Our Team

Rich Cardinal

Managing Director

The Man with the Plan

As Founding Partner and Managing Director of Next Big Crop, Rich Cardinal puts his passions for problem-solving and plant cultivation to good use for each and every client.

“My goal is to help everyone succeed through the inevitable growing pains that come with all components of cannabis, such as lowering production costs and leveraging state-of-the-art systems,” Rich says. “My take is that even if something seems status quo and people have been doing it for five years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best way to do it, so I love to take a step back and work with the team to brainstorm top ways to tackle it, and then collectively come up with the most creative approach for reaching the best possible outcome. It’s so rewarding to pop back into an operation that we were instrumental in launching and see everything working smoothly.”

Christian Phelps

Director of Business Development

The Efficiency Expert

Christian learned early on in his career that taking risks can sometimes lead to big payoffs, but the key is maintaining balance and striving for the greatest efficiency possible. “Understanding business dynamics is at the heart of what I’m trying to do,” Christian says. “My goal is always to squeeze as much juice out of whatever piece of fruit we’ve got, and just generally address our efficiency wherever possible, so that we can be the best versions of ourselves individually and as a company.”

Christian grew up in Upstate New York and moved to Colorado after graduating from Syracuse University. “My passion for the outdoors is what brought me here, and the relationships I have built since moving to Denver are keeping me from going anywhere else,” he says.

He started in business development, holding positions at a Staples subsidiary, Quill.com, before becoming a licensed Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he managed private assets for two years. In 2017, General Cannabis brought him aboard to assist the Finance Department with internal financial reporting, investor relations, SEC reporting, capital raises and IT infrastructure. Next Big Crop scored Christian in 2019 when he joined the team as the Director of Business Development, which will involve many of the skills he offered at General Cannabis, along with building out financial models for clients, centralizing the delivery of contracts and scopes of work, and more sales. “This is really interesting, because I love evaluating deals and increasing profit margins,” Christian says.

Christian approaches his personal life the same way, looking for places where he can increase his fun margin, too. He loves to cook and drink craft beer, and being outdoors is big on his priority list. He also enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and golf; and spends as much time with his fiancée and pup, Marley, as he can.

Clay Brier

Project Manager

The Glue That Holds It Together

With his combined analytical finance background, strong information technology skills and operations experience in nearly every aspect of cannabis — from cultivation and quality control to sales and marketing — Clay has become a master at converting our clients’ big-picture visions into manageable step-by-step pieces for seamless navigation through the ever-changing and rapidly expanding cannabis universe.

Clay joined Next Big Crop in 2015, on the heels of serving as the Director of Systems and Compliance for a 42,000-square-foot greenhouse, warehouse and associated dispensaries. His current role as Project Manager includes coordinating, implementing and monitoring NBC game plans, including managing budgets and allocating resources, along with writing (and winning) applications for every type of license, building cultivation facilities and dispensaries, training employees, implementing critical systems and standardizing processes nationwide. He draws frequently from his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from Western Connecticut State University, as well as a decade of experience in IT, operations, marketing and sales.

When he’s not waving his sorcerer’s wand around to magically bring order to the cannabis cosmos, Clay can be found mountain biking in the summer — his fave trail: the gnarly alpine joys of Moab’s Whole Enchilada, with its 35 miles and 6,000-foot elevation gain — or in the winter, skiing inbounds at Beaver Creek or in the backcountry making fresh tracks. “I moved to Colorado to be a ski bum and wound up falling in love with the cannabis industry, and it just snowballed from there,” he says. “There’s no question that I’m living the dream.”

Aaron Mullins

Systems Coordinator

The Systems Sorcerer

When Next Big Crop clients have an idea of what they want but don’t know how to get it out of their heads and into a workable operation, it’s time for them to meet Systems Coordinator Aaron Mullins.

“Basically, I make all of the stuff talk to each other and play nice,” Aaron, who is a certified electrical journeyman, says. “There are a hundred different ways that can happen, and so it’s my job to figure out which way will work best for this set of conditions and circumstances, and then be the systems integrator to get them all working together.”

Over his 14 years of electrical and automation systems work, Aaron has been responsible for the successful maintenance, installation and repair of motors, equipment and control systems in businesses, factories, warehouses and government buildings. It’s his teaching background as a journeyman educator, though, that makes it so easy for him to break down the complex structures so that everyone can understand them. Since Aaron joined the Next Big Crop team in 2016, he’s been instrumental in designing and installing facilities from 10,000 to more than 200,000 square feet.

When he isn’t maximizing efficiency and production, Aaron — who’s originally from Gillette, Wyoming, but now calls Denver home — can be found jumping out of airplanes or off the top of a hotel on an Acapulco beach. Naturally. “I moved to Colorado in 2009, and it was just so beautiful, I had to stay,” he says. “But I always say that I like to play with parachutes, and I like to travel, and so when I get to combine those two things, it’s pretty cool.”

Brendan Bartolo

Construction Project Manager

Build It Like a Boss

With more than 20 years of experience in the major markets of Colorado and California, Brendan Bartolo’s proficiency as Construction Project Manager is critical to NBC’s mission of designing and producing exceptional cannabis facilities. His client-based approach elevates our offerings, as he emphasizes the evaluation of each project individually before tailoring a high-quality commissioning plan to meet its particular needs.

Before joining the team, Brendan’s most recent role was as Director of Quality at Dynalectric Colorado; he also has served as Project Manager, Quality Control Manager and Design Engineer. Brendan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and construction management from the University of Colorado, but he has had his sights set on further certification — he is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP) for Building Design and Construction, as well as being certified in Lean-Six Sigma Theory and Practice from the University of Michigan, and he acquired a Quality Control Manager certification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is a Denver Chapter board member for the American Society for Quality and a Lean Construction Committee Board Member for the Associated General Contractors of America, in addition to serving as a Construction Quality Executive Council (CQEC) Member.

“I really like being able to apply creative and strategic methodologies to the unique requirements of the highly regulated cannabis industry,” Brendan says. “Each project brings its own particular challenges, and my goal is to address each one with the best possible approach so that we can construct remarkable, service-oriented structures that will bring our clients the utmost success.”

Throughout his career, Brendan has been a part of many successful and landmark endeavors that, combined with his educational accolades, have provided him with firsthand experience in structural and hydraulic design, as well as extensive field experience in a variety of construction projects. His comprehensive roster of specialties includes Structural Design and Analysis, Construction Management, Planning, Scheduling, Lean Construction Planning, Quality Control, Commissioning, Project Safety, Estimating, Contract Negotiation, LEED/Sustainable Building, Project Start-Up and Closeout, and Issue Resolution.

Much like his colleagues at NBC, Brendan uses his time outside of construction management to escape to the mountains as often as possible with his family, whether it be to hike, ski or enjoy some peaceful fishing.

Ann Stinn

Compliance Manager

The Cannabis "Sherpa"

Even though Ann Stinn doesn’t have a lot of direct contact with the people who ultimately benefit from her work, she says her favorite part of being a Compliance Manager is knowing what a significant impact what she does has on everyone involved with a cannabis operation, from patients and caregivers to owners and employees. “I feel like the fact that I have their health and safety at the forefront of my mind helps me to prioritize where I’m going,” Ann says. “I might be twice-removed from personal interaction, but knowing that I’m helping in some way from afar is so important to me.”

As an expert in ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, Ann specializes in auditing, lean manufacturing, six sigma analysis, and other quality system tools used to accelerate growth and performance excellence within an organization. Originally from Minneapolis, Ann moved to Denver in 1997 and worked as a manufacturing engineer learning AutoCAD, machine programming and QC inspection to tight protocols.

Ann’s experience also includes over 10 years as an ISO Management Representative in the heavily regulated medical device manufacturing industry, which only served to reinforce her understanding of the critical components of compliance. Ann entered the cannabis industry in 2016, to provide compliance management and consulting services to dispensaries and infused-product manufacturers. After joining Next Big Crop in 2018, Ann has since been instrumental in the development and maintenance of quality assurance systems helping the cannabis industry to thrive on a global scale. Ann is a member of the ASTM Cannabis Standards work group, Colorado MED Rulemaking workgroups, and a participant on the BSI Cannabis Industry Roundtable.

Life isn’t just about the regulatory dance, though, and so Ann, who has been playing piano since she was 9 years old, kicks back by playing bass regularly in a rock band. “I’ve played everything from punk to whatever,” she says. “It’s so rewarding, because it’s for the person playing, and it’s also for anyone who cares to listen.”

Buddy Wayne

Dispensary Superintendent

The Diplomat

When our Clients need expert advice, guidance through complex legal issues or simply someone with whom to bounce ideas around, they turn to Buddy Wayne, whose ability to minimize conflict and harmonize diverging interests to forge a new and better path forward has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a mediator and negotiator.

Buddy joined the Next Big Crop team in early 2019 as Dispensary Superintendent, drawing on his 25 years of experience in management, finance, regulatory compliance and human resources. Since 2014, he has served as CFO/Controller for cannabis businesses, as well as successfully opening vertically integrated retail and cultivation facilities around the country, including doubling the revenues of a multi-license dispensary/cultivation in a six-month turnaround. During more recent launches of dispensaries in rural Arkansas, Buddy’s leadership produced over $1 million in revenue during the first month. He is adept at compliancy-driven training of staff, from budtenders to managers, and has established proven methods for enhancing communication between owners and employees in new and established facilities.

While earning his bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Buddy began selling real estate, and was the youngest broker in Colorado at the time, at age 22. In addition, he received his Juris Doctor/master’s in Business Administration from the University of La Verne in Southern California. Over the past several decades, he has been involved in real estate, mortgage and banking endeavors as an owner and a consultant.

“I’m a bit of a serial entrepreneur,” Buddy says. “The thing I really love about the cannabis business is the challenge of learning something new. There’s so much potential in this fledgling industry, and significant growth is simply a matter of being open to innovation and implementing sound and compliant practices.”

A former ski instructor in Aspen, Colo., Buddy — who grew up in the suburbs of Boston, Mass. — still spends his leisure time skiing, as well as playing tournament-level tennis. “One of my goals is to play and win in the over-90s USTA Championship,” he reveals. “It’s very high on my long-term bucket list.”

Tyler Loeffler

Lead Designer

Tyler the Creator

Colorado native Tyler Loeffler, a former Firefighter 1/EMT, leverages his problem-solving abilities and effective communication skills to succeed at his current position, Lead Designer, continuing his commitment to excellence and passion for helping others. “I still put out fires, they’re just a different kind,” Tyler says.

After Tyler left the world of rescue nearly five years ago, he became an architectural surveyor, creating as-built drawings using computer-aided drafting (CAD). Prior to joining Next Big Crop in 2017, he created full-scale as-builts for mall retail, warehouses, grocery stores, and residential. His past experiences have given him deep insights into ways to help clients consider any opportunities and limitations related to design on existing and new construction. “There are a lot of moving parts that a client may not necessarily think about, and that’s why I’m here,” Tyler says.

At Next Big Crop, Tyler is responsible for all design and build projects, as well as the allocation of project resources, coordination of drawings, scheduling, tracking, and leading quality assurance efforts, and he now uses Auto CAD and Revit to produce architectural, MEP, site, and fixture plans.

The ability to perform in fast-paced and complex environments comes in handy during Tyler’s days off, when he typically heads toward a BASE jumping site, near or far. “I was first introduced to BASE jumping when I was 18 and became quickly absorbed. Shortly after, I learned that skydiving was a prerequisite and began pursuing that goal,” Tyler says. “One of my favorite sites is Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.”

Justin Itzkowitz

Lead Designer

Mr. Multi-Dimensional

After a few experiences with 3D printing in college, Justin Itzkowitz was hooked. “In my freshman year, I did a project that involved printing 3D rockets, and that really sparked an interest in all things 3D,” Justin says. “Later, I also got to be involved in this amazing project designing 3D prosthetic hands for MIT’s FabLab, and that kind of sealed it.”

After moving to Colorado from Boston in 2017 (he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Union College), Justin joined Next Big Crop in 2017, and using Solidworks and AutoCAD, he has since brought to life hundreds of thousands of square feet of cannabis cultivation, dispensary and manufacturing facilities. His primary focus is system design, which means things like working up facility and equipment specs, creating irrigation systems, and coordinating with clients’ engineers and architects throughout the process to ensure that all of the details and requests from clients have been relayed and implemented in the final design.

Unlike the typical cliché of an introverted engineer, though, Justin says he really welcomes the human interaction of his work. “The things I enjoy here include dealing with our clients, who are all so different and have different needs and viewpoints,” Justin says. “I also like coordinating with vendors, establishing those relationships and making the right call on a good fit with the client. For me, the most important thing here is, what does the client want, and how can I make that happen?”

Like quite a few of his Next Big Crop co-workers, Justin loves to skydive, and hopes to do more of it. “I’ve gone a few times, and it’s just incredible,” says Justin, who grew up skiing Vail at his grandfather’s place. “The main reason I moved to Colorado was for the skiing, but then I discovered this great skydiving community here, including all of these great people in the office who spend their weekends out there.”

Jarret Ricci

Cultivation Consultant

"Let him in, He's with the Band"

Very little in Jarret Ricci’s past predicted his future results as a top-tier cultivation expert, but he thinks the intriguing disparity of his experiences has been instrumental in his success. “The work of running a cultivation is not usually what people expect,” Jarret says. “There’s so much thinking involved. You need to have a clear plan or a well-thought-out philosophy of why you’re doing this, and you need to be able to look as far down the road as possible to account for anything and everything.”

The Philadelphia native earned his first Bachelor of Science degree, in History, from Ohio’s Wittenberg University. While studying at Wittenberg, he spent a year in Thailand teaching English at local schools. After graduating, Jarret moved to L.A. for a brief time; he had planned on moving back to Philly, but on the trip back home he stopped in Denver and never left. Jarret earned a second BS in Education from Denver’s Metro State University and began teaching social studies.

But after teaching, a chance introduction to growing cannabis led him to spending four years working for Way to Grow, designing grow rooms, writing nutrient recipes, creating integrated pest management programs, and managing several large accounts.

Since Jarret joined Next Big Crop in January 2017 as a Cultivation Consultant, he has been in an integral support role for each of Next Big Crop’s clients, working directly with them to create the cultivation of their dreams. “It’s like building a race car,” he explains. “Everything has a function; nothing is extra or there just to be shiny. Each element needs to be performance-based and there for a reason, and then once you get going, you need to try to look as far down the road as possible.”

Considering the analogy, it’s no shocker that Jarret works on race cars in his off hours, along with racing them and riding dirt bikes, and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. “I have this 1971 TVR that’s one of only 273 made, and I’ve had it since I was 17. I will never sell it; I built it with my Dad,” Jarret says. “I’m putting a new racing motor in it, and then I’m going to try and scare myself. It’ll be interesting, for sure, to see how it goes.”

Daniel Press

Project Manager

The Guru of Goal Achievement

To say that Daniel Press brings a versatile background of expertise to NBC is a vast understatement — his career has been richly layered with marketing and project management experiences that have helped to propel his clients to the highest levels of visibility and consumer confidence.

Daniel’s career initially launched, however, from a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Miami University, and this deep foundational understanding of people, combined with his work as a life coach and fitness trainer, as well as extensive marketing and management experience, has made Daniel the guy when it comes to directing multilayered and complex projects. “Our clients place their dreams in our hands, and I treasure being part of a team where every member is driven and determined to do everything that they possibly can within their realm of expertise to realize those dreams,” he says.

Daniel is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP, ATx5) with more than 15 years of crushing it. After absorbing what he could about the human psyche and divining exceptional motivational tools, he excelled in the marketing field before turning his focus toward senior project management, creating and implementing detailed project road maps, schedules and work breakdown structures, defining the processes and tools best suited to each project and mitigating risk factors through careful analysis of financial and statistical data. This was followed by six years with a top firm in Boulder, Colorado, where he re-established a project management team to execute high-profile organizational and client projects.

His strengths are multifaceted, with an emphasis on team performance specialization, communication expertise, and driving systemic and cultural paradigm shifts. Focusing on innovative strategies that infuse traditional management methodologies with behavioral science training and real-world lessons, Daniel brings that special something to NBC, elevating its mission and contributing to the continuing evolution of the cannabis industry. “There is a quote by Emerson that says, ‘To leave the world a bit better … this is to have succeeded,’ Daniel explains. “My role gives me the rare opportunity to leave the world a bit better by helping clients start their dispensary, cultivation or manufacturing business, which enables people to receive the life-changing products our clients offer.”

When he’s not pursuing efficient solutions and driving cultural change, Daniel enjoys landscape photography, whitewater kayaking and backpacking, but he points out that “the most rewarding pursuit I have had was the privilege of providing obedience training to animal shelter dogs to help them become more adoptable.”

Jon Jirikovec

Cultivation Superintendent

Mr. Make It Happen

Jon Jirikovec started out in business — he has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University — but once he became involved in the alternative medicine industry, he knew he’d found his calling. “What I like about this is that it’s completely different from a normal desk job,” Jon says. “It’s also really cool being in a new, emergent industry. I love being a part of changing the stigma around it and helping people realize the health benefits.”

Jon grew up in Nashville, but a move to Denver in 2011 sparked an interest in cannabis cultivation, particularly in the areas of research, sustainability and wellness. In 2013, he became the Lead Grower for Doctor’s Orders, then for Sweet Leaf in 2014-15, followed by time as a Head Grower for the Native Roots brand starting in 2016. It was there that his leadership role and successes in cultivation became undeniably strong, and he joined the Next Big Crop team in 2018. “I worked in restaurants when I first got here, but I started meeting people who were working cannabis and were really excited about the opportunities and potential,” Jon says. “I became fascinated with large-scale production and best practices, and how to create models to minimize labor and maximize output.”

Jon also sees the rewards of spending time outdoors, with snowboarding and doing pretty much anything in the mountains topping his list of favorites, although he heads to the beach on vacation when he wants some time to reset — Bali and Southeast Asia are at the top of his bucket list right now. “There just has to be water,” he says. “I really love going to Mexico or anywhere on the coast.”

Ross Brier

Marketing Manager

The Graphics Genius

Ross Brier takes the title of Graphics Genius very seriously, especially as he’s applied his creative and inventive talents toward helping to craft the visual narratives of the evolving cannabis industry over the past several years. “I’m driven by the opportunity to help shape an industry and the passion to share the hard work of a team whose goals are to share their knowledge and create world-class facilities for this new market,” he says, and as NBC’s Marketing Manager, he has embraced this challenge head-on.

His roles include presenting and enhancing the company’s identity and credibility through all channels — including online, advertising and social media — as well as coordinating trade shows and speaking engagements. He also assists the sales team and other team members in telling the company’s story and sharing the team’s passion for the industry.

Though the industry is still in its early days, Ross spent many years developing an expertise in graphic design and marketing to help put the company’s best face forward. After getting his bachelor of arts degree in graphic design at Keene State College in New Hampshire, Ross went on to fulfill various design and art direction roles for such companies as Bentgate Mountaineering and Golden Bike Shop, where he coordinated print ads for major magazines, and also designed and implemented email marketing campaigns; coordinated video production and photography efforts; and organized and executed special events. He also spent several years producing marketing collateral with in-house design teams for such top companies as Prudential Retirement, Travelers Insurance Group and Cycling Sports Group.

For Ross, these foundational skills and the cannabis industry have blended seamlessly. “I like the challenge of telling a story that hasn’t been told yet,” he explains. “Helping to create the tale of the cannabis industry drives me to push my skills and show the world what this industry can do.”

When he takes a break from the fast-paced hustle of the industry, Ross pursues camping, mountain biking, snowboarding and rock climbing, as well as spending quality time bonding with family and friends.

Blaine Vajda

Sales Executive

The Positive Energizer

With an extensive background in sales starting nearly 25 years ago and concentrated largely in the software industry, Blaine Vajda has been able to hone his guiding principles into creating and developing business relationships that drive revenue goals. One of Blaine’s, primary tenant’s is the idea that “you are your brand” and serves as a central focus of his client-oriented philosophy. But it also involves far more than simple surface-level development. “I wholeheartedly believe that it’s essential to maintain brand values continuously and focus on being a team player in order to fully deliver value to our clients,” Blaine says. “I’m very much a positive energy person, and I thrive when I’m contributing to goals and objectives, leveraging a talented team and delivering a successful product!”

Blaine’s career began in Washington, D.C., as an inside sales representative before he went on to fill various account and sales executive roles. His most recent work with Iron Protection Group as a Sales Executive made him a great fit as Sales Executive for NBC, as well, where his primary role is in business development, particularly in emerging markets such as Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The benefits of cannabis have always hit home for Blaine, who on a macro level values cannabis over pharmaceuticals on a case-by-case basis; on a personal level, he has experienced substantial relief in his challenges with anxiety. This forms the foundation of his branding ideology, which he translates into real-world strategies for NBC’s clients. “Delivering a superior product and service combined with honesty and integrity are paramount to my ‘why’ and to being able to believe in the products and services that I sell,” Blaine says.

To perfect his own work-life balance, Blaine tries to take full advantage of the abundance of outdoors activities that Colorado has to offer. Skiing, hiking and yoga are among his favorites – his downhill prowess on the slopes has earned him the nickname “Blaine Vonn” from his envious friends – not to mention his preference for riding a one-wheeled hoverboard, and he says that all of these endeavors are even better if he gets to do them with family and friends.

Kyle Wagner

Senior Content Editor

The Word Whisperer

From license applications and blog content to marketing materials and business plans, Senior Content Editor Kyle Wagner values the powerful ability of words to successfully convey NBC clients’ dreams and desirability as cannabis business operators.

After putting herself through journalism school in her hometown of Pittsburgh by cooking in restaurants, the diehard Steelers fan wrote for and edited news, sports and health sections for a variety of publications around the country until her move to Colorado in 1993, when she was hired as restaurant critic for Westword for 9 years, followed by 12 years as The Denver Post restaurant critic, fitness editor and travel editor, during which time she won multiple journalism awards, including from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Colorado Press Association, as well as a James Beard Foundation award in 2006. Additionally, she produced content for the Post’s online outlet The Cannabist, the first cannabis-focused publication from a major daily newspaper. After leaving the Post in 2014, Kyle trained as a grower, budtender and packager, and used that knowledge in 2017 to serve as head grower for a 22-acre high-CBD hemp farm she co-founded in Sherwood, Oregon, in the heart of the Willamette Valley. She also joined NBC that year to assist with application-writing in more than a dozen states.

“As a two-time cancer survivor since 2005, I’d had early experience with cannabis as a patient, when it was the only thing that could address my nausea and extreme weight loss during chemotherapy,” says Kyle. “I’m a big proponent of furthering peer-reviewed clinical trials that could help an ever-widening range of people who suffer needlessly, and that inspires my writing for Next Big Crop on a daily basis.”

Kyle – who fosters rescued dogs and takes care of her own two when she’s not traveling – continues to freelance as a food and travel writer/editor, with work appearing in local and national publications; she runs writing retreats and workshops around the globe throughout the year and has been the lead writer/editor for the Fodor’s Guide to Colorado for nearly two decades. She’s never met a Western river or mountain bike ride that she didn’t love – including the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race that she’s attempting this year for the fifth time – but she says that her two adult daughters are her greatest achievements.

Rich Cardinal

Christian Phelps

Clay Brier

Aaron Mullins

Brendan Bartolo

Ann Stinn

Buddy Wayne

Tyler Loeffler

Justin Itzkowitz

Jarret Ricci

Daniel Press

Jon Jirikovec

Ross Brier

Blaine Vajda

Kyle Wagner

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Rich Cardinal

Christian Phelps

Clay Brier

Aaron Mullins

Brendan Bartolo

Ann Stinn

Buddy Wayne

Tyler Loeffler

Justin Itzkowitz

Jarret Ricci

Daniel Press

Jon Jirikovec

Ross Brier

Blaine Vajda

Kyle Wagner