The beginning of Casey Flippo’s entrepreneurial career could easily have been a case of “right place, wrong time.” After all, it is not very often that one puts all of their worldly assets into starting a company just before a global pandemic brings the world to a screeching halt. Flippo’s hemp manufacturing company, Natvana, had quickly grown into one of the region’s largest facilities — that is, until COVID-19 put the company on life support. Rather than retreating to the corporate world he left behind, Flippo saw it as a career-defining moment. He and his business partners scraped by until favorable legislation allowed them to repackage the company into the now-flourishing Dark Horse Cannabis, the state’s first cannabis processor.
Occupation:
CEO, Dark Horse Cannabis, Arkanna Investments
Hometown:
Paragould
FAVORITES:
Beverage:
Old fashioned
Restaurant:
Cache Restaurant
Snack:
Popcorn
TV show:
Breaking Bad
Sport:
Basketball
Dream Car:
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
What was the best opportunity you ever received?
The greatest opportunity I have ever received is the opportunity to become a dad. My wife blessed myself and my family with a baby girl that has absolutely changed my life.
Looking back, how was your father or grandfather right, after all?
My grandfather, who is my hero, spent his entire professional career in business for himself. My stepfather, who essentially raised me, went into the family business straight out of college. Even my mother, who spent my upbringing as a stay-at-home mom, now owns a highly successful small business in our hometown. The lesson instilled in me from a very young age was to not chase a dollar. If you look at your career as a game and have any kind of competitive mindset, it’s hard to lose.
What one thing changed the way you see the world?
Starting a family. I have always had high ambitions for myself, but when you start working to provide for your family, the landscape changes.
What is the most useful skill or habit you ever learned?
To be proactive versus reactive. Entrepreneurs who wait for situations to present themselves are not entrepreneurs for long.
What is your catchphrase?
“Play chess, not checkers”
What is the worst advice you have ever been given?
I don’t really believe in ‘bad advice’ because there is normally merit to every position; however, the advice that I am most happy I did not listen to was the advice to not leave my stable career and start a business.
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