Our Team

FOR OUR CLIENTS AND CANDIDATES...

We all need someone to lean on— Lean on us!

Our experienced team of Human Capital Advisors and Human Resource Advisory Experts work with a variety of companies in our targeted industries. We are incredibly adept at identifying and recruiting the right professionals for your specific needs and company culture. Candidates also know they’re in good hands because communications are always in a timely and professional manner.

  • We are not transactional.
  • We are not headhunters.
  • We are not contingency recruiters.

We are your total talent and HR solution identifying professionals that align with the culture, behaviors, and results valued by your organization.

Who is Behind the BEST? Meet the leadership and experts that are growing a genuinely different model in executive search and business advisory (and having some fun doing it too).

Chris Cimaglio, CEPA, Certified Value Builder
Managing Partner & Co-Founder

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 Downing
Managing Partner & Co-Founder

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 Downing
Joni Downing
CFO & Co-Founder

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 Maggiotto, Jr. PHR, SHRM-SCP
Director of Human Resource Solutions

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 Molenda, PRC
Sr. Executive Search Advisor

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 Downing
Harrison Downing, PRC
Sr. 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 Franks
Paige Franks, PRC
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.

Tyson
Tyson
Steakholder

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.

Why BEST?

BEST is about identifying the tailored human capital support your organization may require today with an eye on tomorrow…

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BEST Executive Search

Companies from around the world are competing like never before to attract the best executive talent without boundaries…

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BEST Practice Areas

BEST provides clients with comprehensive and targeted expertise to complete each search successfully. BEST’s targeted industries are…

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    BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group

    BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group is a retained executive search and business advisory/consulting firm that specializes in small-to-medium sized companies, with an emphasis in the horticultural, hydroponics, consumer products, crisis management and business restructuring categories. BEST serves companies nationwide and globally in an active and evolving market. Through a well-connected network of colleagues and a sophisticated predictive behavioral screening system (that we call “BEST Behaviors”), BEST drives our client’s growth and success through a focused and consultative approach.

    ADDRESS

    5809 N. Post Rd.
    Indianapolis, IN 46216

    PHONE

    1-317-757-3888

    EMAIL

    info@bhcagroup.com

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