Q+A: HOLLY COWDEN:

Nevada staffing agency specializing in cannabis industry had to learn to succeed on the fly

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Christopher DeVargas

Holly Cowden, founder and managing partner at Trim Force, inside the facility of one of her clients, GSM LV, cultivator of Viva La Buds.

Mon, Apr 19, 2021 (2 a.m.)

When recreational cannabis became legal in Nevada, Holly Cowden was a recruiter for the agricultural industry.

“I remember thinking, ‘How will they staff an industry that really doesn’t exist yet?’ ” she said. “That was when I decided to focus our staffing efforts on the cannabis industry, as I could use my years of experience to help.”

Cowden is the founder and managing partner of Trim Force, the first staffing agency for the cannabis industry in Clark County. It is hosting a drive-thru job fair April 20 for those looking to start a career in the cannabis industry.

What challenges do you face in staffing the cannabis industry in particular? Why focus on that industry?

One of the biggest challenges is the lack of people who hold agent cards. Agent cards require a background check and fingerprints, and provide workers with access to different areas in marijuana business facilities. Without these cards, you cannot work in the business. This is made even more challenging by the state making that process difficult and expensive. Unfortunately, when government regulators add expensive license requirements, it forces people to choose between paying a licensing fee to get a job or putting food on the table.

Since cannabis is illegal on the federal level, banking is another challenge. It took me a year to figure out a banking structure that worked for us.

On another note, the fact that there can be a stigma attached to working in the cannabis industry can sometimes be a personal challenge. I have learned that you really can’t take it personally. Just focus on your goals and surround yourself with people who encourage you and want you to succeed.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? Or the cannabis industry overall?

When the pandemic first hit, I initially thought we would slow down for a few weeks, maybe a month at best. But then air travel stopped, and hotels on the Strip completely shut down. As things started to domino, a new reality began to sink in. COVID-19 was going to be around for a while. We had to get creative quickly to survive the shutdowns. Dispensaries were able to function more efficiently with the addition of curbside pick-up and drive-thru service, so that got us thinking of ways we could adapt to the situation.

We ended up adopting a similar strategy of curbside services for recruiting. We also created a drive-thru process for holding job fairs. In many ways, the pandemic made Trim Force a better company. It gave us time to refine our business practices, and shore up areas that never included a plan for a pandemic.

What is the best business advice you’ve received?

Drew Gennuso, founder of Trim Ready, ran a cannabis school and gave me loads of advice. It wasn’t one specific thing he said but rather the help and time he gave.

He spent hours with me sharing information and ideas. My staff even attended his educational courses to help gain hands-on experience trimming cannabis. I was grateful for the experience as it helped me understand the jobs my staffing agency was going to be filling. Drew’s passion for the cannabis industry was contagious and helped me to solidify my plans to open Trim Force.

Tell us about a success story you’ve had recently that makes you proud of the work you do.

In the beginning, we were fortunate to partner with one of the largest growers in Nevada. This was an enormous amount of pressure, and we decided to recruit on location at the client’s new facility. With no experience, the job seekers we placed soon found themselves training for newly created cannabis jobs that had never existed before. Our client was very pleased by the performance of these new hires and what we were able to accomplish.

When I look back, training a workforce that didn’t exist was a real success for Trim Force, and one that showed we could compete and succeed in the industry.

If you could change one thing about Southern Nevada, what would it be?

We need mental health services that are free and affordable to everyone. There’s very little help in Nevada for people who struggle with their mental health.

Describe your management style. How did you refine your management approach?

I am very open-minded with a collaborator’s spirit. I believe just because something hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done now. And since staffing is not a one-size-fits-all type of business, I often ask team members to participate in discussions when there is an issue that needs attention. I have gotten a lot of good ideas from this process.

Where do you see your company in 10 years?

With cannabis becoming legal in many other states over the past few years, getting people ready to work in the industry is vital to its survival. I want to be a part of that effort to build a nationwide industry and plan to have Trim Force offices in states where a new workforce is needed and new opportunities are available.

What is your dream job, outside of your current field? Why?

When I was a kid I thought about becoming a seismologist. I know, not typical, but growing up in California, earthquakes fascinated me and I thought it would be cool to study them. Obviously, that did not happen but I still think it would have been cool.

Whom do you admire and why?

My grandmother. She was a prisoner of war during World War II and experienced the worst of humanity but you would never know it. She lived her life with so much joy and kindness. I wish I was a lot more like her. She passed away in 2008 but I think of her all the time.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people say “no offense” after they say something offensive.

What is something that people might not know about you?

I’m Guamanian, and I love to geek out watching storm chaser live cams, and You Tube videos on earthquakes and volcanos.

Anything else you want to add?

As we start coming out of this pandemic, there are going to be so many people who will not get their jobs back. This is expected to disproportionately affect women. I hope everyone reading this will keep that in mind when they are hiring. I know I will.

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.

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