Meet the Team
Andrea Watkins
Co-Owner & Founder
Andrea’s interest in wellness began long before Kind+Life. Raised in a health- and wellness-focused home, she has spent much of her life exploring the connection between mind, body and well-being. She earned her degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, taught yoga, and has continued independently studying wellness, human behavior and the many ways people try to feel and live better.
That curiosity about people has followed Andrea throughout her career as a creative leader, entrepreneur and retailer. Whether she was building a brand, creating a retail experience or talking with a customer at Kind+Life, she has always been interested in the same thing: What do people really need—and how can we make the experience better for them?
That mindset has shaped Kind+Life from the beginning. Andrea listens closely to customers—what they’re looking for, what frustrates or confuses them, what they wish existed and what actually works for them. Those conversations influence everything from the products Kind+Life carries and develops to the way the store looks, feels and serves people.
Her philosophy is captured in one question:
What is getting in the way of the life you want to live?
Sometimes the answer is sleep, stress or discomfort. Sometimes someone simply wants to relax, have fun or enjoy life a little more. Andrea believes the best businesses don't start by telling people what they need. They start by listening.
Outside Kind+Life, Andrea is an avid pickleball player and longtime animal lover, rescuer and advocate.
Dr. Andrea Holmes, Ph.D.
Co-Owner, Chemist & Cannabis Scientist
Dr. Andrea Holmes brings something unusual to Kind+Life: a scientist’s deep understanding of cannabis combined with a genuine desire to make that science useful to everyday people.
A nationally and internationally recognized cannabis scientist, Dr. Holmes is a chemist, researcher, professor, published author, educator, product formulator and expert witness. Her expertise has taken her across the United States and internationally, contributing to cannabis and hemp research, education, legal and regulatory matters.
At Kind+Life, that expertise becomes practical. Dr. Holmes helps shape how we evaluate products, educate our team and develop our own Kind+Life formulations. Her knowledge of cannabinoids, formulation, testing and product quality gives us an unusually deep understanding of what’s actually inside the products on our shelves—and why it matters.
Just as important, Dr. Holmes believes science should be understandable. She has a gift for taking complicated chemistry and making it approachable, whether she is answering a customer’s question, teaching students, speaking to industry professionals or providing scientific expertise in a courtroom.
In 2026, Dr. Holmes received the Inspire Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, recognizing the impact she has made by bringing together science, education, advocacy and entrepreneurship.
Outside the laboratory and classroom, Andrea is also a passionate animal advocate and supporter of animal rescue and welfare, including volunteer work with Hearts United for Animals.
At Kind+Life, her philosophy is simple: you don’t need to understand the chemistry to shop confidently—but when you want to understand it, we know the science. Just ask.