Cole Peacock

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Florida's First and Only Cannabis Cafe 

Cole Peacock, Co-Founder, Seed & Bean Market

Seed & Bean Market was founded in 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida after four founding members with cannabis industry roots cultivated their passion for CBD, great coffee, unique beer and delicious food into a comfortable lifestyle destination.    As the first CBD marketplace of its kind, and we are dedicated to offering only the highest quality foods and beverages, thoroughly tested CBD products, and the chillest atmosphere in the region. As industry innovators with a unique niche, our philosophy is simple: Our community is our home, and our customers are our family.

If you’ve ever visited Seed & Bean Market, there’s a good chance you’ve run into Cole Peacock. Sporting a PureNative hat and making the rounds to each table with a warm hello, Cole is a recognizable face bringing fresh ideas, a firm handshake, and a tall glass of terpene-infused Southern hospitality to the Downtown Fort Myers area.      As Co-founder and Partner of Seed and Bean Market – Florida’s first and the nation’s second Cannabis Café and CBD Marketplace – Cole is making a name for himself in the Florida hemp and cannabis industries. When he’s not busy with the store’s two bustling locations, he works as Founder of PureNative Premium Hemp and C3 Investment Group – but he’s not stopping there.      Known in the community as a man who wears many hats, from Industry Innovator and trail blazer to business strategist and passionate advocate for the Lee County community at large, Cole’s personal motto “Never, ever, ever give up” is changing the face of Florida’s Cannabis and Hemp industry one project and person at a time.     

History  

Cole's story began in 1983 in Fort Myers, Florida where he grew up in a family of fifth generation peanut farmers. His dreams of making a difference in the world and his hunger for knowledge drove him to become deeply involved in academics and athletics, eventually graduating as class president from Cumberland University.  

After graduation, Cole got involved in the political world. He has worked on several campaigns ranging from US Senate, US Congress, Governor, State Senate, State House of Representatives, and mayoral races. Cole recently was appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Governor’s Office to Vice-Chairman of the first Hemp and Cannabis Statewide Advisory Board. He was involved with the Florida constitutional amendment for medical marijuana and has been working on the ground level for several years to help develop Florida’s cannabis industry.  

Corporate Experience 

Cole has over 20 years’ experience as a corporate executive across a multitude of retail areas, including corporate branding, operations, strategy, and governmental relations. His experience in non-profit includes charitable giving, community development, investor relations, crisis management and social responsibility. His broad corporate experience ranges from Fortune 500 Executive at Chico’s FAS, Inc. to Executive Change and Restructure agent for Exeter Finance – a subsidiary of Blackstone Capital and one of the top five merger and investment firms in the world.  

After joining Chico's in 2000, Cole spent the next ten years on the corporate executive team overseeing corporate relations, branding and associate programs, retail operations, customer engagement and loyalty programs, strategic planning, investor relations, governmental and community relations, and national charitable giving.      

Memberships

Cole’s words to live by are “you have to give in order to receive.” His passion for giving back to the community and creating safe spaces for vulnerable populations has driven his inexhaustible participation in several nonprofit organizations and boards in the Lee County area. He is a member of the 2008/2009 Leadership Florida Class, Leadership Florida Regional Council, Florida Hemp/Cannabis State Advisory Board, Florida Gulf Coast University, Lutgert School of Business Board of Directors, Hodges University Presidents Council, and Step up for Students. He is a former Community Advisor for News-Press Editorial Board, Florida Chamber Executive Board, and Florida Retail Federation. He serves on several non-profit boards, including AMI Kids, Boys and Girls Club, Be Great Campaign, Children’s Advocacy Council, American Red Cross of SWFL, Edison Ford Winter Estates and Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.  

Cole currently resides in Fort Myers with his wife Rachel and three children, Sterling, Hannah, and Jackson.