Pete Kadens is a dedicated entrepreneur and philanthropist. Pete graduated from Bucknell University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received the Distinguished Alumnus for Citizenship in 2010. Pete started his career in investment banking when he worked for UBS. However, knowing he did not enjoy working in banking and wanted to be an entrepreneur, he started several business ventures.
His first business venture was as the founder and CEO of Acquirement, a dedicated outsourced sales company that works with clients ranging from small privately held corporations to Fortune 100 companies. Pete also co-founded SoCore Energy in 2008 with Bucknell alum Glen Tullman, which is one of the largest commercial solar companies in the US. In 2015, Pete ultimately founded Green Thumb Industry outside of Illinois with his partner, Ben Kovler. Marijuana Business Magazine called Pete “One of 20 People to Watch in the Cannabis Industry in 2018.” Pete has delivered talks all over the US around issues related to reforming the war on drugs and has delivered a TED Talk on this same issue.
Along with his previous involvement in his businesses, Pete now focuses on philanthropy and his family, which includes his wife and three kids. Pete is the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Streetwise Organization of Chicago, one of the largest homeless aid agencies in the country. He was also a long time board member at The Cara Program, one of the largest non-profit workforce training programs in the Midwest which focuses on preparing individuals on the verge of homelessness for employment. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Cannabis Trade Federation, founder of Helping Our Population Educate (HOPE), and chairman of The Kadens Family Foundation.
We were honored to have Pete with us in class on April 9, 2019. He talked about his progression through his career and the value of philanthropy in his life. Pete focused on the power of having a strong network, especially from Bucknell, which helped take him to where he wanted to be. He emphasized that “whatever you do in life, do what gets you excited to get up in the morning.”
