Cresco Labs

Maxwell Salinger is the vice president of cultivation at Cresco Labs, one of the largest public, vertically integrated, multistate operators in the cannabis industry.

Maxwell Salinger is a distinguished horticulturist with over a decade of expertise in controlled environmental systems agriculture, hydroponics and plant disease management. He is committed to energizing the recreational cannabis market in Washington by bringing its production to a commercially viable state through traditional agricultural methodology.

Currently, he serves as the vice president of cultivation at Cresco Labs, analyzing and developing action plans to identify production and cost efficiencies. Within six years, his canopy expansion initiative helped the organization become the largest cultivation in Illinois. During these years, Salinger also served as the director of cultivation, managing over 150,000 sq ft. of recreational cannabis production canopy. His responsibilities involved developing and implementing Cresco Lab’s environmental and irrigation protocols, onboarding new employees and ensuring state-compliant production through record keeping for plant inventory, pesticide and fertilizer usage.

Salinger began his career as a horticulture intern at Cleveland Botanical Garden, a premier public garden. From there, he transitioned to Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens as a student research assistant, gaining hands-on experience in general ground maintenance and operating several types of machinery, such as utility vehicles, skid steers and mowers.

This role helped Salinger gain the expertise to lead as a head grower at Warehouse Hydroponic Systems, managing over 700 sq ft. of hydroponic vegetable and herb production in a Columbus warehouse. In a year, he mastered techniques of precision fertilizers, water treatment and LED lighting technologies to improve plant production and outcomes.

A major shift in his career occurred when Salinger joined Solstice Group, a leading cannabis company. He held several key roles, including procurement manager, director of production and director of operations, which helped shape this leadership journey. He was instrumental in overseeing and coordinating the procurement of cannabis from registered producers across the state. This demanded exceptional expertise in areas like horticulture, harvesting and consulting to help partner farms increase quality and yield. As the director of operations, Salinger managed and oversaw a result-driven strategy for the production and processing departments.

A major shift in his career occurred when Salinger joined Solstice Group, a leading cannabis company. He held several key roles, including procurement manager, director of production and director of operations, which helped shape this leadership journey. He was instrumental in overseeing and coordinating the procurement of cannabis from registered producers across the state. This demanded exceptional expertise in areas like horticulture, harvesting and consulting to help partner farms increase quality and yield. As the director of operations, Salinger managed and oversaw a result-driven strategy for the production and processing departments.

Throughout his career, Salinger portrayed impeccable communication skills. His diplomacy and precise use of language have helped his organization build lasting relationships with partners, regulators and other stakeholders, contributing to a more robust work environment.

Whether leading a large team of experts or orchestrating a project plan, Salinger has always delivered beyond expectations. His leadership skills, combined with a passion for controlled environmental agriculture, have been crucial to the success of his organization. As more opportunities flourish in the world of recreational cannabis, leaders like him will pave the way for more sustainable and robust production practices.