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And now the Katonah mom, along with her two daughters, is bidding for the medical marijuana business in New York State.
"Our applications are submitted and we're poised and ready with four dispensaries should we get the business," said Peckham, a former paralegal, of her new formed business, the Etain company.
One of those dispensaries would be in Yonkers; the others are in Albany, Syracuse and Kingston.
The three women -- Amy is running it along with Hillary (a business and social media expert) and Keeley (a New York Botanical Gardens certified horticultural therapist) -- anticipate hearing before the end of July.
"There are 43 applicants for five licenses," said Peckham. "We believe we are the only women oriented team in the mix."
Her interest in the business came from years of being a caretaker, not only for her mother, who passed away in 2012, but for her mother-in-law. "It's a new industry," she said. "And I realized it needed a standard of product, and that I could do it."
At an age where she should be headed towards retirement, she is, instead on the phone, in meetings, at trade shows and on the road headed to Albany, working to make this a reality.
She admits she's lucky as her family's business is a vertically integrated aggregate materials company, which gives her knowledge in manufacturing, transportation and distribution of products in a highly regulated industry. "I have this right here in my wheelhouse," she said. "The Peckham family owns nearly 7,000 acres in New York, meaning I'm going to have the friendliest landlord in the state."
Peckham is also thrilled to be working with her daughters. "I wouldn't have dreamt of this," she said. Needless to say, the reaction many have had when they first hear about her new business is "You want to do what?" But when they listen to her detailed plans and motivation, they understand.
"I felt very strongly we can do this and do this right," stressed Peckham. "And along the way bring a women’s ethics and sensibility to the business."
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