Meet the Team - Simplifya

Pleased to Meet You!

Corey Bartkus

Associate Regulatory Analyst

Brooke Butler

VP of Partnerships

Joe DeVore

Regulatory Analyst

Katelin Edwards

Regulatory Analyst

Tyler Elder

Regulatory Analyst

Luke Ewing

Regulatory Analyst

Emma Forrest

Regulatory Affairs Coordinator

Bill Gunnison

Regulatory Analyst

Joyce Hanlon

Territory Lead

Taylor Hart-Bowlan

Senior Regulatory Analyst

Niki Hicks

Marketing Coordinator

Amy Larson

VP of Sales and Marketing

Andrea Lesica

Regulatory Affairs 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

Alexander Stevens

Software Engineer

Jessica Tamulski

Accountant

John Vardaman

CCO & General Counsel

Michael Williamson

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 4 continents before returning to the US to help grow Simplifya’s business. 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).

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 cannabis regulation atmosphere.

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. 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.

Some of Katelin’s favorite things: House Hunters or Chopped – or just anything related to home improvement and/or cooking competitions, snowboarding, the 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!

Emma Forrest

Emma completed her degree in Global Health at the University of Notre Dame. She worked as a consultant for the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors in Jamaica. Since moving to Denver, she has shifted her focus to the cannabis industry. Her background in healthcare administration policy has sparked the appeal of understanding and promoting cannabis regulation policies. She is excited to be on a team of individuals with extensive legal and technological knowledge that are dedicated to promoting compliance in marijuana law.

Some of Emma’s favorite things: Dogs, searching out the best coffee shops in Denver, traveling, Odd Future, or The Read podcast.

Bill Gunnison

Bill is an attorney and has been a member of the Colorado bar since 2015. He moved from Kansas City to the Denver area in the summer of 2015 and immediately began his career in the cannabis industry. Since he moved to Denver, Bill has been doing legal research and regulatory analysis for cannabis tech startups. Simplifya is the third cannabis tech startup Bill has worked for and he is proud to be part of a team dedicated to helping cannabis businesses comply with complex, amorphous regulations.
Some of Bill’s favorite things: Jayhawk basketball, golf, disc golf, volleyball, or pretty much any activity outside. The NBA, horror movies, Kurt Vonnegut, cannabis policy.

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 Amy’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 (PCI DSS, SOX, SSAE 16, GLBA, etc.) and in building and launching new software applications. 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.

Some of Rick’s favorite things: Michigan Wolverines, true crime podcasts, tech startups, fly fishing, and my 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

Vanessa hails from Fresno, California, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2009 from California State University, Fresno. Vanessa migrated to the Mile High City in 2012. Originally in education, Vanessa entered the Colorado cannabis industry in 2014, and immediately fell in love with providing safe access of cannabis to the public. She spent four and a half years working in dispensaries in the Greater Denver Area, and is excited about using this experience to contribute to the Simplifya mission.
Some of Vanessa’s favorite things: I love meeting new people and enjoy expanding my mind by learning about others and their passions in life. Tell me about what type of music you like, your favorite TV show, your favorite science factoid, really any information that makes you excited. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, practicing Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (when I’m note injured), and exploring everything Colorado has to offer.

Alexander Stevens

Fresh out of Rhodes College, Alexander is putting his B.S. in Computer Science to work. Although aiming for a career in Physics initially, he quickly realized that math is no fun, and computers are pretty cool. He has since created an app, started another, and is kicking off a career in software engineering.

Some of Alexander’s favorite things: Soccer, video games, hiking, computers, if you’re ambitious, try to tell me why PCs are better than Macs. Outside the office, you will find me either working on my new app, learning new technologies, playing soccer, or exploring all Colorado has to offer.

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.

John Vardaman

John W. Vardaman, III joins Simplifya as Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, most recently from Hypur, a compliance and payments software company that enables financial institutions to service cash-intensive businesses, including state-legalized marijuana businesses and money service businesses. Johnn is an attorney with fifteen years of senior federal government experience in the enforcement of federal laws and policies concerning money laundering, the Bank Secrecy Act, and other financial crimes. From 2006 to 2016, John worked at the Department of Justice, first in the Office of Legal Policy, and then as Assistant Deputy Chief in the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. In 2014, John drafted the DOJ policy regarding marijuana banking, known as the Cole Memorandum, which set forth enforcement parameters designed to enable banks to permissibly service marijuana-related businesses.

From 2001 to 2006, John served as Special Assistant to the General Counsel at the Department of the Treasury where he worked on a variety of money laundering and terrorist financing issues following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. From 2003-2004, John served as Associate General Counsel to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, Iraq, where he oversaw an international campaign to locate and repatriate assets of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime held around the world. John was the recipient of the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award from the Department of Defense in 2004, and the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service from the Department of Justice in 2015. John received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1993, and his law degree from Georgetown University in 1997.

Some of John’s favorite things: Golf, Alabama football, European history, U.S. government and politics and alternative music.

Michael Williamson

Michael recently moved to Denver from Washington, D.C., where he worked in politics, regulatory affairs, and journalism. At Simplifya, Michael’s using his analytical and writing expertise to create easy-to-understand compliance content.

Some of Michael’s favorite things: Anything related to Minnesota, or traveling. Outside of work, you’ll find me planning my next getaway, cooking, and exploring all Denver has to offer.

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