Candice Gradenigo

Candice Gradenigo is Chief of Staff at BKREA, working closely with Bob Knakal across strategic initiatives, business operations, organizational priorities, and the continued growth of the firm.

Before joining BKREA, Candice spent over ten years in leadership roles at United Technologies, including Pratt & Whitney (now part of RTX), where she managed large businesses and led major negotiations and strategic initiatives. Her work generated more than $400 million in financial impact in a single year. She negotiated multiyear partnership agreements worth up to $500 million, managed a $300 million global supply-chain operation, and secured approximately $40 million in contracts with the U.S. government earlier in her career.

Candice is also an entrepreneur. She founded Picks & Deals and built it from the ground up into a digital commerce business generating more than $2 million in annual affiliate sales. She has directed every aspect of the business—from determining what and how to market, growing and engaging its audience, and developing brand relationships to building its revenue model, expanding across social platforms, and implementing the technology and automation behind the operation.

Born and raised in Paris and now based in New York City, Candice brings an international perspective to her work and speaks French, English, Spanish, and German. She holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from the Sorbonne in Paris.