Thanks for Joining Us at Gen Con 2026 to Level up Your Game
Gen Con is one of Indianapolis’ and the Tabletop Gaming and Hobby Industry’s largest events, with over 70,000 attendees annually. For Tabletop Gaming businesses, the event offers you countless opportunities to enhance your career and gain access to resources to drive future business growth— and BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group will be there in person to meet with you! As a Production Category member of GAMA, with a presence on several committees, BEST has a specialization in the Tabletop Gaming and Hobby industry through Executive Search, Strategic Human Resource Solutions, and Succession & Exit Planning services. We are BEST positioned to help your business obtain and retain talent, achieve your strategic business plans, and propel your future growth. Do you currently have the right people in the right places in your business, positioned to retain and grow today and tomorrow? The tight labor market, especially in the Tabletop Gaming and Hobby industry, means we need to change our thinking about how and from where we recruit. BEST’s Executive Search service is trusted by leading global companies to provide world-class candidate selection techniques, assessment, job benchmarking, behavior-based interviewing, and employee retention strategies. Are you concerned about or even aware of your risk exposure from labor and employment law violations? The small-to-mid-sized companies that dominate the Tabletop Gaming and Hobby industry are more prone to violating labor and employment laws due to the stress of tight budgets, small staff, and a lack of knowledge. It’s easy to bend the rules a bit, but it’s often to the detriment of employees and your business. Led by Michael Maggiotto Jr., SHRM-SCP, BEST’s Strategic Human Resource Solutions service can help you develop the right policies, employee handbook, and strategies for workforce planning, recruitment, retention, total rewards, and more. Whether you are a serial entrepreneur ready to sell your current business to launch your next venture, a first-time business owner ready to cash out, or at the later stages of your career and eying a potential retirement, Tabletop Gaming and Hobby industry business leaders need support to exit their business the right way. Led by Chris Cimaglio, CEPA and Managing Partner, BEST’s Exit Planning service may be the right solution for you. According to Chris, “An Exit Planning Institute report found that over 75% of business owners who have sold their business profoundly regret it within a year after the sale. So, leadership succession and exit planning must consider both the transactional and emotional aspects of leaving your business.” Whether your business is growing, stable, or even distressed, if you have people challenges like all businesses do, require people strategies to overcome these challenges, or are ready to learn more about Exit Planning, connect with Michael Maggiotto and the BEST Team today! Contact us today, or . at Gen Con, and may you have a fantastic convention! Download our Best Overview to learn more about the BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group and why there is a better way!
4.1 Reasons to Join Us at Cultivate’26 and Grow Your Business
In July, we’re not just celebrating America’s 250th, but also the 26th Annual Cultivate! We look forward to seeing you July 11-14th at Cultivate’26 in Columbus, Ohio: the Green Industry event offering countless opportunities to grow your business and enhance your career. We will be there with FOUR in-person educational sessions on extremely timely industry topics such as talent acquisition, human resources, building value in your business, succession and exit planning, and more that you will not want to miss. Get educated and up to speed in these sessions. SUNDAY, JULY 12th Beyond Sweat Equity: Compounding Growth in Your Business 9:45 AM ET • Room A110 Speakers: Chris Cimaglio & Ken Lane Your business is likely your family’s greatest asset and wealth builder. With 75% of owners planning to exit within the next 10 years and buyers becoming increasingly selective, only 20-30% of businesses will successfully transfer ownership. Will there be a return on all of your years of blood, sweat, and tears? Now is the time for you to work ON your business, not just IN it. This session reveals the critical drivers for compounded growth and how to prioritize them in your business. You’ll discover proven strategies to enhance value today while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. You’ll take away leading practices and strategies for consistent growth, as well as the 8 drivers of company value most important to potential buyers. These value-building techniques strengthen your business now and position it to successfully transition, ensuring you capture maximum value when the time comes. MONDAY, JULY 13th Costly People Risks Most Business Leaders Miss: And Could Shutter Your Business 9:00 AM ET • Union Station Ballroom C Speaker: Michael Maggiotto, Jr. SHRM-SCP Business leaders in horticulture are amazing at growing and caring for their crops, possess exceptional product knowledge, and generally do a terrific job leading operations. Unfortunately, there are many people risks to their business, regardless of size, that leaders are just unaware of or don’t know the impact they have on their business. Many of them can shutter your business if left unresolved and uncovered in a government audit. This session will reveal: Some of the very significant and costly errors that happen right in our own industry The do’s and don’ts in key areas of human capital management that can lead to some of the highest costs Some of the hefty price tags are associated with the errors. What can you do to protect your business from these costly errors? Come to the session and find out! Rooted In Health & Wellness (Panel Discussion) 4:00 PM ET • Room A113 Moderated by Todd Downing with Panelists Broch Martindale and Jake Scott Employee health and wellness at work requires more than fitness perks and free snacks. From emotional resilience to financial security, learn how the various aspects of wellness shape how employees show up at work and how their well-being connects to the bottom line. It takes companies and employees working in unison to promote an overall mental and physical health atmosphere. Wellness is a retention, professional development, and growth strategy for a company. When the right programs and coping skills are put into action, it will lead to comforting magic words we all want to hear and say – “I love my job!” TUESDAY, JULY 14th Before the Storm: Common Sense Business Continuity Planning for Horticulture Business Owners [Extended Session] 10:30 AM ET • Room A113 Speakers: Chris Cimaglio & Ken Lane Disaster planning for weather events and infrastructure failure is just common sense. What many business continuity plans lack is practical recommendations for when the owner isn’t available to lead. An owner’s death or disability can lead to business failure, with repercussions for family, employees, and customers. If something happened tomorrow, would your team know how to keep operations running? Would your family know who to call and what decisions to make? This high-impact, extended session offers a framework for “keeping the lights on during a storm.” You’ll learn why smart continuity planning is essential not just for natural disasters, but for the 5Ds: Death, Disability, Divorce, Disagreement, and Distress that can derail your life’s work. You’ll walk away with: A ready-to-use Business Continuity Instructions Worksheet Strategies for both short-term crisis response and long-term business stability Immediate steps to safeguard your business and employees and protect your family’s future. A “plus” reason to attend— Connect with The BEST Team in person at Cultivate’26! Their focus will be on making themselves available to meet with leaders who want to discuss their company’s executive hiring, succession planning, and restructuring and turnaround needs. With decades of experience in corporate management, sales, marketing, human resources, exit planning, and business advisory, BEST specializes in talent acquisition and management consulting for the horticulture industry. If you represent a company that needs executive hiring, restructuring, or succession planning, please schedule a meeting with us anytime during the show. Contact us today, and may you have a great Cultivate’26! View or Download Our Best Overview to learn more about the BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group and why there is a better way! We look forward to seeing you in Columbus at Cultivate’26!
Thanks For Joining Us at GAMA Expo 2026 to Level Up Your Game!
Are you ready to LEVEL UP YOUR GAME? BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group was at at the GAMA Expo March 1-6, 2026, in Louisville, KY. During the tradeshow (open to GAMA Tabletop Games Association members only), Chris Cimaglio, Managing Partner, and Michael Maggiotto Jr., Director of Human Resource Solutions, presented 5 educational sessions designed to help Tabletop Games business leaders across all membership categories improve their businesses. Do you have the right people in the right places in your business? Are you concerned with building and keeping your bench for today and tomorrow? Has the current business environment left you struggling to build value and leverage it to grow your business? Do you know just how costly people risks are to your business? Are you concerned about exiting your business to either launch another venture or transition into retirement? Today’s business environment has been especially challenging for the Tabletop Games industry sector. Identifying ways to build value in your business, preparing for succession or exit, retaining your hard-earned revenue, and attracting and retaining top talent are just a few of the topics covered during BEST’s presentations: Value Acceleration: Maximizing Your Business Value Sunday, March 1, 2026 Speaker: Chris Cimaglio, CEPA®, Cert. Value Builder™, AVG, Managing Partner & Co-Founder With most businesses unprepared for succession, only 20% will successfully transfer ownership. We learned how to build value, reduce dependency on owners, and apply key strategies buyers prioritize. Whether you’re planning to exit soon or in the future, this session helps you prepare for a strong, scalable future. Costly People Risks that Most Business Leaders Miss Monday, March 2, 2026 Speaker: Michael Maggiotto Jr, SHRM-SCP, Director of Human Resource Solutions Running a tabletop business comes with hidden people risks – from hiring missteps to compliance issues – that can lead to costly consequences. This session highlighted common industry errors, shared real-world examples, and offered practical guidance to help protect your business and avoid legal or financial pitfalls. Overcoming Compliance Risks to Source and Hire Top Talent Monday, March 2, 2026 Speaker: Michael Maggiotto Jr, SHRM-SCP, Director of Human Resource Solutions Finding the right talent at the right time is tough in a tight labor Market. This session explored how building a diverse workforce can unlock new potential. Learn fresh strategies, discover useful hiring resources, and rethink your approach to recruiting to attract high-quality candidates and build a stronger team. Attract, Retain, and Motivate Top Talent through Compensation Design March 2, 2026 Speaker: Michael Maggiotto Jr, SHRM-SCP, Director of Human Resource Solutions Compensation is evolving fast, and understanding how to design effective pay structures is key to attracting and retaining top talent. This session offered a high-level look at compensation strategy, creative options beyond salary, and practical tips for staying competitive – without overspending. Learn how to hire smart on a lean budget. Succession & Exit Planning: What is Your End Game? March 2, 2026 Speaker: Chris Cimaglio, CEPA®, Cert. Value Builder™, AVG, Managing Partner & Co-Founder Most business owners lack a clear exit plan – yet succession planning is critical. This session explored how to prepare personally, financially, and operationally for a successful transition. Learn valuation basics, continuity strategies, and how to protect your legacy while maximizing value, whether selling or passing the business on. As a Production Category member of GAMA, with a presence on several committees, BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group specializes in the Tabletop Gaming industry through Strategic Human Resources Consulting, Business Advisory, and Executive Search services. We are BEST positioned to help your business attract and retain talent, execute your strategic plans, and drive future growth. While many business leaders are growing their businesses, more are ready to retire but may not have a succession or exit plan in place to care for their people and ensure a smooth transition. Led by Chris Cimaglio, CEPA® and Managing Partner, BEST PivotPoint’s Succession & Exit Planning service may be the right solution for you. According to Chris, “an Exit Planning Institute report found that over 75% of business owners who have sold their business profoundly regret it within a year after the sale. So, leadership succession and exit planning need to consider both the transactional and emotional aspects of leaving your business.” Whether your business is growing, stable, or even distressed, if you have people challenges like all businesses do, you require people strategies to overcome these challenges, or are ready to learn more about Exit Planning, connect with BEST in 2026! If you represent a company that needs executive hiring, restructuring, or succession planning, please schedule a meeting with us. Contact us today, or Download our Best Overview to learn more about the BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group and why there is a better way!