Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” is a prestigious list that recognizes leaders from the Chicago metropolitan area who serve in a magnitude of industries including technology, consumer products, real estate, health care and finance. Those named to Crain’s “40 Under 40” have reached great success in their careers.
Included among the honorees is Stephanie Gorecki, vice president of product development with Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States with best-in-class cultivation, manufacturing, branded products, wholesale distribution and retail operations. Employing a consumer, packaged goods approach to scaling its business, Cresco Labs is the largest U.S. wholesaler of cannabis products with a branded portfolio designed to meet the needs of all consumer segments. Sunnyside, Cresco Labs’ national dispensary brand, is a wellness-focused retailer created to build trust, education and convenience for existing and new cannabis consumers.
Gorecki holds a B.S. in Biology from Arizona State University, an M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.
- Where is your hometown? I grew up in Villa Park, Illinois, and I now live in Lombard, Illinois. I traveled a long distance for my undergraduate education (Arizona), but I found my way back to where I started.
- What traits do you feel led you to become part of Crain’s Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2021? I have always been an entrepreneurial person. Those characteristics have directly transferred into my professional career. I have adopted the visions and top-line goals for each company I have worked for and applied them into the passion that I had for each position I’ve held during my career. Being kind and receptive to others’ ideas has translated into more powerful cross-functional engagements and outcomes at a business level. I am also known for my eternal optimism. This gives me and others around me the power to stay positive even when the reality of a situation is less than ideal. Challenging situations give my team and me an opportunity to problem-solve, which can yield rewarding outcomes.
- How do you think your MBA assisted you in your career thus far? I obtained my MBA from NIU early on in my career. My undergraduate major was in the field of biology, but I knew I wanted and needed the business piece to round out my knowledge base. It was one of the most impactful times of my life. I can remember great detail about the people, instructors and projects from the program (I graduated in 2010). Obtaining my MBA was more of a forward-thinking strategy, one that I knew I ultimately needed to be able to move into a position such as my current role as vice president of product development for Cresco Labs. The role requires strong technical background, business acumen and leadership skills. I credit the NIU MBA program for playing a major part in my professional elevation.
- What advice do you have for current MBA students trying to move up to a higher position in their current company? Be realistic with your expectations with your current company and find yourself a sponsor. Some people achieve immediate career advancement opportunities upon completion of their MBA program, and others are in it for the long game. I made two career moves before ultimately securing a role where I could regularly and effectively apply my business skills into the long-term strategic planning aspects within my organization. The path might look different for a person who is already in a business-heavy function (finance, accounting, strategy), compared to another person who might be looking to pivot their career direction or move into a leadership function.
- What advice do you have for current MBA students who want to work in the food science industry? The Midwest is an excellent geographical location for a career in food science. There are many large, food-focused, consumer packaged goods companies and ingredient suppliers in this region. Technical background is, first and foremost, a “must” for this field. My undergraduate degree in biology, which I earned at Arizona State, helped me land my first technical roles in various labs conducting research and development (R&D) and product development. Two years after I completed the NIU MBA program, I began my second master’s program through the University of Illinois in food science and human nutrition. The blend of my past work experience combined with my educational background has served me well in my current role and has allowed me to contribute in the way that I do daily.
- Besides being listed on Crain’s Top 40 Under 40, what is one accomplishment that you are most proud of? My current role is in an industry that has seen unprecedented growth in the past few years due to the quickly changing legal and regulatory landscape for medical cannabis. This has resulted in an amazing opportunity to build and hire a development team and to establish R&D principles within our organization from the ground up. I am so proud of our team. They show up every day excited to innovate and collaborate, resulting in high-quality products that our customers can count on.
Read more about Stephanie in Crain’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2021. (Note: This publication uses a paywall and requires subscription.)
Learn more about NIU MBA programs.
by Michaela Dudek, Digital Marketing major and Graduate Assistant in the MBA Office, NIU College of Business; editorial oversight by Michelle De Jean, director of marketing, NIU College of Business and by Michael Mackey, NIU editor in chief, NIU Clearinghouse.
