Industry Blazers: Kate Lavin

Industry Blazers spotlights Arizona’s talented cannabis industry professionals who influence and grow the industry.  Brought to you by a collaboration between AZmarijuana.com and Proven Media. Do you know someone that is an Industry Blazer in Arizona? If so, email us their name and contact info.

Kate Lavin is the editorial director at Marijuana Business Daily, a trusted, independent cannabis news publisher and event producer. An esteemed journalist with decades of experience in publishing, she’s a kind, reliable, and savvy reporter and editor with a keen eye for compelling stories. Kate has been with MJBiz since 2018, first serving as an editor before assuming the editorial director position at the end of 2023. Her latest promotion came as no surprise, following years of tenacity, curiosity, and high ethical standards.

Prior to her achievements at MJBiz, Kate worked on the editorial side of another highly regulated industry–alcohol. As the managing editor of Wines & Vines, North America’s longest-running wine industry trade publication, Kate oversaw the magazine’s editorial elements and kept up-to-date on the industry’s developments. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a print journalism major, Kate embodies the qualities of an excellent journalist, harnessing the powers of objectivity, empathy, and an inquisitive mind. These skills have been instrumental for maintaining MJBizDaily’s reputation as the most trusted publication for cannabis news and insights.

Kate’s recent promotion to editorial director is just another example of her commitment to, and passion for, everything journalism. From her college role as the president of the school of journalism to her early roles as a copy editor for local papers, she is a top-of-the-line, astute professional who loves a good story. Through her role at MJBizDaily, Kate keeps the bar raised for quality journalism in the ever-changing cannabis industry.

Proven Media is an experienced, trusted public relations and marketing communications firm serving the cannabis industry since 2014. The agency was named a “Top 5 Most Powerful Cannabis PR Firm” by the Observer and serves license holders and ancillary brands.