Owen J. Podoll
Berkley
Summary
Dynamic retail and operations leader with extensive expertise in cannabis retail, inventory management, multi-unit leadership, and brand development. Proven success in building and scaling high-performing teams while standardizing operational systems to enhance efficiency. A strong track record of driving significant revenue growth across multi-state operations demonstrates a strategic approach to business development and operational excellence. Committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that propels organizational success.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Retail Operations
Quality Roots
08.2021 - Current
- Scaled operations from 3 to 10 retail locations across Michigan and New Jersey, overseeing 200+ employees including 9 GMs, 20+ AGMs, 30+ leads, and HQ retail operations staff.
- Expanded the brand into new states, opening Quality Roots’ first out-of-state location in New Jersey and building the company’s reputation as a multi-state operator.
- Grew multiple locations to peak $1M+ monthly revenue, with stores averaging 400–500 daily customers and scaling to 1,000+ on peak days; busiest stores handle 20,000+ transactions monthly.
- Launched and scaled delivery operations, covering Wayne and Oakland Counties (Michigan’s largest), while also designing and refining loyalty programs (Springbig, Flowhub, and a proprietary in-house system).
- Directed execution of all major promotions, including Qualidays, It’s in the Bag, Mr. Allen’s, and holiday events such as 4/20 weekends exceeding $400K in sales and 5,000+ customers; also oversaw localized marketing/community events.
- Built and implemented the company’s first SOP and training infrastructure, standardizing operations, compliance, onboarding, and review systems. Expanded this by creating custom KPI dashboards (Flowhub, Metabase), setting quarterly store goals, and enabling real-time performance tracking.
- Developed leadership pipelines, promoting 5+ budtenders into GM roles, dozens into lead/AGM positions, and 5 into corporate roles. Created a comprehensive training video series highlighting company history, culture, and processes, now core to onboarding.
- Partnered with vendors to host staff education sessions, run co-branded promotions, and shape product mix based on sales data and store demographics.
- Championed customer experience excellence, sustaining 4.9-star Google ratings across all stores with 1,000–5,000 reviews per location.
- Earned broad recognition: Hour Detroit “Best of Detroit” awards, Flowhub case studies, features on local FOX News, and speaking roles at industry events representing Quality Roots.
General Manager
Quality Roots
12.2020 - 08.2021
- Opened and built one of Detroit’s most popular cannabis retail locations, overseeing a team of 15–20 staff including an inventory manager and 3 leads, with full responsibility for recruitment, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, compliance, and sales operations.
- Grew monthly revenue from ~$200K at opening to $800K, driving consistent month-over-month growth while maintaining a $75–$80 average ticket value.
- Managed customer volume of 400–500 daily transactions on average, scaling to 800–1,000 per day on weekends.
- Hired and developed talent pipeline: 4 budtenders promoted to GM roles, 3 into corporate positions, and 5+ into management roles under my mentorship.
- Elevated customer engagement through sales competitions and team-driven goals, aligning staff performance with revenue growth.
- Ensured full compliance with METRC and state regulations, while maintaining accurate pricing, deals, and inventory integrity.
- Achieved and sustained 4.9-star rating on Google with 5,000+ reviews, establishing strong community reputation and repeat loyalty.
- Recognized through multiple local awards, including repeated features in Hour Detroit’s “Best of Detroit”, and contributed to opening the Monroe location — leading directly to promotion to Director of Retail Operations.
Inventory Manager
Herbology
12.2018 - 06.2020
- Directed inventory operations with a team of 2 inventory staff, while collaborating with the full retail team to ensure compliance and best practices across all product handling.
- Conducted daily live inventory audits and monthly vault audits, maintaining state compliance and ensuring reporting accuracy.
- Sustained near-zero inventory shrink by investigating discrepancies through SKU/POS tracing, video review, and employee accountability processes.
- Served as lead budtender, training all new employees on POS systems, inventory compliance, and customer-facing best practices.
- Influenced purchasing, product mix, and menu creation to drive sales; kept high-demand items in stock and designed promotions to move slow-selling products.
General Manager
Goldfish Swim School
08.2017 - 12.2018
- Launched and scaled new location from 0 to 1,300 active members within 10 months, generating ~$1.2M–$1.4M annual revenue.
- Built and led a team of 45–60 staff (AGM, 2 desk supervisors, 5–10 pool supervisors); recruited, trained, and developed talent.
- Designed training programs that reduced onboarding time and improved productivity and CX standards.
- Directed scheduling, payroll, and Ellis Lifeguard compliance; reduced payroll from 40% of sales to 28%.
- Drove enrollment via Salesforce-led outreach, daily call campaigns, social promotions, and community events.
- Maintained customer satisfaction scores of 4.8–4.9/5; supported opening of Canton, OH location.
Front Desk Manager
Choice Hotels
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Oversaw front desk operations; hired, trained, and scheduled staff; improved online reputation by proactively managing guest reviews and service recovery.
General Manager
Deathstar Nation
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Achieved record sales (~$35K/month), increased profits by 30%, grew social media audience, and implemented performance systems.
Site Supervisor
Crossroads Group
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Supervised demolition/flooring crews, managed payroll and schedules, and provided tenant-facing maintenance support.
Education
Associate of Arts -
12.2019
Skills
- Retail management across multiple locations
- Professional development
- Recruitment and talent management
- Workforce scheduling and payroll processing
- Cannabis regulatory compliance
- Inventory management systems expertise
- Customer service expertise
- Promotional strategy development
Timeline
Director of Retail Operations
Quality Roots
08.2021 - Current
General Manager
Quality Roots
12.2020 - 08.2021
Inventory Manager
Herbology
12.2018 - 06.2020
General Manager
Goldfish Swim School
08.2017 - 12.2018
Front Desk Manager
Choice Hotels
01.2016 - 01.2017
General Manager
Deathstar Nation
01.2014 - 01.2016
Site Supervisor
Crossroads Group
01.2010 - 01.2015