Sales Team
Meet Our Sales Team and Representatives
Eric Maxwell: Midwest/East Coast Territory Manager
Homebase – Muskegon MI.
Eric first started growing in Humboldt in 2002. By 2008 he was back in Michigan growing full-time and would open a grow store a couple of years later. Eric, or Maxwell, joined the Royal Gold team in 2014 and has been simultaneously covering the Midwest and East Coast territories ever since. In addition, Maxwell enjoys playing golf during the Michigan summers, hockey in the winter time, and attending as many Phish concerts as possible year-round.
Rick Elliott: Key Accounts & West Coast Territory Manager
“I was born and raised in the big apple of New York with very little exposure to the world of gardening. It took transplanting myself here in northern California where I have lived for almost 30 years now to discover my love of plants. I also have a passion for growing my own veggies as well as a healthy hobby of succulents. If I’m not playing around my home garden or greenhouse, I’m making memories with my wife and three children or seeing live music.”
Tom Butler: Southern California & South West Territories Product Representative
Tom started working for the Royal Gold sales team as a representative in 2023. Originally from Chicago, Tom grew up in the Bay Area where he developed a deep passion for music and horticulture. He pulled up his roots and moved to Southern California with his family eight years ago. He has worked in the industry for 30 years, most recently as the General Manager at a gardening store. In his free time, Tom loves taking long walks, surfing, and tending to his vegetable garden.
Basil Cahill: Customer Service Representative
Having worked on farms in both New England and California for nearly a decade, Basil now brings his combined experience as a cultivator and IPM specialist to the Royal Gold sales team as a customer service representative. An avid outdoors enthusiast and long distance through-hiker, he fell in love with the Humboldt greenery and is a regular frequenter of its trails and coastlines. He also is a pursuer of the arts, whether it be writing, painting, or performing at local karaoke nights.
Markus Messina: East Coast Territories Product Representative
“Raised in the cherry capitol of northern Michigan, gardening has always been a passion of mine. After living 20 years in Humboldt county I moved to the east coast to help our customers here. In my free time you can find me strumming a number of stringed instruments. Two things I always travel with are Crown Jewels and my mandolin.”
Aaron Trevino: Oregon, Northern CA & Nevada Product Representative
“I grew up in western New York and moved to Chico in 2003. I earned an A.A. in Social Sciences and a B.A. in Philosophy before moving west. I’ve been in the “industry” for almost 20 years, managed a garden store for 8 years, and managed a commercial farm for about a year before joining royal gold. I love seeing live music, snowboarding, and gardening.”
