Meet the Team - Simplifya

Pleased to Meet You!

Corey Bartkus

Regulatory Analyst

Brooke Butler

VP of Partnerships

Kristen Cistola

Director of Client Engagement

Scott Daly

Chief Revenue Officer

Seth Dean

Territory Lead

Joe DeVore

Regulatory Analyst

Katelin Edwards

Regulatory Analyst

Tyler Elder

Senior Regulatory Analyst

Luke Ewing

Regulatory Analyst

Joyce Hanlon

Territory Lead

Taylor Hart-Bowlan

Senior Regulatory Analyst

Niki Hicks

Marketing Coordinator

Amy Larson

VP of Marketing & PR

Andrea Lesica

Regulatory Coordinator

Marion Mariathasan

Co-Founder & CEO

Rick Matsumoto

Chief Operating Officer

Mark Mendes

Operations & Logistics Manager

John Morgan

SVP of Operations

Watson Mulkey

Product Manager

Dave Nestoff

Director of Product & Engineering

Vanessa Padilla

Technical Writer

Jessica Tamulski

Accountant

Kate Thomson

Associate Regulatory Analyst

Corey Bartkus

Corey is a recent graduate of DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois, where he focused on business and corporate law, as well as regulatory compliance. Prior to law school, he provided consulting and advisory services to business leaders at the Corporate Executive Board. He is a proud Hoosier who attended Indiana University and studied Political Science as an undergraduate. In his free time, Corey enjoys hanging out with family and friends, visiting craft breweries, and enjoying all that Colorado has to offer.

Some of Corey’s favorite things: The Indiana Hoosiers and anything Big Ten sports-related, craft beer, bourbon, or local restaurants to try.

Brooke Butler

Brooke Butler is an energetic professional who has spent the last decade building her career across four continents before returning to the US to help grow Simplifya. Heading up the local offices as a Country Director for global research and publishing firm Oxford Business Group, Brooke gained vital experience introducing a brand and products to new markets and fostering commercial partnerships with the public and private sectors. She was convinced it was the right time to move back to America after she saw how quickly the cannabis industry was growing and knew the expertise she had gained from working in some of the world’s most dynamic and regulated frontier economies could be used to help this emerging industry. Her greatest desire is to help ensure that any cannabis business setting out to operate in the legal market has a chance to thrive in this highly regulated industry.

Some of Brooke’s favorite things: travelling, frontier and emerging economies, the San Antonio Spurs, Sous-vide cooking, finding new books and all things music (bonus points awarded to anyone who listens to Fela Kuti).

Kristen Cistola

Born and raised in Gwinnett Georgia, Kristen moved to Colorado half way through High School. Upon graduation, she went back to the south to attended the University of Alabama, ROLL TIDE! where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. She moved back to Denver after college and has since been engulfed in the fast paced world of SaaS startups. She has an identical twin sister (Rachael) who is 16 minutes older, but five inches shorter in height. Kristen is working on planning a wedding this year with her fiance, Kyle.

Some of Kristen’s favorite things: The Green Bay Packers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Basketball, Golf, everything Real Estate, Sushi, Toyota 4Runners, Friends and Family!

Scott Daly

Originally from Southern California, Scott finished High School in Chicago area and attended the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh where he earned a BBA in Business Administration. He moved to Denver after college and started his family before moving to Dallas and Chicago for career growth opportunities. He moved back to Denver five years ago.

Some of Scott’s favorite things: I love old cars and have one that I work on, drive and show. In addition, I enjoy hiking, boating and other outdoor activities with family and friends.

Seth Dean

Seth was born and raised in the panhandle of Texas (Lubbock and Amarillo) and spent most of his 20’s managing various bars and night clubs in Amarillo and eventually Austin, TX. Seth is married with three kids, a 15 year-old girl named Jaden, a 9 year-old boy named Jaxon, and a 16 month-old boy named Ryker. He’s have been in the legal cannabis industry for five years now and currently holds 18 certifications in cannabis including multiple cultivation and operational focuses.

Some of Seth’s favorite things: Seth and his wife, Samantha, love to paddleboard the lakes and go hiking in their free time. They are a very close family and spend a lot of time playing board games and watching movies together!

Joe DeVore

Joe has spent his entire life prior to Colorado in the plains of Kansas and Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma State in 2015 (Go Pokes!) and moved to Denver in 2016 to start law school at Denver University. Joe graduated from law school in Spring 2019 and is continuing a career in the field of cannabis regulation.

Some of Joe’s favorite things: board games, trying out new local restaurants, hiking and Oklahoma State/Big XII athletics.

Katelin Edwards

Katelin Edwards has been in the crazy world of cannabis compliance since October 2016. Before working at Simplifya, Katelin worked for a national cannabis company for two years, doing compliance, licensing, and community outreach work. She is licensed by the Marijuana Enforcement Division to work as an employee in the Colorado cannabis industry. Furthermore, she is Food Safety Certified by the City of Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.

She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in business. It was through the Real Estate Program at the Leeds School of Business where Katelin was first introduced to the idea of working in the cannabis industry. While in school, Katelin participated in the CU in DC program, where she spent a semester in Washington, DC working as an intern for CU’s Office of Federal Relations. Katelin is a Colorado native who loves to snowboard and cheer on the Denver Broncos.

Some of Katelin’s favorite things: Talk about House Hunters or Chopped – or just anything related to home improvement and/or cooking competitions – Denver Broncos, but only if you don’t talk smack about them, cannabis policy, and ‘90s to early 2000s hip-hop.

Tyler Elder

Prior to Simplifya, Tyler served as the Policy and Legislative Assistant with Heartland Priorities, where he analyzed legislative activity in the Missouri General Assembly and worked with clients to achieve strategic legislative goals. He received his BSBA from the University of Missouri, where he served as President of the MU Students for Sensible Drug Policy and was key in recruiting members and coordinating the group’s communication and lobbying efforts, helping to make the MU chapter of SSDP the second most active in the nation.

Some of Tyler’s favorite things: Talking about cannabis reform, food, whiskey, beer, travel, getting outdoors and enjoying nature, cars, or music of (nearly) any genre.

Luke Ewing

Luke is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado’s School of Law. During law school, he pursued his dual interests in Tech Law and Cannabis Law. During his time at the Cato Institute, he researched the effects of marijuana legalization on traffic incidents and rates of drug usage among minors. His time at the Samuelson-Glushko Tech Law Clinic culminated in a presentation in Geneva to the World Intellectual Property Organization, part of the UN, concerning the intersection of copyright law and disability law. He also received his bachelor’s degree from CU, where he studied Philosophy and Physics. Before law school, he spent time working in blasting and construction, handling explosives, and helping erect a radio tower near Red Rocks.

Some of Luke’s favorite things: Learning about your music tastes (especially bluegrass, techno or punk), reforming the War on Drugs, or ask me about my extensive collection of garden gnomes!

Joyce Hanlon

Best ways to break the ice: I love tennis and sports of all kinds and I love to travel. We can talk about the US state capitals, their architecture and the cities they reside in. I have visited 23 of our 50 states so that means more travel and that’s exciting. We can talk tennis especially if you are looking to hit with a 4.0 player. We can talk about the Houston Astros making it to the World Series!

I recently moved from Houston, Texas and am so happy to be in Colorado! It has taken me years to make the move here. My first introduction to Colorado was in High School and a ski trip to Steamboat Springs that hooked me. I knew then I had to be this amazing state.

I love hiking, biking & swimming. I’m an avid tennis player and I’m always looking to hit with someone.

I love sales. I’ve tried other things but I’m most at home when speaking with a prospective customer and helping them discover the new product that they need for their business. I’m very excited about what Simplifya has to offer in the cannabis industry and can’t wait to meet my new customers!

Taylor Hart-Bowlan

Taylor is a lifelong Oklahoma Sooners fan and received her Bachelors in Letters from OU before relocating to Colorado in 2011. After a few years playing in bands and managing a law firm, she earned her J.D. in 2017 from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she focused on marijuana law and policy and served as Students for Sensible Drug Policy president. Taylor has written on a number of issues surrounding marijuana legalization, and she was recently published as a contributing author in Marijuana Politics: Uncovering the Troublesome History and Social Costs of Criminalization.

Some of Taylor’s favorite things: College or fantasy football, gardening, skiing, whiskey, Rolling Stones, 280-E or nerding out over Hearthstone.

Niki Hicks

Niki is finishing her degree in Technical & Professional Writing: Science Communication from San Francisco State University (Go Gators!). She loves translating jargon so she decided to tackle education through another approach with one of the most powerful tools on the web– social media. Niki began creating online content at a startup called Birdnest, where she wrote and created material for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and blog posts. Her goal at Simplifya, with the help of her amazing coworkers, is to promote an understanding of cannabis regulations.

Some of Niki’s favorite things: Dogs, all dogs! Own a DSLR? Show me your pictures! Also, let’s talk about our favorite documentaries narrated by David Attenborough. Illustrating, eating chocolate, and going on backpacking trips with friends. Ideally all three at the same time. Excuse me, I just saw a dog and need to go pet it.

Amy Larson

A graduate of Arizona State University and a communications professional with more than 20 years of experience, Amy brings a strategic, integrated approach to helping companies communicate their brand, drive engagement and influence the audiences who matter most. Prior to joining Simplifya, Amy served as the VP of Marketing for COHN, and its dedicated cannabis division, COHNNABIS, which she helped to launch in 2016 and grow into one of the most respected marketing agencies in the industry. Amy is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Marketing & Advertising Committee, and in 2018 was named one of “Ten Influential Women to Meet.” Since 2013, she has also donated her time as the PR Advisor for the Colorado Freedom Memorial.

Some of Amy’s favorite things: Arizona, my kids, dogs (especially big dogs!), true crime podcasts and the day I spent as Neil Armstrong’s bodyguard. I am also the mother of two kids, who are already way cooler than I will ever be.

Andrea Lesica

Born and raised in Wisconsin (Wuh-Scahnsin), Andrea made her way to Colorado in 2015 after spending significant time in Boise, Idaho and the Bay Area, California. She found herself working in the cannabis industry in the fall of 2016, and worked her way through careers in a dispensary, cultivation facility (talk to her about terpenes!), and testing facility before she joined the Simplifya family. When Andrea isn’t at work, she can be found hanging out with her corgi Piper, trying out a new restaurant or bakery, going on adventures, or making things and playing with tools at the art studio she is a member of.

Some of Andrea’s favorite things: Talk to her about plants, rocks, dogs (or all animals), color theory, art, bicycles, colloquial expressions, baking, and/or breakfast food.

Marion Mariathasan

Marion is a serial entrepreneur who has founded, invested in, or been an advisor to over a dozen start-ups. He is a regular guest speaker at events such as Denver Start-up Week, CU Denver’s program on social entrepreneurship, and the United Nations Global Accelerator Initiative. Marion studied Architecture and Computer Science at the University of Kansas and Computer Information Systems with a minor in Business Management at Emporia State University.

Some of Marion’s favorite things: Random acts of kindness, travel, the Gipsy Kings, Engelbert Humperdinck, start-ups, Sri Lanka and cooking spicy Sri Lankan cuisine, cars.

Rick Matsumoto

Over the past two decades, Rick has been both an advisor to, and a C-level executive at several tech startups in Colorado. He brings a unique combination of expertise in compliance and in building and launching new software applications. Simplifya is Rick’s fifth tech startup and he has the scars to prove it! Rick earned a BA from the University of California at Irvine and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He is passionate about river conservation and serves on the board for Colorado Trout Unlimited. He and his wife Tia are the proud owners of a local preschool.

Some of Rick’s favorite things: the Michigan Wolverines, true crime podcasts, crime shows on Netflix (true or not), woodworking, fly fishing, and his two sons (not necessarily in that order).

Mark Mendes

After earning a business degree from Mithibai College (Mumbai, India), Mark moved to Kansas City to take graduate courses at the University of Kansas. He earned his customer service stripes bartending in local bars and restaurants before deciding to join Marion Mariathasan, Simplifya’s CEO, in several start-up ventures. Mark brings operational, marketing, and customer service experience to his role at Simplifya by way of 1010 Magazine, Capital Grille, Demetrio Tequila, and Ceylon Solutions.

Some of Mark’s favorite things: Traveling, my family and our rescue pup, Bella. Finding a new great book, I’m always excited to experience new authors.

John Morgan

Originally from central Missouri, John committed high treason and earned a BS in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Kansas. His Missouri friends and family still haven’t forgiven him. He lived in lovely Kansas City and worked in sales for 5 years before making his way out West to work for a tech start-up in Denver. Since then, he’s held leadership positions in multiple tech start-ups.

Some of John’s favorite things: I spend my free time plinking ineffectually on my guitar, scouring eBay and Discogs for good deals on Bob Pollard records, and hanging out with my family.

Watson Mulkey

Watson’s path to Colorado and Product Management has been equal parts on the job learning and unconventional. An English major from the southeast, his journey took him from working at a summer camp in North Carolina to building a hospital in Honduras to working at a Thai restaurant in Australia. He eventually found his calling in the software industry, which eventually led him to Denver. Working in a number of customer and client facing roles, he found a knack at solving user problems. Customer service, Watson believes, is giving people a bandaid when they stub their toe on a nail. Product Management is taking a hammer to the nail that people are stubbing their toes on. “Ultimately,” Watson says, “it’s a more satisfying version of helping people.” After years of managing products in the education space, Watson is excited about all the new challenges presented by the cannabis industry.

Some of Watson’s favorite things: Video Games, Music, Oxford Commas, something you’re passionate about, or nearly anything other than small talk 🙂

Dave Nestoff

Now in his fourth of the four (continental) US time zones, Dave has spent his last five years at start-ups. He epitomizes the mantra of wearing many hats, and has used it to build a diverse creative and technical skillset along the way. From his journalism roots (by way of Ohio State), Dave has enjoyed success as an agency and in-house marketer, and is now eagerly diving into a career in software engineering.

Some of Dave’s favorite things: Discovering a new quaint mountain town to visit, learning about creative endeavors, fantasy sports or Northern Ohio sports.

Vanessa Padilla

As a technical writer, Vanessa brings over 10 years of experience in retail operations to the table. Four and a half of these years were spent working for dispensaries in the Greater Denver area. Vanessa worked for both The Green Solution and Good Chemistry; both industry leaders in compliance and operations. Vanessa worked her way up from budtender and finally ended up being an Assistant Manager for Good Chemistry at a high volume location. Before working in the cannabis industry, Vanessa spent five years in education, where she learned to tailor content according to her audience; a crucial skill for a technical writer.

In addition to her professional background, Vanessa is certified in Cannabis Food Safety by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which is the equivalent to a ServSafe certificate. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Fresno.

Some of Vanessa’s favorite things: Science, music, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, animals.

Jessica Tamulski

Originally from Buffalo (Go Bills!), Jessica is a newer Denverite by way of Cincinnati where she graduated from Xavier University (Go Muskies!) with a B.S. in Accounting. Jessica’s not the stereotypical bean counter, her accounting background ranges from Healthcare to Casino Gaming. She’s now at her second tech start-up, and could not be more excited to be part of Simplifya’s mission and growth.

Some of Jessica’s favorite things: The latest binge-worthy program, podcasts, concerts, golden retrievers, or the Galaxy! Outside of crunching the numbers, I love hitting the slopes, exploring Colorado, and practicing my culinary skills.

Kate Thomson

Michigan native who moved to Colorado for the sunshine and mountains. Graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Criminal Justice and Anthropology. Kate has a diverse and wide-ranging background that includes working as an engineering intern, managing video stores and running retail sales operation and training for Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, MI. More recently, she spent 5 years in the cannabis industry on the operator side focusing on education, training, compliance and operations. She’s now switching gears and diving into the analysis and interpretation of cannabis regulation and the software that supports the industry.

Some of Kate’s favorite things: Soccer, hiking, cooking, whiskey, Michigan State Spartans basketball, fiction (books, tv and movies), philosophical conversations, live music, word puzzles, strategic board games, meeting new people, learning new things, cannabis, etc.

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