Our Purpose
The Cannovia Story.
Although the pathways that each of the founders have taken to arrive at this point are different, there is one common purpose and passion that each of us share. To use our talents, abilities, expertise and experiences to help others achieve better health and wellness.
Our CEO, Brian Baum’s journey into healthcare began with what can only be described as the worst nightmare imaginable. His 8-year-old son Trevor, was diagnosed with a very rare, aggressive and life-threatening cancer.
During Trevor’s 14-month treatment, Brian and his wife Patti, spent day and night with other terrified parents, struggling to navigate the healthcare industry to ensure they received the best care for their children.
It was this experience—20+ years ago—that motivated Brian to transform his career path to focus on advancing the healthcare industry. It is this passion that continues to fuel Brian’s commitment to helping people achieve a healthier and more balanced life.
Although Trevor’s courageous battle was not without its trials and tribulations, it ended with hope and survivorship. Now 30, Trevor is one of the founders of Cannovia, helping bring CBD products to market that positively impacts the wellbeing of all our customers.
The Cannovia Team Assembles
Following his family’s health experience, Brian initially launched a nationwide initiative focused on automating the utilization of person-centered health records – vitaTrackr. A consumer-controlled, independent and agnostic health sharing data utility that would enable individuals to authorize the sharing of their health records, (in total or specific data elements) wherever and whenever they desired. During that time, he was introduced to Dr. Pat Hezmall. Pat joined vitaTrackr as an Advisory Board member and was instrumental in opening many doors in the Texas health community.
A urologist by training, entrepreneur and humanitarian by nature, Dr. Hezmall has various and diverse interests including ranching in Colorado. It was through ranching that he connected with Cannovia co-founder Tom Walsh, who introduced him to the emerging CBD industry through hemp farming.
Quickly realizing the impact that natural, hemp-derived CBD could have for many people who struggle with physical discomfort, anxiousness, restless nights and stress, he and Tom formed a partnership and began farming hemp in the high country of Colorado in early 2017.
The two soon began working with Cannovia co-founder John Emery, who was at the forefront of the CBD movement and had formulated and developed a variety of unique and proprietary CBD-based products.
The missing piece was having a go-to market strategy and business plan to get their products into the hands of the people who are looking for natural alternatives to manage their health issues.
That’s when Dr. Hezmall elicited the help of his colleague at vitaTrackr, Brian Baum. It didn’t take long for Brian to also recognize the positive impact that CBD could have on people’s health and wellness and after a few discussions and meetings in late 2018, Cannovia began to take root.
But Brian knew that a strong and compelling brand was integral in order to connect with consumers in a very crowded and complex market like CBD. It was at this point that the stars truly aligned. For his son, Trevor was working for a creative agency led by partners Joel Warneke and Greg Fehrenbach. Joel and Greg already had a long history in the healthcare industry. Trevor arranged introductions and Joel and Greg enthusiastically joined the Cannovia founding team to lead the branding and packaging strategy for Cannovia, (a name they developed).
The final piece of the Cannovia story was Trevor’s direct involvement in founding and managing Cannovia. Since his cancer experience so many years prior, he and Dad, Brian, had committed to finding opportunities to dedicate their energies in helping others in pursuit of health and wellness. With Cannovia, an opportunity to work together in this pursuit was created. And as they say, the rest is history.
Together, we dedicate ourselves daily to developing quality CBD products and educating people everywhere about the positive benefits of CBD. We live by a very simple tenet: treat our customers the way we would want to be treated. With honesty, integrity and transparency.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cannovia family.
Co-Founder & Medical Advisor
Dr. Pat Hezmall
Dr. Hezmall is a urologist by training but an entrepreneur and humanitarian by nature. Professionally, Dr. Hezmall, co-founded one of the largest urology practices in the United States – Urology Associates of North Texas (UANT).
Although retired from practice, he continues to maintain an active role in medicine through his participation on review boards associated with numerous clinical studies at prestigious medical institutions such as Stanford Medical School and with projects supporting the medical community. Recently he co-chaired a blue-ribbon county court commissioner’s committee working on strategic planning for the future medical needs of a large metropolitan county.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hezmall was involved in numerous clinical research projects involving medications, medical devices, and innovative novel surgical treatments.
Although the future of CBD and the cannabis industry in general holds great promise, extensive research and clinical trials are needed before any specific claims can be made as to CBD benefits and effects. With the federal legalization of hemp and hemp-derived CBD in December of 2018, the FDA is just beginning to explore industry regulations. In the meantime — while not claiming to treat specific conditions — people are anecdotally reporting reduction in pain, inflammation, depression and sleep deprivation. These stories of real-life CBD experiences continue to grow as CBD becomes more available to the mainstream public; and, have created a groundswell of support for CBD.
We are fortunate to have a physician of Dr. Hezmall’s caliber — not just as an advisor but a co-founder — helping guide the Cannovia team in navigating the beneficial health and wellness uses of CBD.
