Forrest Parker

General Manager | Great Smoky Mountain Cannabis Company

Forrest Parker, a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), is a respected Indigenous entrepreneur and executive with over 20 years of experience in Tribal economic development, natural resource management, and cannabis policy. As General Manager of Qualla Enterprises and Great Smoky Cannabis Company, he led the launch of the largest Tribally regulated, vertically integrated cannabis business in the U.S., creating a $50 million startup with over 250 jobs—90% held by Tribal members. His career includes leadership roles in natural resources, hospital engineering, and conservation, and he has overseen multi-billion-dollar initiatives while founding nationally recognized youth and conservation programs. Parker is known for blending cultural values with strategic innovation to drive Tribal economic sovereignty and inspire Indigenous entrepreneurship.