Meet Derrick Knudsen of Budding Talent in Capitol Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Derrick Knudsen.

Derrick, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in the northeast and went to school in Syracuse, NY, where I graduated with a degree in Environmental Biology and a minor in Education. I wanted to be an outdoor educator and I worked as a summer camp director throughout the first portion of my career. I chose to move out to Denver for a number of great reasons, but one of them was always to break into the cannabis industry – I just didn’t know how I was going to do it.

Recruiting has always been a part of my career. Even as a camp director, you recruit, interview and hire so many employees seasonally. After being turned down for a Chief of Staff position, I realized I wanted more corporate experience in the recruiting and HR fields. That’s when I met my business partner, Matt, while working for Adecco (the largest staffing agency in the world). We had been discussing different entrepreneurial steps throughout the year, with the focus on breaking into and supporting the cannabis industry.

We were looking for outside investment at the end of 2017 when I went home to NY to spend the holidays with my family and friends. I’m the youngest of 6 in my family, so it’s difficult to even get a sentence in with them – but I had everyone’s attention when I talked about leaving my job to start Budding Talent. There was enough belief and confidence in me that I was able to secure a small family investment to help us get off the ground.

Budding Talent was launched in February of 2018 and we haven’t looked back since, expanding our business throughout North America over the last 2+ years. We operate as a boutique staffing firm for the cannabis and hemp industries, spanning all verticals from cultivation and extraction to leadership positions throughout the back-office (Accounting, Finance, HR, Operations, etc.). We’re focused on finding strong partners that want to be in this space in the long-term and those that truly want to help people live better, healthier lives.

Has it been a smooth road?
I think anytime you start a company, there will be struggles along the way. I had tried taking a few other entrepreneurial steps previous to Budding Talent, but this was the first time I jumped all in. We had industry-specific issues early on like trying to find a bank that would work with us and the hurdles in advertising in a federally-illegal space. Then we also dealt with the heavy competition that would ensue as every fly-by-night opportunist has tried to get in this space to make a quick buck.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Budding Talent – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Budding Talent is a staffing and recruiting firm for the cannabis and hemp industries. We specialize in placements in leadership roles, management-level and up. In addition to our recruiting services, we also work hard to be a resource for the industry as well. We recently put out an industry-specific Salary Guide to help stabilize salaries throughout the industry and make it easier for corporate professionals to make the transition. At the end of the day, we connect talent with strong, growing companies.

We’re most proud to be a part of this growing industry. No matter which side of the fence you sit on, we should all be encouraging more research and development around cannabis so we can better understand the positive and potentially negative effects. I grew up in the northeast, where I saw opioid use increase year after year. It would be great to have alternative options to manufactured pharmaceuticals or alternative options to alcohol, which is more harmful than cannabis in my opinion.

We’re focused on our internal team and treating employees as an asset rather than a liability. We come from a corporate, professional background, but we have a passion for alternative options and want to see these industries grow with the right people in place.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The best thing about Denver is the people. It’s a melting pot of individuals that are all looking to try new things, to better themselves, and to connect with others. The food, the music, the mountains and all of the activities that they have to offer, and of course the entrepreneurs – it’s a great blend. The hardest part about living in Denver is that it’s land-locked – I grew up on the beaches of Long Island and I miss that ocean air.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.buddingtalent.com
• Phone: 7204149611
• Email: derrick@buddingtalentpartners.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddingtalentpartners/

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