Title: Chief Executive Officer
Company: Holyoke Gardens, LLC
Location: Massachusetts
Education: Coursework, South University; Coursework, Western New England University
Career History: Chief Executive Officer, Holyoke Gardens, LLC (2017-Present); Owner, Bookkeeping Company
Michael J. Lees, Chief Executive Officer at Holyoke Gardens, LLC, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of business.
Always an entrepreneur at heart, Mr. Lees seized the moment when recreational marijuana became legalized in Massachusetts in 2016. A year later, he formed Holyoke Gardens, LLC, through which he serves as a leader in the cultivation of recreational marijuana—working with numerous professionals in the field to acquire permits for their facility, making sure that their license is in good standing, and that everything being done within the business is in accordance with all law requirements. In his capacity as the chief executive officer, Mr. Lees enjoys meeting people, growing his network, and plans to one day expand the business.
After spending some time in college, completing coursework at South University and Western New England University, Mr. Lees found that formal education wasn’t a good fit for him. Without much money or experience, he worked hard and ultimately found success in sales and marketing, and then owned a bookkeeping company for several years. Over the course of his career, he has been most proud of his ability to gather the initial $120,000 required to fund the license for Holyoke Gardens. Outside of his primary responsibilities, Mr. Lees also proudly serves as the second vice commander for the American Veterans Post 74, a prominent civic organization in his community.
In the next five years, Mr. Lees’ mission is to not only expand his business, but completing a patent he is currently working on, and fund the acquisition of a large farm where he can cultivate meat, vegetables, and fruits he can grow and use.