Staff
Full birth name: Ericka Pittman
Title: Chief Marketing Officer
Company: Viola
Years at current company: Less than a year, previously was at Combs Enterprises for almost a decade
Education profile: Bachelor’s Degree Corp Comm- Bernard Baruch College
Most successful professional accomplishment before cannabis: Becoming Chief Marketing Officer of the #2 Premium PH Bottled Water Company
Company Mission: Viola is a purposeful brand that uses the power of cannabis to transform the lives of minorities by increasing representation, facilitating community building and providing employment opportunities.
Company’s most successful achievement: Viola is one of the largest independently owned African American Cannabis companies in the US with multi-state operations in Colorado, Oregon, California, and Michigan.
Has the company raised any capital (yes or no): Yes
if so, how much?: Viola recently raised a $16M in a Series A funding round which will go toward Viola’s continued expansion mission into the Michigan and California markets.
Any plans on raising capital in the future?
Viola is poised to achieve substantial growth over the upcoming months. We have developed an iron-clad business plan that we believe will carry us through this next business cycle. As we continue to assess the ever-expanding world of cannabis, we will evaluate the need for external capital and decide accordingly.
Most important company 5-year goal:
Viola plans to spearhead a purpose-driven lifestyle movement that results in more than 10,000 jobs, hundreds of new business owners and increased industry diversity through job opportunities, training programs, cannabis startup incubation and more.
Personal Bio
Ericka Pittman is a highly accomplished Marketing Executive with more than 25 years of success in the CPG, beauty, luxury goods, wine & spirits, food & beverage, tech and media industries. Prior to joining Viola brands, Ericka was the Chief Marketing Officer at AQUAhydrate, Inc. where she was responsible for spearheading and directing the Company’s marketing, sales functions, and departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures. Before, AQUAhydrate, Ericka spent 9 years at Combs Enterprises holding multiple roles within the organization including Vice President of the Chairman’s Office. Ericka had previously spent 15 years working in interactive and publishing media, holding positions at iVillage.com; Honey, Heart & Soul, and Savoy Magazine (Vanguard Media Group); Baby Talk Magazine (Time Inc.); Glamour Magazine (Condé Nast); Vibe & Vixen Magazines (Vibe Media Group); and GIANT Magazine (Radio One Inc).
She currently serves as a member of a number of organizations including Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), National Association of Professional Women and Advertising Women of New York (AWNY). She also lends her time and energy to a number of causes and other organizations, including Dress for Success and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).
Ericka holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Corporate Communications from Baruch College as well as an Executive Women in Leadership certification from eCornell University. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, she now resides in Los Angeles, CA.
