Executive Team

Ben Kovler brings his extensive experience managing complex operating companies and his deep commitment to philanthropy as Founder, CEO and Chairman of Green Thumb Industries. Ben founded GTI in 2014 and has successfully grown it into a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer that manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded cannabis products including Rythm, Dogwalkers, The Feel Collection, and Beboe, among others. The company also owns and operates a rapidly growing national chain of retail cannabis stores called Rise™.

Ben is frequently featured as an industry thought leader in media outlets such as Bloomberg, Barron’s, Business Insider, CNBC and Forbes.

He is also co-founder and CEO of Invest For Kids (IFK), an annual forum bringing together portfolio managers, family offices and analysts to share investment ideas to benefit children in lllinois. In its first ten years, IFK has raised approximately $14 million and supported over 60 organizations to benefit more than 80,000 children.

Ben earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, politics and economics from Pomona College and an M.B.A. in accounting and finance from The University of Chicago. Ben and his wife, Amy, enjoy living in Chicago with their two children.

ANTHONY GEORGIADIS is an investor and entrepreneur, having purchased a Florida-based manufacturing business in 2005 that he helped grow into one of North America’s largest manufacturers of wall décor. Prior to this, he worked as a principal investing associate for CIVC Partners, a $1.5 billion private equity firm, and as a M&A analyst for Bowles Hollowell Conner &Co.

Anthony became involved in the cannabis industry in 2014 after exploring cannabidiol (CBD) for treatment on his swiss mountain dog, who suffered from epilepsy. Since then he has invested in a number of cannabis-related businesses including PAX (vapor technology), Cannasure (insurance), Headset (data analytics), and Baker (customer engagement).

Anthony is an avid supporter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, and the Special Operations Warriors Foundation.

Anthony graduated magna cum laude from Bucknell University with a degree in finance and a minor in mathematics.

Anthony and his wife, Katie, enjoy spending time with their newborn daughter.

BETH BURK brings over 25 years of broad legal expertise to GTI, most recently serving as Global Chief Compliance Officer of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions. During her 14-year tenure with Aon, she served the company in its Chicago and London, UK offices in a variety of key leadership roles including as Chief Counsel of its Global Employment Law team and of a key business unit.

Prior to joining Aon, Beth was a partner in the Chicago, Illinois office of the global law firm Winston & Strawn LLP, where she advised businesses in a variety of industries from early stage to maturity.

Beth earned her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of General Studies degree, with a concentration in Economics, from the University of Michigan.

Recently, Beth provided primary care for her sister grappling with end-stage cancer and, consequently, witnessed the extraordinary benefits of medical marijuana.

Beth lives in Chicago with her husband, Brad, two teenagers and their English Working Cocker Spaniel, Rocket.

Julie Knudson oversees all human resources, recruiting, and culture initiatives for GTI. She brings an extensive business background including leadership in premier market-leading organizations, publicly traded companies and high-growth entities ranging from early-stage companies to Fortune 500 C-suite experience.

Julie most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for GGP Inc., an S&P 500 company acquired by Brookfield Properties in 2018. She started her career in consulting and has led human resources for public companies Echo Global Logistics, DigitalGlobe and YesMail. Additionally, she held HR leadership positions at Accenture and spent time in Rwanda as the Country Director for The Clinton Foundation where she worked in partnership with the Rwandan president’s office and directed teams on the Clinton HIV / AIDS and other initiatives.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and Sloan Master’s in Leadership and Strategy from the London Business School. Julie has been a director of a private foundation and is an Advisory Council Member of Youth Guidance’s WOW (Working on Womanhood) program.

JENNIFER brings a decade of experience building consumer brands, driven by her uniquely creative and analytical approach to identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities to GTI.

Prior to joining GTI, Jennifer led strategic Brand Development and Innovation at Storck USA, a top 10 global confectioner, known for brands Werther’s Original, Toffifay, Mamba, merci and RIESEN. There, she managed a $100M brand portfolio P&L and brought to market dozens of new products, including the first non-confection product to come out of the century-old Werther’s Original brand: a Caramel Popcorn that knocked out incumbents, earning #1 ranks in the market, and the 2015 Snack Category Product of the Year. She also ran brand operations for the Werther’s Original Caramel Shoppe in the Germany Pavilion at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

In 2019, Jennifer was named to Marijuana Venture’s “40 Under 40” list and High Times “Female 50.” She earned her MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management with a focus on Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Jennifer graduated summa cum laude from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and English while a member of The College’s NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track + Field teams.

She currently resides in Chicago, loves a nice rye, a good pen, puns and boxing.

ANDY GROSSMAN is an entrepreneur and business executive with 20 years of experience in the hedge fund industry. He joined GTI for the opportunity to join a nascent industry with the potential for tremendous growth.

Andy previously served as Managing Partner and Head of Trading, Risk Management and Operations of LG Capital Management. Andy co-founded LG in August 2011 with $13 million in capital and helped raise it to a peak of $350 million under management. He was instrumental in building the infrastructure of the business and is highly qualified in business operations.

Prior to founding LG Capital, he was a senior trader for Chesapeake Partners, a Baltimore-based multi-billion event-driven investment Fund.

Andy graduated from Syracuse University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance.

Andy is actively involved in various organizations in the Baltimore community which include The Associated, LifeBridge Health, Beth El Congregation and Jewish Volunteer Connection.

Andy lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife, Jennifer, and their three kids. He is passionate about giving back to the community and enjoys traveling with his family and friends.