Chelsea Sutula, Owner & Chief Executive Officer
Sespe is proud to be female-owned and operated. Our CEO, Chelsea Sutula, has advocated for years on behalf of patients by speaking at city council and county supervisor meetings on the importance of safe access for medical patients. Prior to the passage of Prop 64, she traveled to Sacramento numerous times to lobby state leaders for sensible cannabis regulation. In May 2018 Chelsea was named 420 Magazine’s June 2018 Warrior of the Month and 2018 Activist of the Year in the Tokey Awards. In 2023 she was featured in Ojai Valley News’ special Women of the Ojai Valley.
Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Chelsea managed the IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) as well as research and strategy projects for both startups and Fortune 100 clients.
She holds an MS in Operations Research from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Psychology from Northwestern University.
What is your favorite strain and why?
“It’s mainly about the terps for me, I’ve always leaned sativa and love some Blue Dream or Sour Diesel to get going during the day. For evening wind-down, I’m a big fan of Og Kush and all its incarnations.”
Michelle Rosenblum, Chief Marketing Officer
Michelle is excited to work for a company that aligns with her values of sustainability and accessibility. As cannabis becomes more widely accepted, Michelle enjoys making it a key part of her career by helping others discover and enjoy the plant’s benefits.
With a background in sales, eCommerce, project management, and content creation, she brings a well-rounded skill set to her work. Outside of her professional life, Michelle is an active musician and a dedicated LGBTQ advocate, committed to supporting her community in meaningful ways.
What is your favorite strain and why?
“One of my all-time favorite strains is Burmese Mimosa by Sol Spirit. The grapefruit and rose flavors make this the perfect bud for taking on the day. I was fortunate enough to wake up on Sol Spirit’s farm and enjoy this mimosa alongside a farm-to-table breakfast with Walter and Judi – will never forget it!”
Christina Esp, Floor Manager & Accounts Payable
Christina has worked at Sespe Creek Collective in Ojai since opening in 2017. She has been married for over 20 years and lives in Ojai with her husband, son and dog. She has a BS in Agribusiness from Cal Poly and has worked in horticulture and farming her entire career.
What is your favorite strain and why?
“Old school strains like Northern Lights and Blueberry.“
If you could share a joint with anyone (celebrity, historical figure) who would it be and why?
“I’d wanna smoke a joint with Dimebag.”
What’s your go-to music or sesh playlist?
“Anything from metal to reggae to outlaw country.”
Devin Palmer, Office Manager
Devin was born and raised in Colorado, where her love for nature, hiking, and staying active was cultivated early on. With a deep passion for health and wellness, she discovered a natural connection to the healing benefits of cannabis. This passion has driven her involvement in the cannabis industry, where she focuses on helping others improve their quality of life. Devin has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since 2015, when it first became recreationally legal in CO.
What inspired you to work in the cannabis industry?
“I was inspired to work in the cannabis industry because of its incredible ability to improve people’s quality of life. I’ve always been passionate about helping others, and cannabis offers a natural way to therapeutically help with a variety of wellness needs. Seeing firsthand how it can positively impact people’s lives, whether by providing relief or enhancing well-being, drives me to be part of this industry.
It’s fulfilling to work in a space that allows me to help people feel better and live more fulfilling lives.“
Tobias Minnear, Inventory Manager
What is your favorite strain and why?
“Gmo is my favorite strain at this time. The funky flavor and heavy smoke hit me deep in the body. This strain gives me great relief in the shoulders and back while leaving my head clear enough to stay focused. The effect does give me the munchies however, which is great to help stimulate my appetite but can always be “dangerous” if there are too many sweets around.“
What inspired you to work in the cannabis industry?
“I never would have expected to find myself in the industry. I always thought of it as a supplement to my daily life and not much more. The growth of the industry, specifically the testing and science behind the plant, is what intrigued me about working in the industry. Learning that there is a clean, safe product that can aid in so many aspects of life and being able to share this with people in need is what really landed me here.”
If you could share a joint with anyone (celebrity, historical figure) who would it be and why?
“I’ve always wanted to do this, I don’t know if it counts but… Slonkin’ Fat Doinks with a Dragon!!”
Lori Eckberg, Budtender & Outreach
What is your favorite strain and why?
“My favorite strain is Donnie burger. It is a beautiful Indica and a cross between GMO and Han Solo Burger. It definitely has the garlic mushroom and onion with a little bit of lemon flavor. I like a high terpene profile in my cannabis and this particular strain always hits the mark.
The strain is also from my favorite farm, Sol Spirit Farm. They are located in Trinity, California. The Emerald triangle is where all of the great cannabis is grown!”
What inspired you to work in the cannabis industry?
“What inspires me the most about working in the cannabis industry is the customer service that I am able to deliver to our customers. Having the knowledge to help them and finding the products that work best for their situations is very inspiring.
Helping people sleep is what I do most. There’s always so much to learn and I am very lucky to be somewhere where I can learn something new every single day.“
Brandon Romero, Budtender & Driver
What is your favorite strain and why?
“My favorite strain is probably GMO. It helps with stress, relaxation, appetite, and its taste is oh
so yummy.”
What’s a must-try product we carry?
“I would say the must try product would be the WYLD grapefruit. The most uplifting and positive
edible that I have experienced.”