Fresh Harvest staffing team
Alex Defazio
CEO
Alex is a Virginia transplant from New York but considers St. John of the US Virgin Islands his true home, where he began his technology career at his first start-up and lived for nearly a decade. He brings a vast range of experiences from operations to sales, analytics to process improvement, acquisitions to mergers, retail to SAAS, and a true passion for the Cannabis Industry, which began in the early 2000’s. After years of success and contributing to the sales of multiple companies, Alex realigned his career with passions and founded NoVa Green Thumb, a boutique consulting service providing free cannabis plants and educational services in Virginia. He is committed to the success and growth of the entire cannabis industry. His diverse career coupled with extensive hands-on knowledge in cannabis regulations, horticulture techniques, and extraction processes enable him to provide unparalleled support to our clients.
James Bates
Managing Member
James has been in the staffing space for 25 years and jumped at the opportunity to co-launch Fresh Harvest Staffing, LLC to bring a fresh and exciting vision for staffing with cannabis focused companies.
James is passionate about working closely with companies and their decision-makers to help understand and identify needs so that he can provide the right resources.
Billy McFall
Managing Member
As a co-founder of Fresh Harvest Staffing, LLC, Billy brings over 25 years in the hospitality industry with extensive knowledge in supply chain logistics. Billy has worked with many cannabis manufacturers, has a passion for the their business, and has cultivated many great relationships within the industry.
Maria Lamm
Director of Operations
Maria is a Kansas City native who now resides in the Atlanta area. She joins the Fresh Harvest Staffing, LLC team after 20+ years in the Hospitality Industry where her career spans Event Planning, Management, and Director of Operations. New to the Cannabis world, she offers immense insight on development, strategies for growth, and a passion for excellence.
Maria is focusing on implementing back-end operating procedures while building trusted relationships with nothing less than exceptional customer support and is fully committed to every detail our clients may require.
Gabriela Williams
Director of Business Development
Gabriela is a Recruiting and Business Development Manager with several years of experience developing and implementing successful strategies to achieve business objectives. She possesses strong leadership and communication skills and has a proven track record of training and guiding her team to success. Her experience in the staffing industry has enabled her to identify top talent and coach her team members to perform at their best. She understands the importance of setting clear goals and providing constructive feedback to her team, which helps them to stay motivated and achieve their targets. Her ability to build strong relationships with clients and candidates alike has contributed to her success as a sales manager.
Maria Sacasa
Business Development Executive
Despite earning a Master's degree in Finance, Maria Sacasa discovered her passion for recruiting three years ago and has never looked back since. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Maria has successfully devised and executed recruiting strategies that attract, engage, and retain top-performing candidates. Maria takes pride in establishing strong connections with candidates and is renowned for her exceptional interpersonal skills. Her track record speaks volumes as she has proven her ability to establish and sustain long-term partnerships that yield favorable outcomes.
Samantha Dean
Business Development Executive
Meet Samantha, an enthusiastic business owner and entrepreneur with a genuine love for the cannabis industry and its vibrant community. In 2016, Samantha co-founded a data-driven and analytical cannabis platform in Colorado, excelling in B2B sales, outside-sales, management, and leadership within the industry. With a knack for wearing many hats, Samantha has dived into diverse roles such as event planning, brand management, and marketing efforts. As a Brand Manager, Samantha played a vital part in successfully launching an international cannabis brand in Colorado. Alongside numerous start-ups, Samantha remains devoted to the ever-evolving cannabis landscape.
Cheers,Samantha