About Us
Engagement-as-a-Service™ (EaaS) for the Cannabis Industry.
upLVL offers cost-effective and technically advanced Training, Communication, and Rewards all accelerated by AI, and customizable to the needs of cannabis operators.
Our Mission
At upLVL, we empower the cannabis industry—licensed operators, brands, allies, and employees—with cost-effective, powerful engagement tools. Our AI-driven EaaS™ platform provides customizable training, communication, and rewards to enhance skills, compliance, performance, and loyalty. Our mission is to offer the industry a robust tool for improvement, helping you Level Up Engagement and Unlock Success.
Our Story
We are a team with deep experience in online platforms as well as hard-won experience in the emerging cannabis industry. We’re putting this experience to work to help cannabis brands, licensed operators, and industry allies create powerful engagement experiences with their most important stakeholders – budtenders, employees, users, members, and others.
Today’s cannabis industry is like playing an unfamiliar game with ever-changing rules. We believe that the powerful tools we’ve developed at upLVL will help motivated operators elevate their game and achieve success. Our platform allows users to create and deliver customized experiences for target stakeholders, featuring training and certification, compelling communication, and rewards. upLVL brings together technology and tools that would take years to master and achieve for most cannabis companies, helping them gain confidence and boost their progress with the upLVL EaaS™ platform.
Why Choose upLVL?
Simple. We help you turn training and engagement into measurable success—without the headaches. From customizable lessons to gamified rewards, upLVL is built to support cannabis organizations at every level. Boost compliance, reward loyalty, and keep your community informed—we’ve got your back (and your front, too).
The Team
Founders
Mark Oronzio, Co-founder and CEO Mark brings over 25 years of expertise in educational technology and strategic business development. Based in Portland, OR, Mark has been instrumental in driving upLVL's mission to revolutionize engagement within the cannabis industry through advanced AI-driven solutions. Prior to upLVL, he led Ideaphora as founder and CEO. Mark’s career in online education started at Inspiration Software. He has offered strategic consulting services to online education companies worldwide. Mark's extensive background in online platforms and the cannabis industry uniquely positions him to lead upLVL in delivering impactful training, communication, and reward solutions.
Bill Kelly, Co-founder and Executive Chairman Bill has over 25 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience. Based in Portland, OR, Bill has played a pivotal role in developing upLVL's innovative engagement platform. With a background that spans education technology (Learning.com, ReelDx), healthcare (Sapient Health Network, WebMD), and various regulated industries, Bill brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic operations, product development, and business growth. Bill is also a general partner at AgriCascadia Fund I, the founding investor of upLVL.
Team
Alexandra Arnett, Marketing and Social Media Alexandra brings upLVL years of expertise in the retail cannabis industry and a decade of experience in retail management. Alexandra's diverse skill set includes retail management, fact-checking, and instructional design, all underpinned by a Master’s degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. At upLVL, she excels in creating engaging and informative content for social media channels, coordinating content releases, and managing user engagement.
Stephen Gold, Sales and Business Development Stephen brings over a decade of experience in brand development, sales, and marketing within progressive industries. Stephen co-founded The Daily Leaf, a digital advertising and marketing platform that drove consumer traffic to dispensaries and generated significant annual sales revenue. His leadership skills and strategic planning have been instrumental in increasing revenue generation and enhancing performance across various roles, including positions at Weedmaps and Fyllo.
Morgan MacArthur, Lead Developer Morgan brings over 20 years of experience in web-centric development and search strategy to upLVL’s team. Based in Portland, OR, Morgan has been instrumental in building tools to integrate a variety of powerful services into the upLVL platform. His extensive background includes roles such as Director of IT at Pace Investments Enterprises and co-founder of DirectTextbook.com. Morgan's expertise in SEO, JavaScript, and PHP, combined with his passion for solving challenging problems, makes him a key player in developing upLVL's advanced AI-driven platform.
Rich Park, Sales and Business Development With extensive experience in management, sales, and business strategy, Rich has been instrumental in driving growth and market penetration for various companies within the cannabis industry. His background includes roles such as President at Canna Culture Media LLC and Regional Sales Manager at Pharmers Market. Rich excels in creating strategic plans, increasing brand awareness, and delivering tailored business solutions, making him a vital part of the upLVL team.
Adolph Ward, Social Equity and Business Development An Oakland native with extensive community ties, Adolph co-founded the Oakland Equity Collective, where he has successfully operated since its inception in 2017. His professional background spans property management, sales, supply chain management, and print media, with a particular focus on generating consumer demand. Adolph has been a prominent advocate for equity operators in the cannabis industry, leveraging his deep expertise to support and empower social equity brands throughout the state.
Our Board
Mark Oronzio
Bill Kelly
Tom Boyd, Board Member
Based in San Francisco, Tom serves as the General Partner at AgriCascadia, a private equity fund that focuses on the new agricultural economy. He is also the Founder and CEO of Rootstox Inc., a consultancy specializing in commodity analysis for the cannabis and hemp industries. With a strong background in strategic planning, trading, and portfolio management, Tom has held key roles in various financial and commodities firms, contributing to their growth and operational success.
Ready to Get Started?
Why wait? Get going with upLVL for free and see how easy it is to engage, train, and reward like a pro. Sign up today and take the first step toward transforming how you connect with your people.
