Meet Trailblazer Teresa Hansen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Hansen.

Teresa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” can be a tough question to answer when you are young and still learning. I knew I wanted to help others so I would say a Teacher or Doctor, not understanding what it truly takes to fulfill those roles. Even in my first year of college, I didn’t know how that strong will to help others would manifest into a career in food and nutrition. In 2010, I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Nutrition from Arizona State University and a Culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu. I still was unsure what exactly I would be doing for work now that I had 2 degrees so I took a job offer in Seattle, WA as a research and development chef for Starbucks headquarters.

After about a year, I realized I was not heading in the direction of teaching or healing in the way that I desired. So, I moved back to AZ and decided to start a personal chef/nutrition business, Chef Hansen LLC. Through my small business, I offered ready-made healthy dinners, meal planning, cooking classes, nutrition coaching, and corporate wellness seminars. As a new business owner, I had to represent what I stood for and lead by example. Applying my own advice to my life I began to understand and feel the powerful effects of plants on our bodies including alternative medicine options such as medical cannabis. I wanted to use alternative medicine for my own struggles with chronic pain, so I became a medical cannabis patient.

I began learning more about this plant and the medicinal properties through continual research and trial and error with dosing for myself. I was concerned with the stigma cannabis presented and how it would affect my business and brand, so I kept my chef business strictly for meal prep and nutrition consulting. Even though I secretly desired to start my own edible company, I used the time to learn as much as I could about cannabis including how to precisely infuse into a variety of foods. After four years of not sharing this part of myself, I decided to come out of the “green” closet and share my passion for the plant with my clients, my business and anyone willing to listen! The response I received was so positive and supportive. As soon as I became more vocal, sharing my knowledge, experience, recipes and offering CBD cooking classes in dispensaries, I was offered a job as head chef and general manager for a new edible brand called Good Things Coming. Now, I am in a key position to influence in a new industry with my health, wellness and chef background.

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been doors that opened to opportunities that I’m still excited I received because it led me to where I am today but definitely not always a smooth road. I think the struggles are necessary or it wouldn’t have taught me what I needed to learn or challenged me in the ways that I needed to grow. For me, a big struggle has been getting in my own way with doubt, fear, and insecurities. When I focus and set my mind to exactly what needs to be done to reach my goal and I’m confident about the path, then I can execute efficiently. Getting to know myself more has played a huge part in the positive progress of my journey.

We’d love to hear more about Good Things Coming.
I am the head chef and general manager for Good Things Coming, a chef made, precision dosed edible brand powered by Copperstate Farms large greenhouse cultivation in Snowflake, AZ. I love working in the cannabis space and contributing to making quality edibles for Arizona patients. I make a classic French, Pate de Fruit, a fruit jelly that is vegan and gluten-free with natural fruit juices. I also use local Arizona Lavender and honey in lavender lemon drops that are microdose with a very small amount of THC for patients new to cannabis therapy. And of course, the highly sought after classic “weed” brownie which I use one of the highest quality dark chocolate in the world. I aim to lead the way for specific cannabis wellness products and normalize this plant through education and food. Food that heals, food that nourishes and food that makes the corners of your mouth turn right side up!

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
A key piece of advice I would give to a young woman just starting her career is to allow other people to help you and to not be afraid to ask for help. I love empowering women to be fearless, strong and capable but many times I have felt like I have to do it all and that can be overwhelming. Also, knowing yourself and your truth is very powerful. When I lack clear intentions, struggles increase and it’s harder to figure out which business endeavors should be considered. I think overall success is a combination of some good luck, timing, consistency, the contribution of others, mentors, how we interact with others, how we view ourselves and, of course, a dash hard work 😉

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chefhansen.com
• Phone: 442-A-CHEF-4-U
• Email: chefteresahansen@gmail.com
• Instagram: @chefteresahansen
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/chefteresa

Image Credit:
Sid Pearce, Shelby Moore, Alissa Brunelli

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