Cody Perez

About Cody Perez

What\'s good! My name is Cody Perez. I\'m originally from the Bronx, NY, and I\'m the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of GRIMM CITY INVESTORS and HIGH LIFE LUXURY CANNABIS.GRIMM CITY INVESTORS is a real estate investment, development, and advisory firm focused on the sustainable development of communities that are socially-conscious, economically empowering, and environmentally friendly through multifamily, hospitality, and cannabis investments in neighborhoods that have faced disinvestment historically. HIGH LIFE LUXURY CANNABIS is the ultimate luxury cannabis lifestyle brand. At the nexus of cannabis, hospitality, fashion, art, and technology, High Life Luxury Cannabis’ mission is to facilitate every aspect of the fashionable cannabis connoisseur’s lifestyle through a combination of upscale experiential events and spaces such as dispensaries, lounges, and hotels, as well as top-quality cannabis products and branded goods including apparel, leather goods, and cannabis consumption accessories. Additionally, it is also our mission to help eliminate the negative stigma around cannabis consumption and shift the public perception of cannabis and cannabis consumers. I hold both a Master\'s of Business Administration and a Master\'s of Professional Studies in Real Estate from the Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Hotel School of Administration at Cornell University, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Development & Sustainability, respectively. I also hold a Bachelor\'s of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the Goizueta Business School and College of Arts and Sciences at Emory University, majoring in Financing and Economics, respectively.Prior to Cornell, I worked for three years at J.P. Morgan after completing my undergraduate studies in at Emory. I decided to transition from Banking into Real Estate as a result of my passion for Affordable Housing. As an Afro-Latino man from the Bronx, I have seen the negative socioeconomic impacts of historically discriminatory housing policies, disinvestment in predominantly-minority communities, and the war on drugs.I\'m passionate about utilizing Real Estate and Cannabis to create positive change in the communities that have been most significantly impacted across the United States, and beyond. I know that with the right approach, both Real Estate and Cannabis have the potential to revitalize communities and empower their residents socially and economically.

Experience

1. Founder & Chief Executive Officer

   High Life Luxury Cannabis

   Dec 2020 — Present

   HIGH LIFE LUXURY CANNABIS is the ultimate Luxury Cannabis lifestyle brand. Our unique product offering spans upscale dispensaries, hotels, lounges, and luxury goods.• Cornell Investment Ideas Forum Pitch Competition @ Cornell University (1st Place - May 2021)• Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator @ Cornell University. Recipient of the Professor Kadiyali Entrepreneurship Fund Award (Summer 2021 Cohort)• eLab Accelerator @ Cornell University (20••••22 Cohort)• Hospitality Business Plan Competition @ Cornell University (2nd Place - April 2022)

Education

• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2019 — 2022

• Emory University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics

  2012 — 2016

• Ethical Culture Fieldston School

  High School

  2008 — 2012

• Emory University - Goizueta Business School

  Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Finance

  2014 — 2016

• Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate

  Master of Professional Studies - MPS, Real Estate

  2019 — 2022

• Cornell University

  Certificate, Commercial Real Estate