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.
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).
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.
Tyler KlimasPrincipal & Founder, Leaf Street Strategies
Tyler Klimas is the founder of Leaf Street Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting and regulatory affairs firm specializing in cannabis and hemp policy, regulatory strategy, and market development. Prior to this, Mr. Klimas served as the first Executive Director of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board, where he designed and led the agency responsible for regulating Nevada's billion-dollar medical and adult-use cannabis markets. Mr. Klimas is a co-founder and former President of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), a nonprofit comprising cannabis regulators from more than 45 U.S. states and territories, Canada and the Netherlands, and previously served as Nevada's chief federal lobbyist under Governors Brian Sandoval and Steve Sisolak.
Sean TonnerManaging Partner at Fulcrum Group
Mr. Tonner, age 55, has served as a partner at Fulcrum Group since December 2017 and is a seasoned strategic communications and public affairs leader. He has advised governments and corporations globally and served in senior staff roles for Presidents, Prime Ministers and Governors. His experience includes high-profile political campaigns, global reputation management for major brands and leadership roles across Colorado business and civic organizations. He is also a U.S. Army veteran and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor during Desert Storm. Mr. Tonner earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the Metropolitan State University of Denver.