Hippo Premium Packaging was established to provide superior products and services to the cannabis industry - with pride, passion and professionalism.
The cannabis industry is extraordinarily competitive, and it is vital to have a strong brand and exceptional packaging to generate consumer interest and deepen customer loyalty.
Hippo Premium Packaging can help you achieve your goals. With our award-winning in-house designers, compliance experts, plus printing and production professionals, we are the perfect choice for any cannabis or CBD business that wants to grow.
Give your cannabis businesses a significant competitive edge: Contact Hippo Premium Packaging today for a brand analysis, and discover how to put a team of packaging and branding heavyweights on your side.
Our Team
Our team provides best-in-class brand-building solutions, with award-winning packaging designs, expertly designed logos, and an array of distinctive custom solutions.
Kary Radestock
CEO, Founder
Kary Radestock, Founder and CEO of Hippo Premium Packaging, has over 25-years of award-winning print and packaging experience, and has worked with some of the top brands in the world. She launched Hippo to bring a higher level of craftmanship along with professional-level packaging and brand-building solutions to the emerging cannabis industry.
Kary quickly became a leader in the industry. She was named “Cannabis Industry Woman of the Year” and has been a featured speaker at numerous industry events. She also has a regular column in mg magazine, and is a noted thought-leader on topics relating to cannabis packaging and business building.
As an industry pioneer, she was given the prestigious PAC Global Award for packaging excellence, which marked the first time this was awarded to a cannabis product.
Recently, Kary was named Chair of the NCIA Marketing & Advertising Committee, and selected as a judge for both the PAC Global Awards and Clio Cannabis Awards.
Kary has a uniquely loyal client base. Many customers report significant revenue gains as a result of Hippo’s packaging and branding solutions. One customer recently said that sales doubled after her new packaging hit the store shelves.
As an entrepreneur and business owner who started with just one employee, Kary knows what it takes to grow a company and overcome obstacles. She loves to share her roadmap to success, and help others navigate the complex and evolving cannabis industry she now happily calls home. Email
Laura Blancarte
Senior Production Manager
Laura Blancarte has over 25 years of experience in Operations Management, Sourcing (domestic and international) and Procurement. Her career began in the manufacturing of custom packaging made from a variety of materials including vinyl, paper, fabric and more. Most recently she held the position of Director of Merchandise for the Special Olympics Los Angeles 2015. She has produced and delivered a wide array of products for some of the most recognized global brands; 007 James Bond, Avon, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Omega, Smirnoff, and Heineken to name a few. Laura’s diverse history brings together an extensive knowledge of promotional merchandise, packaging, product development, logistics and worldwide distribution. She problem solves with a passion leaving no stone unturned. Laura shines by her attention to detail and takes pride in the ownership of her work always keeping her client’s needs in the forefront. Email
Melanie Fitleberg
Production Manager
Melanie has over 20-years experience in the printing industry and has managed projects for a wide variety of clients in industries that include skincare, healthcare, food and nutrition, sports, office supplies, gaming, and groceries. She specializes in finding ways to keep costs as low as possible, which has been very important to her big box customers such as Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and Target. She honed her cost-cutting skills on the lot at Sony Pictures where she worked as a Procurement Account Manager and supervised over $50 million in printing. She also worked as a Print Production Manager at The Walt Disney Company, so if you ever need the inside scoop on the best rides at Disneyland (or want to save money on printing), give her a call! Email
Erik Bechtold
Director of Sales
Colorado
Erik is an accomplished marketing, branding, digital print sales, and operations professional, and our Director of Sales. Erik started his career in the sports sponsorship industry, working for the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche. For the last ten years, Erik has been working in the digital print industry, and brings a wealth of experience in packaging, printing, signage, and digital solutions. Erik has worked on POP print and event signage campaigns for national known clients and brands including Chipotle, Einstein’s, Honey Baked Ham, CorePower Yoga, Rock n Roll Marathon, and Ironman. Erik will be based in Colorado, where he will be able to provide hands-on guidance and support to businesses looking for packaging and branding solutions. Email
Jeff Thompson
Senior Account Executive
Southern California
Jeff has had a long career in print advertising and marketing in the Los Angeles area, working in entertainment for the Walt Disney Company and then in Healthcare for Anthem and Kaiser Permanente. Jeff was considered an expert in Medicare marketing, where he made sure that all materials were compliant with government regulations. Now, Jeff brings his unique combination of entertainment and compliance to Hippo Premium Packaging and to Your Company. A specialist in all forms of media from outdoor advertising to direct mail and everything in between, Jeff is ready to help you develop your brand and bring your product safely and efficiently to market.
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Leslie Tiano
Marketing & Design Specialist
Leslie has over 30 years experience in visual arts, printing, marketing and advertising. She is an artist in the truest sense of the word, and has a vast portfolio of paintings and applied design in media such as metal, fiber, wood, ceramics and glass. She has worked with organizations such as Uniroyal, Griffin, Phelps Dodge, San Diego Convention Center, and Petersen Publishing. Additionally, Leslie brings an intimate industry knowledge to her work, as she has managed cannabis farms in Humboldt, Carpinteria and San Diego.
Leslie is also a successful entrepreneur and knows first-hand how thoughtful and creative design can help companies flourish.
Jim Hoffert
Regulatory Compliance Consultant
As a licensed attorney, Jim was a senior litigation partner in a California law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, specializing in real and personal property matters. He is also a licensed real estate broker and founder of Realty Associates. Jim is a graduate of UCLA (magna cum laude) with a degree in public law, and has a law degree from USC. Jim is providing advice and insight to help assure that our clients’ packaging designs stay in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.