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We planted the idea that talent was the key to making any organization flourish.
Growing Talent was founded in order to provide the absolute pinnacle of direct hire, executive search, and temporary talent solutions in the cannabis industry.
Our Executive team has more than 50 years of cumulative experience in identifying hard-to-find talent and managing end-to-end recruiting processes. We are ready to help your growing organization identify, attract, and hire top-tier talent to drive your business forward.
Whether you are an Agriculture Technology Manufacturer, Specialized Consulting Firm, or Industrial Hemp Manufacturer/Retailer, we focus on staffing and recruiting for highly specialized professionals that can help your organization become a key player in this growing industry.
Since joining the human capital industry nearly 25 years ago, Rona has become a nationally recognized leader in the talent space. She specializes in working closely within emerging and high-growth markets alongside both startup organizations and well-established enterprises to create end-to-end recruiting strategies that identify teams and leaders who drive innovation. As a long-standing leader in Chicago, Rona is actively involved with the Economic Club of Chicago, the Young Presidents Organization, and The Chicago Network. She has also been featured in Crain’s Chicago, CNBC, CNN, CBS 2 Chicago, and USA Today as an expert in talent markets and supporting new industry verticals.
She was recently honored as the Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine and was named an Influential Woman in Business by The Business Ledger.
Rona founded Growing Talent to bring her decades of experience driving innovation through talent strategies to the ever-evolving cannabis industry.
Kurt brings with him a wealth of firsthand knowledge and experience from directly within the Cannabis industry. He joins Growing Talent after a successful career with Green Thumb Industries, and Kurt’s broad set of experiences include managing tens of millions of dollars in wholesale sales, developing a compliant system for the transition from a medical-only market to one of the most robust adult-use programs in the country, conceptualizing and launching a first-of-its-kind, nationally-recognized career immersion program focused on advancing opportunities for social equity candidates, leading the formation of multiple departments including a data-driven customer service program, and spearheading GTI’s effort on corporate product and cannabis training.
Kurt began his career with one of the largest CPG companies in the world and shifted his focus to building brands within emerging markets. Kurt found his home marrying a love for cannabis with successes in helping build scalable teams and brands. His experience as a primary caregiver for family members battling both cancer and epilepsy, informs his compassionate approach to the responsible and equitable scaling of the cannabis industry.
Kurt is working to develop best-in-class training, coaching, and staffing solutions for our emerging industry, based on real-world experiences and firsthand knowledge.
As an active member of Chicago’s robust cannabis culture, do not hesitate to say hello if you see him out at Illinois Women in Cannabis functions or other social events!
Lisamarie Gayle brings more than 15 years of experience in Human Resources. Throughout her career she has played a critical role for multiple Fortune 500 organizations by providing Human Resources services ranging from talent management, payroll processing, HRIS administration, workers’ compensation, training & development, records management, HR Policy development, compliance, and auditing.
Lisamarie firmly believes that each customer requires a customized solution in order to meet their unique business needs. She works side-by-side with key executives, direct managers, and employees to create Human Resources policies that drive measurable business results and positively impact each employee.
She has dedicated more than a decade to building and bridging relationships with each client that she has worked with as well as their employees. She brings extensive Human Resources expertise to each project she supports and has partnered with organizations ranging from start-up to Fortune 500.
As the Chief of Staff at Growing Talent, Sina brings over five years of consultative selling expertise in SaaS, market research, e-commerce, and CPG sectors, as well as three years of experience in the Cannabis industry.
With a keen eye for evaluating data and industry trends, Sina uncovers opportunities and develops solutions based on his clients’ business goals, forging long-lasting bonds and retention.
He began his career in the Cannabis industry with Brightfield Group, providing cutting-edge consumer data to brands, and used the lessons he learned from working with industry leaders to expand teams and scale operations in the Cannabis market with his role at Growing Talent.
Gina Gault is a recognized leader in the cannabis industry and a Special Projects Manager at Growing Talent, where she connects professionals with meaningful career opportunities in the Cannabis industry. Her role taps into her deep industry knowledge and extensive network, making strategic matches that support both organizational needs and individual professional growth in the rapidly evolving cannabis sector.
Beyond her professional contributions, Gina’s commitment to the cannabis community is evident through her active involvement as the President of IWC. Here, she has significantly advocated for empowerment and inclusivity, playing a key role in mentorship and community engagement initiatives. Gina’s work showcases a powerful blend of passion and professionalism, establishing her as a respected figure and a beacon for progressive leadership in both the cannabis and recruitment industries.
Lisamarie brings a wealth of experience to her role as Head of Human Resources at Instant Alliance, with over a decade of expertise in HR and payroll. Her proficiency in talent management, payroll administration, training and development, HR policy development, compliance, and auditing is unparalleled.
As a dedicated HR professional, Lisamarie is committed to delivering the best solutions to Growing Talent’s clients and consultants. She collaborates closely with key executives and teams to streamline internal operations and ensure seamless onboarding for all employees.
Lisamarie values the importance of building strong relationships with each candidate, from onboarding to ongoing follow-up. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every employee feels valued and appreciated as a member of the Growing Talent family.
Growing Talent is proud to promote diversity and social equity within the cannabis industry and beyond. We are extremely excited to share that we are officially certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise through WBENC.
As a professional services organization, we believe that it is critical to help our clients promote diversity through their hires and their strategic partnerships.
55 W. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60601
© Growing Talent, LLC 2021 all rights reserved