Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Martch.
Hi Ben, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been drawn to the places where culture naturally comes together. Music venues. Dispensaries. Nightlife. Retail floors. Festivals. Backstage hallways. The random conversations after an event that somehow turn into a new company or lifelong partnership. Looking back, that’s really been the thread through my entire career.
Growing up, I was fascinated by the way certain people and brands could bring communities together. It wasn’t just about selling a product or throwing an event, it was about creating experiences people wanted to be part of. That curiosity eventually led me to Colorado State University, where I earned a degree in Merchandising & Marketing, but honestly, most of the education that shaped my career happened outside the classroom.
Over the last 15+ years, I’ve been fortunate to build a career across cannabis, entertainment, hospitality, media, nightlife, and experiential marketing. Along the way I’ve worked with incredible artists, entrepreneurs, retailers, athletes, founders, and brands. Every experience reinforced the same lesson: relationships are everything. The best opportunities have never come from chasing a title, they’ve come from showing up, doing the work, and earning people’s trust over time.
Today, I help brands turn culture into measurable business growth through events, partnerships, media, retail strategy, and authentic consumer engagement. We like to say we don’t just create events, we create buyers.
Alongside Event House & Co., I serve as Director of Lifestyle for KEEF Brands, KARMA Brands, and HOLEE Water, and a Contributing Editor of Lifestyle & Culture for HIGH TIMES LOCAL Magazine. Those roles all complement one another because they live in the same ecosystem. Whether it’s launching a product, producing an event, telling someone’s story, or building a partnership, it’s all about connecting people in meaningful ways.
I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to learn from people who’ve had a lasting influence on how I approach business and leadership. Erik Knutson, Scot Knutson, Nick Wattles, Nick Torres, Hunter Johnson, Nathan Johnson, Gabe Evans, Justin Fahey, and many others have each challenged me in different ways and helped shape the professional I am today.
More than anything, I’ve learned that culture can’t be manufactured. It has to be lived. My goal has always been to build things that feel authentic, bring good people together, and leave every brand, business, and community a little better than I found it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not, but honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The industries I’ve spent my career in cannabis, entertainment, hospitality, media, and events are constantly evolving. Regulations change. Markets shift. Artists cancel. Venues fall through. Partnerships evolve. Sometimes you spend months building something only to watch the plan change a week before it launches.
Early on, it was easy to think success meant everything going according to plan. Over time, that perspective changed. Success became less about avoiding problems and more about learning how to navigate them without losing your composure or your relationships.
One thing this industry has taught me is that people remember how you handle the difficult moments more than the easy ones. Anyone can celebrate when things are going well. The real test is how you respond when something unexpected happens.
I’ve also learned that growth rarely happens in isolation. Some of the biggest opportunities in my career came because people believed in me before I felt fully ready. I’ve been fortunate to learn from leaders and partners like Erik Knutson, Scot Knutson, Nick Wattles, Nick Torres, Hunter Johnson, Nathan Johnson, Gabe Evans, Justin Fahey, and many others who challenged me to think bigger, communicate better, and continue improving.
Looking back, every setback ended up teaching something valuable. They forced better systems, stronger partnerships, and a little more patience. Those experiences shaped the way I lead today.
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth, but that’s probably why it’s been so rewarding. Every challenge has reinforced the same belief: stay adaptable, keep your word, take care of people, and keep moving forward.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If there’s one thing that sets me apart, it’s perspective. The career has never been limited to one lane. Time has been spent on retail floors, inside dispensaries, backstage at concerts, in production meetings, boardrooms, media offices, and on event sites long after the crowds have gone home. Seeing every side of the business creates a different understanding of how culture, operations, marketing, and revenue all work together.
I’ve always believed culture can’t be manufactured, it has to be lived. People can tell when something is authentic and when it’s forced. My goal has always been to help brands show up in ways that feel real, build lasting relationships, and create experiences that people genuinely want to be part of.
When all of that comes together, the business results usually follow.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I grew up in Oregon, and my entire family is from South Side inner city Pittsburgh, PA.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eventhouseco.com
- Instagram: @benmartch
- Facebook: @benmartch
- LinkedIn: @benmartch
- Twitter: @benmartch
- Other: https://www.keefbrands.com
