How a Veteran-Led Cannabis Company Grew 2,342% to Make the Inc. 5000 Twice

Competition in New York’s regulated cannabis market is unforgiving, and operators that manage to grow at scale often do so against long odds. Veterans Holdings, the Gloversville, New York manufacturer behind Veterans Choice Creations and other popular brands, has pushed through those pressures to secure a top position on the 2026 Inc. 5000. The company ranked No. 130 with 2,342% three-year growth on the annual list compiled by Inc. magazine, which evaluates companies by percentage revenue growth over the previous three years. It is the second straight year Veterans Holdings has appeared near the top of the list, a sign of both resilience and momentum in a challenging environment.

“Veterans Holdings has remained among the fastest-growing companies in the country for two consecutive years,” founder and CEO Jason Ambrosino said in an online interview with IgniteIt. “It says we’re in a growth phase.”

Building A Company From The Ground Up

Ambrosino’s path into cannabis began after retiring from the Army in 2014. He described being on a “cocktail of seven different prescription drugs” for nerve pain and PTSD, a regimen that left him unable to function. His transition into entrepreneurship started with a procurement and logistics company, but his personal search for alternatives led him to cannabis and hemp. By 2018, he was studying cultivation, processing, and product development, and by 2022, he had secured one of New York’s early hemp licenses.

That foundation helped Veterans Holdings scale quickly and become an early entrant to New York’s regulated adult-use cannabis industry in 2023. The company grew from under six figures to what Ambrosino said “this year will be close to 20 million” in revenue. He credits several decisions for the rapid climb, including retaining ownership, limiting debt, buying used equipment, and developing internal expertise rather than relying on consultants.

“Confidence in ourselves is one of the biggest ones,” Ambrosino said. “Just going for it and not being afraid of failure.”

Why Gloversville Works

Veterans Holdings operates out of Gloversville, a former Upstate New York leather-manufacturing hub with industrial buildings and power infrastructure that remain intact. Ambrosino said the city’s industrial past and electrical capacity have been essential to scaling production.

“Gloversville is really kind of a great place for manufacturing and factory-type development because it has the history and the architecture that already exist,” he said. 

The availability of commercial space at lower cost, combined with access to reliable and affordable energy, created an environment where the company could expand without taking on heavy debt.

A People-Centered Manufacturing Model

Veterans Holdings now supplies more than 300 dispensaries statewide. Ambrosino said the company’s manufacturing model stands out because it relies on people rather than heavy automation, a choice that reflects both his mission and the community he wants to support.

“We’re kind of an anomaly,” he said. “We have not leaned heavily on automation; we’ve leaned heavily on people.” 

The approach has created what he described as “intense loyalty” among employees and a stronger connection to the products they produce.

That model has also helped the company maintain momentum as more operators come online. Ambrosino said the key is to focus on the dispensaries that drive the majority of sales and to build strong relationships with those partners.

“Seventy percent of your business will end up coming from 30 percent of your customers,” Ambrosino said. “Focus on the relationships that matter.”

A House Of Brands

Veterans Choice Creations has become a recognizable name in New York, but it is only one part of a broader brand portfolio. Ambrosino has developed a full house of brands that serve different market segments.

Veterans Choice Creations focuses on wellness products, including items Ambrosino said were originally designed around his own needs. New York Honey targets broad consumer appeal with beverages, distillate carts, and concentrates. Potted Head is the company’s solventless and hash line, built around a playful identity and a trichome-inspired logo. Mildly Moronic is a low-priced clearance brand. Space Buds, built around moon rocks, helped the company gain early traction with dispensaries by offering a differentiated product.

“Maybe what this comes down to is doing what you say you’re going to do,” Ambrosino said of his company’s success with New York consumers. “Having a reputation for having high standards and doing the right thing.”

Navigating A Difficult Market

Ambrosino described the current operating environment in New York as challenging for both dispensaries and manufacturers. Retail margins remain tight, 280E continues to strain operators, and payment delays ripple through the supply chain. He said the market is entering a shakeout period that aligns with typical business cycles.

“It is difficult to be in the New York State market at all right now,” Ambrosino said. “We have to assume there’s going to be some failure. We’re in that period now.”

Regulatory changes have made a competitive market even more challenging. Veterans Holdings is part of a lawsuit against the New York Office of Cannabis Management, opposing METRC tag fees and the administrative process that allowed them. Ambrosino said the case centers on whether the fees were properly approved and whether they amount to an additional tax on products.

“That was what the lawsuit was all about,” he said. “Who had the authority to allow for that when there was never any OCM vote on it?”

The case is awaiting the judge’s ruling.

Ambrosino said the company’s ability to stay ahead has come from disciplined financial management and a willingness to adapt, a posture that will matter even more as the broader policy landscape continues to shift.

What Comes Next

The next phase for Veterans Holdings will unfold against a shifting national backdrop. Federal rescheduling has become a central topic across the industry, and any change in cannabis’s status could reshape tax burdens, capital access, and long-term planning for operators throughout the supply chain. Ambrosino did not address rescheduling directly, but the company’s position in New York’s regulated market places it among the operators most likely to feel the effects of any federal policy shift.

With the company entering its fifth year, Ambrosino said the immediate focus is on product refinement rather than rapid expansion. He wants to improve presentation, quality, and consistency while maintaining current price points.

“Prices keep the prices where they’re at but give more to the consumer,” he said. “That’s what is going to establish the brands that survive over the next five to ten years.”

Ambrosino said the company’s growth still feels surreal at times. Veterans Holdings has expanded to nearly 77,000 square feet in just a few years, a scale he said he never expected.

“You look back in the mirror, and you’re like, what did we do?” Ambrosino said. “We’re blessed for it.”