Our
Leadership Team
Ryan Niddel
Chief Executive Officer
Ryan Niddel is the visionary leader at Diversified Botanics, steering our company with strategic foresight and operational excellence. His innovative approach has been instrumental in driving growth across our portfolio, including our flagship brand, MIT45. With a profound understanding of industry trends and consumer needs, Ryan consistently identifies opportunities for advancement and product innovation. Ryan’s dedication to excellence and his keen understanding of market dynamics continually set new benchmarks for quality and performance while ensuring that every brand under our umbrella maintains its distinct market position and value proposition.
Clay Hebert
Chief Marketing Officer
Clay Hebert is a marketing and brand strategist, speaker and storyteller. He loves words and he believes we make marketing harder than it needs to be. For a decade, Clay led teams at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm, solving complex problems for global Fortune 500 healthcare companies. He attend one of the most selective MBA programs in the world and was one of only nine people to learn directly from marketing expert Seth Godin for six months. Clay’s work has been profiled in the books Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss, Entrepreneurial You by Dorie Clark, and Deep Work by Cal Newport. Forbes called him “one of the next generation of business and media influencers” and he was recently named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs…along with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.
Nikita Mangeris
Chief Strategy Officer
Nikita Mangeris is a seasoned brand strategist and marketing leader with a strong track record of launching and scaling consumer wellness brands across competitive markets. With deep expertise in omnichannel growth, influencer partnerships, and experiential marketing, she drives impactful storytelling and customer engagement strategies that resonate across both DTC and retail. Nikita brings a unique blend of creativity and operational insight, helping visionary wellness products achieve lasting market presence and cultural relevance.
Latonya Howell, SHRM-CP
Chief Human Resources Officer
Latonya Howell, SHRM-CP, is a seasoned HR executive with more than 15 years of expertise in shaping inclusive workplace cultures and driving strategic people initiatives. As Vice President of Human Resources at Diversified Botanics she leads comprehensive HR strategies, including talent development, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and executive coaching. Latonya is deeply committed to fostering environments where employees feel valued, empowered, and supported in their growth. Recognized for her influential leadership, Latonya advocates passionately for equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace.
James Hemmings
General Counsel
James Hemmings provides indispensable legal expertise that underpins our strategic initiatives and regulatory compliance. His thorough understanding of the legal landscape supports our growth and protects the integrity of our business practices. With extensive experience in botanical product regulations and international trade requirements, James navigates complex legal frameworks with precision and foresight. James’s guidance ensures that our operations remain ethical, sustainable, and in line with industry standards while facilitating smooth market entry for our innovative product lines. His proactive approach to legal risk management has been crucial in establishing our reputation as a trusted leader in the botanical products industry.
Pete Hoelscher
Head of Business Operations
Pete is an operations executive who excels where vision meets execution. A data-driven problem solver with the heart of a coach, Pete has scaled businesses, transformed teams, and restored failing organizations. His background in Lean, EOS, Scaling Up, and lived experience helps organizations quickly get clarity, alignment and results. As Head of Business Operations at Diversified Botanics, he’s focused on implementing systems and processes across the full business spectrum that will support rapid growth.
Brian Anderson
Vice President of Operations
Brian Anderson is the cornerstone of operational excellence at Diversified Botanics. With decades of experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and production management, he leads our Operations Department with unwavering commitment to precision. His background spans botanical testing methodologies, certification standards, and large-scale manufacturing practices, making him an indispensable leader in both quality and production. Brian ensures that every ingredient and finished product passes through our rigorous multi-stage quality control process, while also overseeing production operations and maintenance programs. His leadership safeguards the integrity of our processes and the exceptional quality our customers expect from our brands.
Corey Helper
Vice President of Sales & Commercial Strategy
Corey Helper is the driving force behind commercial growth and revenue strategy at Diversified Botanics. With extensive experience in sales leadership, market development, and commercial execution, he leads the company’s sales and strategic initiatives with disciplined focus and accountability. Corey’s background spans building high-performing sales organizations, developing go-to-market strategies, and aligning commercial efforts with long-term business objectives. He works closely with executive leadership to identify growth opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and expand market presence. Corey ensures that sales strategy, pricing, and execution are tightly aligned to deliver consistent, sustainable results. His leadership reinforces a culture of integrity, performance, and strategic clarity that supports the company’s continued grow
Stephen Ryan
Senior R&D Manager
Stephen Ryan is a seasoned product development leader with nearly a decade of experience in the botanical supplements industry. He brings deep expertise in formulation, extraction, and product development across delivery formats including topicals, consumables, tinctures, and beverages. At Diversified Botanics, he leads new product development and process innovation while also contributing to brand strategy, packaging, and user experience.
Founders
Visionaries Shawn Brady and Dalton Locke, the founders of Diversified Botanics, continue to serve as Board Members. Their pioneering spirit and strategic insights have been the cornerstone of our innovation and success since 2012, inspiring our leadership and guiding our long-term vision.
Together, our executive team brings unparalleled expertise, passion, and dedication to advancing the mission of Diversified Botanics—redefining botanical wellness through cutting-edge innovation and uncompromising quality.
Shawn Brady
Strategic operator and growth leader with a proven track record of scaling brands across wellness, CPG, and disruptive markets. Skilled in building high-performance teams, unlocking new revenue channels, and driving operational excellence with precision, speed, and purpose.
Dalton Locke
Entrepreneurial leader and creative strategist with deep experience in brand building, go-to-market execution, and omnichannel growth. Passionate about launching category-defining products, scaling bold ideas, and driving cultural impact through design and innovation.
