Track Record

Lightning
Strikes

Strategy is easy to talk about. Here's what it looks like when it actually works.

A decade of being in the room
where it happened.

Every engagement below represents work Kaliko led directly — not as a bystander, not as a vendor executing someone else's plan, but as the strategic mind driving the decisions that produced these outcomes.

These aren't case studies designed to impress. They're proof of what happens when the right strategy meets the right moment.

01
Federal Policy
National Cannabis Industry Association
Building the infrastructure for an industry's voice in Washington.

When Kaliko joined NCIA as Director of Marketing and Head of Growth, it was already the leading federal trade association for the cannabis industry — but its marketing and business development infrastructure hadn't kept pace with the industry's explosive growth.

Kaliko led the overhaul of both — building the systems, messaging frameworks, and business development processes that helped NCIA grow its membership, expand its reach, and show up more powerfully in the national policy conversation at a critical moment for federal cannabis reform.

250%+ Social audience growth in 18 months
60%+ Growth in website page views
~1,000 New members in 2019 — most ever in a single year
What this demonstrated

Even the most established organizations have untapped strategic leverage — and the right systems can unlock it fast.

Kaliko is simply one of the best marketers in the cannabis industry. His ability to think strategically and come up with creative ideas for any situation helped NCIA tremendously.
Aaron Smith — Former CEO, National Cannabis Industry Association
“
Kaliko is highly skilled in marketing strategy and leading an organization towards its growth goals. He was instrumental in almost every aspect of NCIA and MCBA's success during his tenure there.
Tahir Johnson — CEO, Simply Pure Trenton
02
Event Launch
Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference
Putting a brand-new event on the map in four weeks.

ThndrStrm was brought in just over a month before the launch of the very first Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference — a brand with zero existing audience and a hard deadline. In four weeks, the team built and executed a launch campaign that drove results well beyond what any new event brand should expect this early.

120K+ Impressions
8,964 Engagements
470 Post link clicks
What this demonstrated

You don't need an existing audience to make a first impression that counts. The right launch strategy can build credibility and momentum from a standing start.

03
Political Campaign
Tobias Read for Governor
Launching a statewide campaign with momentum from day one.

When Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read launched his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, ThndrStrm was brought in to build and execute the digital strategy from the ground up. The challenge wasn't just launching a campaign — it was breaking through in a crowded field and establishing Tobias as a serious contender immediately.

300K+ Impressions in 30 days
34K+ Engagements in 30 days
What this demonstrated

A disciplined launch strategy, executed with precision, can establish credibility and momentum before a campaign ever knocks on its first door.

Testimonial pending — Tobias Read campaign
04
Rapid Response
NORML
Rapid response strategy that doubled an organization's reach overnight.

Four days. That's how much runway ThndrStrm had when the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws brought Kaliko in ahead of the MORE Act vote in Congress — one of the most significant pieces of federal cannabis legislation in history.

Working against the clock, ThndrStrm built and executed a rapid response digital strategy that turned a critical policy moment into a massive audience engagement opportunity.

+139% Impressions vs. prior period
+100% Engagements
+130% Messages sent
What this demonstrated

The right strategy, deployed at the right moment, can produce extraordinary results even with almost no runway. Timing and precision matter more than budget.

Testimonial pending — NORML
05
Personal
Kaliko Castille for State Representative
Running the playbook on yourself.

In 2022, Kaliko ran for State Representative in Oregon's House District 41 — applying everything ThndrStrm had built for clients to his own campaign. The race produced endorsements from major labor unions and community organizations, built through an organic digital content strategy that punched well above its weight class financially.

Running for office is the ultimate stress test for a political strategist. You're making decisions under pressure, with imperfect information, on a public stage, with no margin for error. It's one thing to advise a candidate. It's another to be one.

4,233 Votes — 29% in a 3-way primary
$40K+ Raised
50K+ Views on launch video
What this demonstrated

ThndrStrm's approach to digital organizing and community building works — even when the stakes are personal.

Testimonial pending — campaign supporter or endorsing organization

Ready to write your own
Lightning Strike moment?

Apply to Work With ThndrStrm