With over 30 years of horticultural and consumer product experience, including nine years as President of a Lawn & Garden sales and marketing firm in Chicago, Chris brings unique strategic marketing, management, and succession planning expertise to BEST. He leads our Retained Executive Search in CPG, Marketing, PPE, and Retail, as well as several of our Business Advisory Services, and is an approved Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and Certified Value Builder. Chris is also a Board Member and Treasurer of the Million Meal Movement, a nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis, and holds an MBA from St. Louis University.

Todd brings 30+ years of horticultural, consumer products, and multi-industry business experience, including over 13 years of working as an Executive Search and Human Resource Advisor. Todd leads our Horticulture, Hemp & Cannabis, Restructuring, and C-Level Retained Executive Search in addition to our HR Advisory. Todd provides client companies with a consultative partner who proactively aligns hiring strategies and human resource initiatives that impact the completion of strategic goals with a positive ROI.

Joni brings 30+ years of business and project management experience, including over 20 years supporting the growth of the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Network. Joni also has broad retail and sports/entertainment management experience. As a human resource, finance, and operations professional, Joni provides extensive support to the clients we serve as well as the entire BEST Team. Joni is also active in client relations and working with premier candidates in our targeted industries.

Michael brings over 25 years of experience, including management, human resources, talent acquisition, project management, and owner/operator of his own business. Michael understands and can relate to executive business leaders’ challenges and struggles, making him uniquely qualified to advise on the BEST solutions for our client’s future growth. Michael is a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources, developed our WR² HR Analysis, leads the Strategic Human Resource Solutions practice, and serves as a practice leader for executive search in 5 of the 11 niche industries serviced by the company.

Ben joined BEST in May 2018 as a Human Capital Advisor, where he has excelled in executive recruiting, business analysis, client intake, candidate assessments, and pre-and post-screening and has also written for the BEST Blog. Ben co-leads our Succession & Exit Planning Advisory as an approved Exit Plan Advisor. Bringing a strong work ethic and millennial perspective to BEST, Ben continues to be an active contributor and valued member of the team and earned his Professional Recruiter Certification (PRC) in 2023 and a promotion to Senior Executive Search Advisor.

Harrison joined the BEST team in the fall of 2020 after investing the previous five years in growing a microbrewery, craft distillery, and gastropub brand throughout the state of Indiana. He excelled at talent assessment, hiring, training, engagement, crisis management, and business development with the belief that “shortcuts today lead to shortcomings tomorrow.” Harrison has a keen eye in identifying opportunities for growth and working collaboratively towards the necessary solutions. With a BA in History from Indiana University, he can empathize with all perspectives to make informed and well-rounded decisions in the recruiting process. Harrison earned his Professional Recruiter Certification (PRC) in 2023, and a promotion to Sr. Executive Search Advisor.

Paige joined BEST in the Spring of 2022 as a Human Capital Advisor, bringing over six years of experience in management, customer service, high-end hospitality, and sales. Paige possesses a degree in Psychology from the Purdue School of Science and has a passion for mental health, particularly human behavior and cognition. She aspires to apply her collective experience to organizational psychology, human resources, business analysis, candidate assessments, and marketing. She brings a psychological and scientific perspective to BEST and the clients we serve. Paige earned her Professional Recruiter Certification (PRC) in 2023, and a promotion to Sr. Executive Search Advisor.

Born in 2016, Tyson was recently rescued from a local shelter and hit the jackpot finding his furever home with Harrison. Since joining the BEST team, Tyson has excelled at employee engagement, meating attendance (though he is still working on staying awake for their duration), and performing quality assessments for the team during lunch hour and snack breaks. According to Tyson, it is a “ruff” world, so he is happy to be at BEST.