FOUNDED BY CANNABIS PIONEERS
Unlike so many current cannabis start-ups emerging from the finance, alcohol or retail industry, Juva is led by a team of distinguished industry veterans with grown-from-the-ground-up expertise in every facet of the vertically integrated process. From cultivation through manufacturing, quality control, testing and research, distribution and retail customer experience, Juva brings together a best-in-class team.
DOUG CHLOUPEK
Founder, CEO and Chairman
BIODOUG CHLOUPEKDoug brings a passion for the cannabis industry as a medicinal means to helping people feel better. He has worked across a range of verticals and brought multiple new businesses to life. Valley Grown Enterprises, Lux Wellness, and Medmar Healing Center, to name a few, have created tangible value for both consumers and investors alike. His work co-founding BAS Research led to it being granted the first California license, issued by the City of Berkeley in 2016, for medical cannabis manufacturing and research. Doug is a founding Board Member of Citizens Coalition for Patient Care, and a founding member of the California Cannabis Industry Association.
MAT LEE
Chief Financial Officer
BIO MAT LEEA finance professional with over ten years of leadership experience in audit, corporate finance, financial reporting, and operations management. Mat has extensive experience as a CFO for Canadian public companies.
NORTON SINGHAVON
Director
BIO NORTON SINGHAVONNorton brings significant capital markets expertise to Juva Life as an independent director. His experience with corporate governance, M&A, financing and operating within highly regulated industries will be extremely valuable in fostering the growth of Juva from a private company, into a publicly listed issuer on the CSE.
NEIL RUDITSKY
Chief Operations Officer
BIO NEIL RUDITSKYNeil has spent more than two decades in senior leadership positions in the hospitality and cannabis industries. Under his leadership, Elemental Wellness grew from $4M to $20M in four years.
KARI GOTHIE
VP of Finance & Administration, Director
BIO KARI GOTHIEKari has more than 25 years of experience working with rapidly growing start-up operations as an accountant and Chief Financial Officer. She has extensive experience in entrepreneurial environments, providing guidance in all key business areas including business plan development, capital raising, strategic planning and forecasting, human resources, legal compliance, accounting and finance. Kari has international experience including the establishment and governance of branches and subsidiaries. She also has deep knowledge of mergers and acquisitions, having managed due diligence and the sale side of five privately held companies.
DAN HUGHES
VP of Operations
BIO DAN HUGHESDan entered the cannabis industry in 2010 as one of the first employees of Steep Hill. He has a proven track record of growing sales in cannabis retail for over 5 years including at Elemental Wellness where he served as Operations Manager and Director of Product Management. Highly skilled in marketing and product development, Dan has been the visionary behind several successful brand collaborations. Prior to joining Juva, Dan was serving as an industry consultant facilitating statewide distribution for premier cannabis brands.
THOMAS LESCHAK
VP of Horticulture
BIO THOMAS LESCHAKVice President of Horticulture for Frosted Flowers, Tom also co-founded CannAcademy, a trade school for cannabis horticulture. Tom has acted as a private consultant for multiple collectives throughout California since 1999.
KEVIN CAFFERY
General Manager, Delivery
BIO KEVIN CAFFERYHaving managed cannabis dispensaries since 2010, Kevin has worked to improve and automate operations, keep employee turnover low and raise the bar high on customer service. Kevin oversaw the merger of three clubs into one (LUX) and worked to create best practices in policies and procedures, and provide first-rate service to customers toward a goal of improving customer retention.
CLIFF NICHOLS
Project Manager
BIO CLIFF NICHOLSCliff has been with Juva since its inception, and has supported the executive team in a multitude of ways including operations and administration. His pre-Juva experience includes high-volume retail sales, inventory management and marketing. Cliff was the Marketing Manager for Lux dispensary in San Jose, California. Today, Cliff is in a Marketing Manager role working to create and promote the Juva brand on social media and through product marketing.
Guided By Acclaimed Medical Professionals
Our advisory board consists of highly-respected and influential doctors, clinicians and researchers from fields of medicine that range from pain management to oncology. What they share is a heartfelt belief, born from years of real-world experience with their patients, that cannabis can and should be a viable, available option, particularly as an alternative to opiate-based pain relief.
RAKESH R. PATEL, MD
Medical Director, Director
BIO RAKESH R. PATEL, MDA renowned Oncologist and clinical researcher in the San Francisco Bay Area, with over 150 worldwide lectures and 100 publications, Dr. Patel is also a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple healthcare startups. He is currently practicing in the Bay Area with Precision Cancer Specialists Medical Group.
GUY MILLER, MD, Ph.D.
Director, Science Advisory Board
BIO GUY MILLER, MD, Ph.D.Guy Miller, MD, Ph.D. directs our science advisory board. In this capacity, he is responsible for synthesizing our business and technical strategy into a cohered R/D plan, and working with our internal team and external experts to drive corporate objectives. Dr. Miller holds both a Ph.D. in chemistry and an MD, completing his training at the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is currently the founder and CEO of Wheel Biology, Inc., chairman of the board of directors, Pneumico, Inc. and an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. He possesses broad expertise in natural products pharmacology, drug development, and innovation.
MARY KAY “MK” HARDWICK
Research Director
BIO MARY KAY “MK” HARDWICKMary Kay spent her early years working in business and product development before moving into research for a series of early stage medical device and diagnostic companies. Her research registries were key to demonstrating technology impact and value that resulted in acquisitions equaling 1.5 billion dollars. In addition, she designed and launched the Radiosurgery Society (RSS) research registry which topped a record-breaking enrollment of 20,000 patients late in 2017. An active community volunteer, MK is an advocate for cancer patients and caregivers via a number of organizations.
PETER BEITSCH, MD
Science Director
BIO PETER BEITSCH, MDDr. Beitsch is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist and researcher. He holds several fellowships and is the former President of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
PAT WHITWORTH, MD
Education Director
BIO PAT WHITWORTH, MDA leading researcher, educator and cancer surgeon, Dr. Whitworth completed his fellowship at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is a principal Investigator for numerous NCI and industry clinical trials.
JUSTIN LO, MD
Pain Clinic Director
BIO JUSTIN LO, MDDr. Lo is a top Pain Management specialist whose practice is respected and recognized for leading the way in effective pain management. Formerly, Dr. Lo was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at University of California, San Francisco. Currently he owns and manages comprehensive multidisciplinary pain management clinics throughout the Bay Area, specializing in non-opiate pain management.
