Officers & Directors
Board of Directors
Fred NiehausChairman of the Board
Fred Niehaus is Managing Partner of Interactive Global Solutions, an international government relations/public affairs and business development firm that brings proven experience and successful advocacy to companies, sovereigns and organizations across the globe. His previous experience has included serving as a Global SVP for First Data Corporation and the Western Union Company from 2003 through 2011. In this capacity, Mr. Niehaus was responsible for developing and implementing strategies to reach various corporate constituencies – including legislators, policy makers, regulators, attorneys general, community groups and consumers – while shaping emerging global public policy issues and trends that impacted the company’s operations and reputation. In 1991, he founded and served as President and Managing Partner of InterMountain Corporate Affairs, a Colorado-based public affairs firm, serving as advisor to CEOs and key corporate staff of fortune companies across the United States. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Niehaus served as Colorado Governor Roy Romer’s Special Assistant for Economic Development and Director of OED.
Terry MendezCEO & Board Member
Terry Mendez has been the CEO of Safe Harbor Financial since February 2025. He has extensive experience in strategic planning and operational transformation within the information technology and cannabis industries. In his role as founder of Amos Advisory Solutions, Mr. Mendez served as the CEO of both single-state and multi-state cannabis operators successfully leading turnaround efforts. Terry began his career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen and Deloitte & Touche. Previously, he served as the vice president of Finance and global chief accounting officer for Hitachi Vantara, a subsidiary of Hitachi, overseeing 52 countries.
Sundie SeefriedIndependent Director
Sundie Seefried is the founder and former CEO of Safe Harbor Financial, a position she held from July 2021 through February 2025. Prior to joining SHF, Ms. Seefried served as the Chief Executive Officer of PCCU from 2001 until June 2021 and as the Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Legacy Services, LLC from January 2020 until March 2021. Ms. Seefried previously served as a board member of the Colorado Division of Financial Services from 2019 until 2021, and as a board member of the Credit Union Association from 2007 until 2015. Ms. Seefried received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland and her Master of Business Administration from Regis University, Colorado
Skip BraunIndependent Director
Francis A. (Skip) Braun III has served as a consultant to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. from July 2024 to July 2025, a senior advisor to Stout since April 2024, and as a member of CrossCountry Consulting’s advisory counsel since February 2024. Mr. Braun has also served as a director of Crown Bank in New Jersey since October 2024 and is the chairman of the bank’s audit committee. From December 2016 to July 2023, Mr. Braun served as a Partner at Grant Thornton LLP. Mr. Braun is considered a financial expert under the Sarbanes-Oxley rules and has 40 years of diversified experience serving public and private companies during his time in public accounting with Arthur Andersen LLP, Deloitte & Touche LLP and Grant Thornton LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Accounting from Rider University.
Richard CarletonIndependent Director
Richard Carleton has served as CEO of the Canadian Securities Exchange since July 2011. During his tenure, Mr. Carleton and the CSE team have positioned the exchange to play a leading role in the provision of public capital to entrepreneurial companies. Since 2014, the CSE has set a series of records for new listings, capital raised by issuers and trading turnover. An early advocate for the cannabis industry, the CSE is the global exchange leader in the sector. Recognized by the Financial Post Magazine as one of Canada’s “25 Cannabis Industry Power Players,” and a recipient of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp’s “Captain of Industry” Award in November 2018, Mr. Carleton is a frequent speaker on early-stage company finance issues around the world. In addition to his responsibilities with the CSE, Mr. Carleton is a director of two private companies: Tetra Trust Company, Canada’s first qualified custodian for cryptocurrency assets; and Blue Ocean ATS, LLC, a US broker dealer that operates an ATS providing after hours trading in US equities. He was also recently named to the Ontario Securities Commission’s “Market Structure Advisory Committee.” A member of the Law Society of Ontario since 1987, Mr. Carleton is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (B.A. ’81) and the University of Toronto (LL.B. ’85).