to advance its agenda with policymakers. At times, the NJCEA collaborates with other like-minded organizations or interacts with other State agencies. The NJCEA may choose to be responsive to media inquiries about its positions and activities. The NJCEA may be involved in regional or federal advocacy, but any activity outside of the state must serve a demonstrable purpose in New Jersey.
As the NJCEA grows, it intends to function philanthropically while keeping policy advocacy at its core. The Board will provide donations, sponsor events, and fund initiatives that are consistent with its mission to promote equity in the cannabis industry
Suzan Nickelson
NJCEA Co-Founder and Co-Chair
Learn More About Suzan
Suzan is the founder and CEO of Holistic Solutions LLC, a medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary located in Atco, New Jersey. A BIPOC woman of Jamaican, African and Taino descent, Suzan proudly leads the first operational dispensary in New Jersey classified as a Minority and Women Business Enterprise.
Suzan is also the founder of a cannabis and hemp consulting company that specializes in assisting minorities, women, and veterans along with local municipalities and stakeholders in navigating the industry’s regulatory framework. The company supports entrepreneurs in scaling and growing their companies and accessing resources. Suzan is the co-founder of two other entities that are individually seeking adult use cultivation and manufacturing / processing licenses in New Jersey.
Suzan spent over two decades as a dedicated and proud public servant of the Garden State and last served as the Administrator of Employee Relations, overseeing statewide operations for the State Department’s disciplinary matters, grievances, workplace violence investigations, dispute resolution, confidential investigations, arbitrations, meditations, Office of Administrative Law hearings, Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) matters and other legal disputes. Suzan started her career in public service in 1997 protecting NJ’s most vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, assisting with providing families with safe nurturing environments.
Suzan has worked for numerous NJ State departments and was the first civilian to lead the Division of State Police since 1921. She was the first woman of color to lead statewide civilian operations in an all-enlisted unit. Suzan has spent her career committed to creating a harmonious, safe, productive and harassment free work environment, where all employees feel respected and honored for their commitment to public service.
Prior to joining the State of New Jersey, Suzan worked with non-profit agencies in advocacy including Catholic Charities and the Disabilities Resource Center, where she was responsible for the negotiation of employment and implementation of behavioral contracts with clients who were independent and lived in community-based settings and who received case management from the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Suzan is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University New Brunswick. She is a single mother of three teenaged children. She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and Jack and Jill of America, South Jersey Chapter. Suzan is an active member of her community and serves on several boards.
Suzan is also the founder of a cannabis and hemp consulting company that specializes in assisting minorities, women, and veterans along with local municipalities and stakeholders in navigating the industry’s regulatory framework. The company supports entrepreneurs in scaling and growing their companies and accessing resources. Suzan is the co-founder of two other entities that are individually seeking adult use cultivation and manufacturing / processing licenses in New Jersey.
Suzan spent over two decades as a dedicated and proud public servant of the Garden State and last served as the Administrator of Employee Relations, overseeing statewide operations for the State Department’s disciplinary matters, grievances, workplace violence investigations, dispute resolution, confidential investigations, arbitrations, meditations, Office of Administrative Law hearings, Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) matters and other legal disputes. Suzan started her career in public service in 1997 protecting NJ’s most vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, assisting with providing families with safe nurturing environments.
Suzan has worked for numerous NJ State departments and was the first civilian to lead the Division of State Police since 1921. She was the first woman of color to lead statewide civilian operations in an all-enlisted unit. Suzan has spent her career committed to creating a harmonious, safe, productive and harassment free work environment, where all employees feel respected and honored for their commitment to public service.
Prior to joining the State of New Jersey, Suzan worked with non-profit agencies in advocacy including Catholic Charities and the Disabilities Resource Center, where she was responsible for the negotiation of employment and implementation of behavioral contracts with clients who were independent and lived in community-based settings and who received case management from the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Suzan is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University New Brunswick. She is a single mother of three teenaged children. She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and Jack and Jill of America, South Jersey Chapter. Suzan is an active member of her community and serves on several boards.
Susanna Puntel Short
NJCEA Co-Founder and Co-Chair
Learn More About Susanna
Susanna works as a cannabis industry consultant, assisting clients with matters at the intersection of cannabis policy and business strategy. Her diverse scope of services spans regulatory compliance, communications, business development, stakeholder engagement, and public policy. Susanna’s focus often includes corporate social responsibility, which includes assisting clients with the development and implementation of their social equity plans. Her consultancy is a certified NJ Women Business Enterprise, and she is proud to serve clients that include diversely-owned and operated entities, social equity-designated applicants, impact zone businesses, and others.
Susanna’s track record of leadership and consensus building has been a natural fit for association work, and she has had various roles in trade associations in New Jersey as well as in other states and on the federal level. Her association roles have included president, secretary, committee chair, state liaison, and more. In 2020, Susanna founded a trade association for New Jersey medical cannabis licensees at the start of the COVID-9 pandemic and led the group to advocate for essential business designation, the allowance of telemedicine and home delivery, and expedited employee onboarding measures. She became known as a “policy wonk” when she served as the policy director for a trade association at the time that the Jake Honig Law was developed and enacted.
Susanna serves as a specialty coach in the New Jersey Economic Development Agency’s Cannabis Joint Equity Grant Program and has enjoyed advising grant recipients on local government realities and community integration initiatives. She engages with policymakers to educate about the industry and provide resources to assist in the development of cannabis policies and positions.
Before entering the world of cannabis, Susanna enjoyed a varied professional career that included roles as an insurance agency executive in northern New Jersey, founder and educational strategist of a test prep and college admissions advising service, high school religion teacher in northeastern Pennsylvania, and community organizer in Brooklyn.
Susanna is a mother to an adolescent son, and she serves on the Board of Trustees for his school in Morris County. She is also a member of the Mendham Township Open Space Committee and enjoys supporting and volunteering at several community organizations. Susanna holds liberal arts degrees from The University of Scranton and certificates in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard University and Plant-Based Medicine from Cornell University.
Susanna’s track record of leadership and consensus building has been a natural fit for association work, and she has had various roles in trade associations in New Jersey as well as in other states and on the federal level. Her association roles have included president, secretary, committee chair, state liaison, and more. In 2020, Susanna founded a trade association for New Jersey medical cannabis licensees at the start of the COVID-9 pandemic and led the group to advocate for essential business designation, the allowance of telemedicine and home delivery, and expedited employee onboarding measures. She became known as a “policy wonk” when she served as the policy director for a trade association at the time that the Jake Honig Law was developed and enacted.
Susanna serves as a specialty coach in the New Jersey Economic Development Agency’s Cannabis Joint Equity Grant Program and has enjoyed advising grant recipients on local government realities and community integration initiatives. She engages with policymakers to educate about the industry and provide resources to assist in the development of cannabis policies and positions.
Before entering the world of cannabis, Susanna enjoyed a varied professional career that included roles as an insurance agency executive in northern New Jersey, founder and educational strategist of a test prep and college admissions advising service, high school religion teacher in northeastern Pennsylvania, and community organizer in Brooklyn.
Susanna is a mother to an adolescent son, and she serves on the Board of Trustees for his school in Morris County. She is also a member of the Mendham Township Open Space Committee and enjoys supporting and volunteering at several community organizations. Susanna holds liberal arts degrees from The University of Scranton and certificates in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard University and Plant-Based Medicine from Cornell University.
