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.
JR De Agostini
Chief Executive Officer
JR De Agostini leads our company’s operational execution as Chief Operating Officer, bringing a mission-driven mindset shaped by elite military leadership and global finance. As a former Navy SEAL team leader and J.P. Morgan investment banker, he integrates tactical precision, organizational discipline, and strategic foresight across all functions and operational layers. With an MBA from Stanford GSB and a BA from the University of Utah, JR ensures our systems, teams, and execution consistently deliver enterprise-wide performance, operational resilience, and scalable long-term growth.
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.
Jeff Miller
Vice President of Sales
Jeff Miller is a Senior executive and business development leader with 20+ years of experience driving market expansion and accelerating revenue growth across multiple CPG categories and channels of business. His expertise spans from building and leading high-impact sales teams, creating strategies, optimizing distribution networks, and fostering key partnerships with national and regional retail partners. With a keen understanding of consumer trends, Jeff consistently identifies opportunities to enhance brand presence and market penetration. His strategic approach to business development has resulted in substantial revenue increases for our botanical product lines.
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.
Latonya Howell, SHRM-CP
Vice President of HR
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.
Vallen Blackburn
Vice President of Accounting and Finance
Vallen Blackburn is a strategic financial executive with over 25 years of experience driving operational excellence and transformative growth. As Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Diversified Botanics, he leads financial strategy, planning, and performance management, aligning fiscal operations with the company’s broader business objectives. Vallen is known for his authentic leadership style, emphasizing empowerment, accountability, and clear communication.
Nikita Mangeris
Head of Capital Markets & Corporate Development
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.
Jordan Briggs
Senior Director of Operations
Jordan Briggs is a transformational supply chain executive with a proven track record of delivering multimillion-dollar savings through operational excellence, strategic sourcing, and logistics optimization. As a Lean champion and systems integrator, he has successfully implemented ERP and WMS solutions that streamline processes, reduce waste, and elevate performance across complex manufacturing and distribution environments. Jordan brings deep experience in scaling supply chains for high-growth wellness and CPG brands, aligning operational infrastructure with long-term business goals.
John M. Ramsay
Senior R&D Manager
John Ramsay is an experienced wellness executive and product innovator with a deep background in R&D, regulatory compliance, and go-to-market strategy across botanical supplements, hemp-derived products, and emerging health categories. As Senior R&D Manager at Diversified Botanics, he leads formulation and new product development, blending scientific rigor with market insight to deliver cutting-edge wellness solutions. John is passionate about plant medicine, functional ingredients, and building consumer trust through quality, transparency, and impact-driven innovation.
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.
