Michelle Garcia

Passionate, results driven Cultivation Director with over 25 years of growing experience specializing in technical horticulture, vegetable farming, commercial cannabis production, and R&D greenhouse management. I have a B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Geology and a concentration in Soil Science with advanced expertise in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), structural climate controls, inventory management and precision fertigation. Proven success overseeing up to 155,000 sq. ft. of indoor cannabis canopy and multi-site regional cultivation.

Adept at leveraging data collection, crop steering techniques, and regulatory compliance (Metrc, BioTrack) to optimize plant health, increase yields, and produce award-winning genetics.

Regional Director of Cultivation – East Region (NJ, MD, PA) - Verano LLC - NJ, MD, PA

(2024-06 - 2026-06)

Oversee multi-site indoor cannabis cultivation operations across three states, optimizing yield, quality, and strict state regulatory compliance.

• Develop and execute highly technical cultivation strategies, improving yield by 30% and engineering nutrient recipes to achieve maximum THC and terpene expressions.
• Managed cultivation protocols that secured five 2025 Cannabis Awards: 1st Place concentrates (Ghost Milk, Gelato #41), 1st Place RSO Milk Chocolate, 2nd Place Best in Grass Flower (Glitter Bomb), and 1st Place NECANN concentrate.
• Direct budget allocation, environmental control management, and continuous staff training on sophisticated cultivation techniques.
• Regional Cultivation Metrc support for all 15 sites within Verano

Cultivation Manager - Curaleaf - Winslow, NJ

(2021-12 - 2024-06)

Direct all daily cultivation operations for a 55,000 sq. ft. indoor canopy facility, managing a team of 60+ personnel and 8 supervisors across all plant growth stages.

• Control and adjust advanced environmental systems (Ridder, Trane, Damatek) remotely via Teamviewer, fine-tuning lighting, CO2, flower cycle timing, and density to hit stringent KPIs.
• Optimize fertilizer recipes and fertigation schedules to increase flower quality, density, and bag appeal.
• Oversee comprehensive plant inventory mapping using Metrc and BioTrack software. Switched site from BioTrack to Metrc
• Switched our Chester, PA site to Drip Nutrients successfully.
• Interpret lab testing results, driving data collection initiatives to educate cultivation teams on plant deficiencies, diseases, and strategic strain adjustments.
• Coordinate harvest schedules with extraction labs, integrating Fresh Frozen demands directly into the flowering queue.

IPM Manager - Curaleaf - Winslow, NJ

(2021-04 - 2021-12)

Designed and implemented a comprehensive biological IPM program utilizing beneficial insects and 25(b) exempt products to successfully eliminate pest pressures and powdery mildew.

• Directed micro-nutrient fertigation strategies to drastically improve overall plant immunity and health.
• Developed a foliar application program to increase yield and potency
• Spearheaded precise lab sampling protocols, establishing relationships between cultivation operations and third-party laboratory vendors.

Assistant Head Grower - Lennon Farm Greenhouse - Tabernacle, NJ

(2018-10 - 2021-04)

Managed over six acres of production on a 200-acre farm, programming Priva environmental controls and adjusting comprehensive fertilizer regimens.

• Developed new protocols for finished containers, heavily testing new genetics, propagation soils, and Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs: Bonzi, Cycocel, B-Nine).
• Administered chemical applications (fungicides, miticides, insecticides) utilizing an active NJ Pesticide License. Asst with spray scheduling and chemical inventory
• Crops included; Poinsettias, Mums, Marigolds, Pansies, Violas, Snapdragons, Ipomea, Dusty Miller, Coleus, Begonias, Vegetable starter plants tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, watermelon, lettuce, lettuce mix, arugula, leafy greens, herbs

R&D Trial Specialist - Syngenta Flowers (Lucas Greenhouse) - Monroeville, NJ

(2016-07 - 2018-10)

Conducted advanced genetic trials on Poinsettia, Geraniums, Pansies, Violas, Lobelia, Scavolia, and several bedding plants, collecting accurate data on foliar size, tone, rooting scales, pH, and EC.

• Executed rigorous IPM and fungicide programs for trial crops, following strict technical protocols for irrigation, fertilization, and PGR applications.
• Finalized technical trial reports and presented findings to Syngenta stakeholders to improve commercial genetics.

Greenhouse Manager - Wholeberry Urban Farms (Hydroponics) - Bordentown NJ and Burlington NJ

(2015-11 - 2018-07)

Operated hydroponic strawberry vertical farm. 5 tier level state of the art indoor strawberry farm organic and kosher.

• Developed grow plan, nutrient schedule, bee delivers, and diease scouting
• Continued consulting with Wholeberry hydroponics transferring into leafy greens at Rutgers Greenhouse, Burlington NJ

Greenhouse Manager - Honey Brook Organic Farm - Pennington NJ

(2015-04 - 2015-10)

Managed 4 greenhouses and 100 acres of field with a staff of 5.

• Developed a volunteer program to help with workforce labor.
• Created the grow plan schedule for the farm with the farm manager and farm owner. Prepared and forecasted yield for CSA farm stand.
• Educated volunteer groups and tour for donations to continue the organic farming CSA program
• Responsible for blueberry field, strawberry fields, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, raspberries, snap peas, beans, herb garden and all organic vegetables and herbs

Biology R&D Greenhouse Lab Technician - FMC Corporation - Ewing, NJ

(2013-06 - 2015-04)

Conducted experimental growth assays for commercial crops and weeds to support the herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide R&D teams.

• Managed complex growth chamber infrastructure, strictly monitoring EC, pH, lighting, and temperature.
• Conducted technical germination experiments utilizing Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA).
• Maintained detailed botanical inventory logs and executed safe environmental disposal protocols (autoclaving plant material).

Customer Service Supervisor - A Message Center

Managing crisis dispatch and team training

Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science (Concentration: Soil Science/Geology) - Richard Stockton College of NJ

Associate of Arts - Education - Cumberland County College