William SumnerMarch 30, 2018
As legal cannabis continues to weed its way into the mainstream, more and more cannabis companies are starting to be seen as not just pot purveyors but as regular everyday businesses. Some cannabis companies are even starting to be recognized for their excellence outside of the cannabis industry, like Green Thumb Industries (GTI).
On March 26, 2018, GTI announced that it has been named a finalist for the Crain’s Chicago Business Best Places to Work List 2018. Founded in 2014, GTI has steadily grown over the years to 230 employees nationwide, with plans to add 250 more employees by the end of 2018.
“At its core, GTI is really all about people,” said GTI Chief Executive Officer Pete Kadens. “Along with ensuring excellent patient care, GTI’s workplace culture and employee engagement are top priorities for the company. Our philosophy is pretty simple – we’re humans who care about other humans whether that’s our community, our patients or our colleagues and that’s what fuels the company’s growth and success.”
The Crain’s annual Best Places to Work List is determined by analyzing company benefits, workplace practices and the survey results from approximately 15,000 Chicago workers regarding relevant topics such as compensation, career advancement, workplace equality, transparency, and relationships between co-workers and management.
This is both the first time that GTI has been nominated and it is also the first year that the company has been eligible. GTI, in part, credits its status as a finalist to what it describes as a generous benefits plan as well corporate perks such as unlimited vacation time, half-day first Fridays each month, free snacks and frequent employee appreciation celebrations.
“Our perks are great, but I think most important is our culture of honesty, integrity and shared values,” commented GTI Vice President of People Eunice Kim. “Our team works incredibly hard and we are all passionate about being a part of a larger cause and social movement. The mission to ensure patient access to safe and effective medical marijuana lives in every single person who works at GTI and is deeply rooted in our culture.”
