M&F Talent Client Spotlight | Argus Controls

In early 2025, AgTech manufacturer Argus Controls contacted M&F Talent regarding the hiring of a new Director of Sales & Marketing. With a global reputation for innovation in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector, Argus required a leader who could manage teams, oversee growth initiatives, and expand the company’s product offerings. 

Working hands-on with the M&F Talent team, Argus eventually hired a highly accomplished Director of Sales & Marketing with decades of experience in horticulture, cannabis, and packaging technologies.

Customer Background: Argus Controls

Argus Controls is a pioneer in advanced environmental controls for greenhouses, vertical farms, and plant science facilities. For over 40 years, Argus has built integrated solutions that help commercial growers automate, optimize, and future-proof their operations.

Based in Langley, British Columbia, Argus is widely recognized for its:

• Control Systems that centralize management of temperature, humidity, lighting, irrigation, and more.
• Fertigation & Irrigation Systems that support precision nutrient delivery and water efficiency.
• Performance Software that allows growers to collect and analyze data, scale operations, and leverage AI tools for smart decision-making.

With a prestigious client list that includes BASF, Corteva, and Harvard University, Argus has made major headway in the North American Market. They needed a Director of Sales & Marketing to keep their momentum among commercial CEA crop producers while directing critical internal changes. 

The Challenge

While market expansion is always at the top of mind for any sales and marketing team, Argus was also in the process of evolving from a controls system manufacturer into a full-scale AgTech platform, including fertigation, irrigation, and crop optimization software. As such, the Director of Sales & Marketing would play a critical role in shaping the company’s future.

The ideal candidate would have to:

• Build and execute strategic sales and marketing plans
• Lead inside and outside sales teams with a focus on growth
• Align sales efforts across multiple business units and partner organizations
• Understand complex B2B hardware and software sales cycles
• Represent Argus at a leadership level, interfacing with key clients and executive stakeholders
• Bring deep knowledge of environmental controls, horticulture, and the CEA industry
• Educate sales & marketing teams on new AgTech products in fertigation, irrigation, and crop optimization software 
• Navigate channel strategies across North America while preparing for global expansion

Given the complexity of the role, Argus needed a specialized recruiting partner who could identify leaders with niche technical expertise, managerial experience, and a deep understanding of customer pain points with commercial crop producers. 

The Solution

M&F Talent placed a candidate with over 24 years of experience leading sales & marketing teams in the CEA, packaging, and manufacturing sectors. Our candidate’s background includes: 

• Serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development for a leading agriculture product manufacturer, where he led a $20M division providing infrastructure and systems to clients across North America and Europe
  • Growing annual sales from $9M to $24M, while launching new product lines, divisions, and partnerships
• Building and leading customer-focused sales organizations rooted in deep relationship development and solution-based selling
• Securing high-value accounts with leading cannabis and food crop producers, where his team directly helped improve yield and efficiency
• Executive roles at Rootree and Verduyn Tarps, where he successfully restructured organizations for growth and operational excellence

What truly set our candidate apart was his dual fluency in business transformation and the technical needs of growers. As a result, he didn’t just understand Argus’s customers, he had been serving them directly for years. 

Results and Impact

Through a highly targeted search effort, M&F Talent delivered a candidate who matched Argus’s ambitious vision and industry demands. As a result, Argus was able to hire a proven leader without the delays or false starts that often accompany niche executive searches.

Important hiring metrics from the Argus Controls search: 

• Interview-to-Hire: We submitted 4 candidates before Argus made the hire. Our interview-to-hire metric with Argus matches the industry best at 4:1. 
• Time-to-Fill: We placed the Director of Sales & Marketing in just 60 days, which was right in line with client expectations and industry averages.
  

Conclusion

Their decision to partner with M&F Talent reflects the importance of working with a recruiting firm that understands the nuances of technical sales, environmental controls, and emerging agtech markets. With our candidate at the helm, Argus is well-positioned to keep expanding its dominance in the North American market while also transitioning into a full-scale AgTech company. 

Looking for CEA & AgTech Recruitment Help? 

Whether you’re building out a technical sales team or searching for transformational leadership, M&F Talent’s pre-vetted candidate network and consultative process will help you get there faster. 

Contact us today! 

M&F Talent Customer Spotlight 

When CEA producer Goodness Gardens needed an experienced Farm Manager to oversee their operations in Pearsall, TX, they turned to Mac & Fulton Talent Partners. Facing the challenges of scaling sustainable operations while maintaining their commitment to quality, Goodness Gardens sought a skilled leader to take charge of day-to-day operations and implement long-term agricultural strategies. With the help of M&F Talent, they found the perfect candidate, who brought decades of experience in organic farming, crop management, and operational leadership.

Customer Background

For over 25 years, Goodness Gardens has been a leader in providing fresh, sustainably grown herbs and greens to customers across the United States. According to their website, “Since the mid 1980’s, Goodness Gardens has expanded exponentially in size and production. Goodness Gardens owns and operates a 50-acre farm and 175,000 square feet of greenhouses in Orange County, New York. In addition, we also operate a southeastern regional distribution center located in Miami, Florida.” 

Based in New Hampton, NY, the company also expanded operations in Texas where they cultivate organic herbs and leafy greens. To keep their Texas operation on track, Goodness Gardens needed a Farm Manager with leadership experience and a love for hands-on work. This difficult-to-fill position led them to the recruitment team at M&F Talent. 

The Challenge

Goodness Gardens was facing rapid growth in demand and needed a Farm Manager who could efficiently handle the complexities of a large-scale organic farming operation. This person needed to be a team player with real-world experience in organic agricultural practices, irrigation systems, crop health management, and leadership. The Farm Manager would not only oversee planting, harvesting, and crew schedules but also improve operational efficiency and maintain organic certification standards.

The requirements for the Farm Manager job included strong leadership skills with the ability to schedule and manage a farm crew of 10-15 people. The position also required proficiency in generating and interpreting yield and time reports. Technical abilities for basic mechanical troubleshooting and farming equipment maintenance were also a must.

The Solution

M&F Talent presented a candidate with over 30 years of experience in farming operations, particularly in organic vegetable and herb production. This Farm Manager candidate had an impressive track record in building and managing organic farms from the ground up, implementing innovative irrigation and fertilization systems, and working closely with soil consultants to maximize crop yield and quality. 

The Candidate’s Previous Roles Include:

4 years as a Director of Farming Operations where he designed and built an organic farm from start to scale. The candidate also developed accounts to sell produce to Whole Foods, Common Market, and other notable grocers.  

4 years of experience as an Executive Director of Production at another organic farm, where he managed large-scale crop production, reduced input costs, and ensured compliance with organic certification standards.

2 years of experience working as a Senior Production Agronomist for a commercial herb producer. In this role, the candidate specialized in reducing material and labor costs, while also raising yields with innovative fertigation systems. 

M&F Talent’s candidate was also involved with the  Empire State Food and Agricultural Leadership Institute (LEAD New York) at Cornell University. 

The candidate’s deep knowledge of organic farming techniques, modern agriculture technology, and team leadership made him an ideal fit for the position at Goodness Gardens. 

Results and Impact

Thanks to M&F Talent’s deep network in the CEA sector, Goodness Gardens was able to hire a qualified Farm Manager swiftly. Our ability to quickly connect CEA organizations with top-tier talent meant Goodness Gardens could fill the role without delays. Not only did a quick placement save them money on sourcing and recruiting, but it also allowed Goodness Gardens to maintain operational momentum. 

Important Metrics and Data Points for the Goodness Gardens Farm Manager Hire: 

Time-to-fill: M&F Talent filled the Goodness Gardens Farm Manager role with a top-tier candidate in just 3 weeks. SHRM reports that the average time-to-fill is 44 days for managerial-level talent.

M&F Talent reduced the average time-to-fill by 48%.

Interview-to-hire: M&F Talent only submitted 2 highly qualified candidates to make a placement with Goodness Gardens. The average interview-to-hire metric is “4:1 to 20:1” across industries.

M&F Talent beat average interview-to-hire figures by 100%-900%. 

Onsite hire: M&F Talent managed to recruit a premier Farm Manager for an onsite role in a job market turning increasingly to remote work. Forbes reports that 39% of professionals ages 24-35 now work remotely.

M&F Talent filled the onsite job with only 61% of the talent pool to choose from. 

Conclusion 

The partnership between Goodness Gardens and M&F Talent demonstrates the value of working with a recruitment firm that understands the complexities of CEA. By leveraging M&F Talent’s extensive network and industry expertise, Goodness Gardens was able to quickly fill a critical Farm Manager role with a highly skilled candidate. Despite a reduced talent pool for on-site roles, M&F Talent’s ability to identify the right candidate in a short time frame saved Goodness Gardens time and resources, allowing them to maintain operational momentum without delays. 

Need CEA Recruitment Help? 

Is your company looking for experienced talent in the controlled environment agriculture industry? Contact us today to get started!