PCA 2026 Reflections by queen brolo

Apr 21

In May last year, Joshua came to me with another one of his infamous business ideas. If you know him, you know he’s always thinking of something albeit sometimes bizarre and stored under the file lovingly named “bad business ideas.” But this one. This was different. This one gave me goosebumps.

In those moments on the patio of our home in North Texas, I knew this idea would somehow, someway, someday, grow legs and begin to walk, crawl and run.

As I sit here reflecting, it’s been nearly a year since that first conversation on the patio and I’m in awe of how God has ordained each step of this journey:

June 2025, the LLC was formed
July 2025, we were in talks with factories
August 2025, we traveled to Estelí, Nicaragua to talk to our #1 pick for a factory 🤯
September 2025, licenses were applied for in the State of Texas
October 2025, Trademarks were filed and we launched our first Trucker Hat dubbed the “Founders Edition”
December 2025, we received our first license!
January 2026, we started the new year casting a vision for the future personally and professinally for Brolo.
February 2026, our designer completed Joshua’s vision of branding for Brolo AND we were granted the ability to attend PCA 2026
March 2026, more work on the business plans, crunching numbers and asking for a factory estimate 🫣
April 2026, we finalized our business plan and 3-year forecast, submitted for a loan and attended PCA in New Orleans!

What. A. Whirlwind.
And we’re only getting started.

Ahead of PCA, I was so nervous. As a novice cigar smoker (let’s be honest, only because we’re starting the business), I felt an immense amount of imposter syndrome begin to settle into my spirit. Over dinner a few days before I said to Joshua, “I don’t want to be seen as a fraud… I don’t know anything about blends or tasting notes and I always forget the order of viso vs. ligero. What business do I have in this industry?”

Sweetly, he reminded me of who I am: someone who sees people, loves building community and a badass at crunching the numbers behind the scenes. I felt a little better. Thankful for the pep talk and equipped with new clothes for the convention (IYKYK), I put on a brave face and extroverted my butt off for four whole days! If you know me, you know just how taxing that is for my introverted self!

And yet, in those four days what I found to be true was more than I could’ve asked or prayed for. This business isn’t just Joshua’s vision, this community isn’t just Joshua’s- it’s mine too.

I do have a seat at the table.

You know, when we started this thing, people said to be careful, they warned against the pitfalls of the social hierarchy of the industry, the imminent financial ruin, the elitism, etc. And they aren’t wrong. And they also aren’t right.

What I experienced at PCA 2026 was community over competition; sharing over gate keeping; an invitation to bring more seats to the table. I saw women supporting women, brothers in arms giving back, generations and races coming together, and the “big names” in the industry creating space to mentor and speak life into newbies like us.

I know many of you read the Slow Burn to hear from Joshua, or gain insights into the making of a cigar company, so I thank you for reading if you got this far! I may not be at every virtual herf or on Instagram videos - but I am here. In the background, working and fighting and learning and growing and cheerleading this beautiful Brolo community and industry. Thank you for letting this be a safe place to do all of that and for welcoming me. And to the sweet souls who helped me feel less like an imposter and more like a friend and a sister of the leaf, thank you!

Angie,The Polished Puff, you are kind and everything I thought you’d be. Your kindness touched me.
Melinda, Bariay 1492 Queen Bee, we are two peas in a pod! Your encouragement was a blessing!
Karen Berger, we only posed for a picture but you were gracious and present and I’m encouraged by your impact on the industry.
Scott Haugh, you are a kind and good man. Thank you for bridging the gap between Cigars and Recovery. We are forever rooting for and supporting your mission!
Jen, ‘Mama Viso’, thank you for being a friend and a Quickbooks and reporting guru!
Angela, you are kind to me and have been welcoming from day one. Thank you for letting me sit at your table, literally and figuratively.
Mike and Skip, thanks for treating me as an equal.
Francheska, with Casa Carrillo, you are one of one: thank you for encouraging me to try new things! My first box press did not disappoint 😮‍💨
Steve Saka, thank you for sharing your marriage story. You and Cindy are an inspiration and proof that working together only makes your marriage and your brand stronger. The way you spoke about her still brings tears to my eyes.

I’m leaving PCA encouraged, inspired, connected and hopeful for what Brolo can add to this industry. And I’m immensely thankful for the opportunity to be a student and a contributor.

Thankful to You,

‘Queen Brolo’

(the guys on Discord came up with the name- not me!)