The team that’s making all the difference.

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Ritz is a seasoned executive officer with extensive experience and knowledge of executive management, business development, and Board leadership and governance. She understands both the opportunity and the challenges associated with emerging companies, especially those broadly in the healthcare arena, as well as organizations seeking growth in new markets. She has proven her ability over the last 20 years to maximize shareholder value, minimize expenses, maximize revenue through a focus on key target markets, and improve operations through fiscal management, productivity improvements, and optimizing resources. Ms. Ritz is also recognized as a leader with the ability to be an effective communicator of key organizational concepts and goals to investors and to the public.

Prior to joining Province Brands, Ms. Ritz successfully co-founded and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Regenesis Biomedical, a company founded on a medical device technology. She lead the firm from proof of concept through product development and early regulatory approvals to revenue generation of $1M annually and a nationwide sales force. During her tenure, she raised $600,000 in philanthropic funds to support early technology research, and more than $15M USD in equity based financing. Since leaving Regenesis, Ms. Ritz served as interim C-level managers and business consultant for a variety of technology based companies.

Ms. Ritz obtained here Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from DePauw University, her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Minnesota, in Genetics and Cell Biology with a minor in Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and Post-Doctoral Education at The Johns Hopkins University.

Director of Operations & Formulations

Mr. Dafoe is the creative artist behind Province Brands’ novel brewed beverages, including the selection of plant material, yeast selection, the timing of the brewing process, and all other key elements of our proprietary recipes. In addition, he has led the formulation of the company’s two THC-infused sparkling ciders, the first to be presented to the Canadian adult beverage markets. Travis is a versatile member of the staff who has the skill sets necessary to contribute heavily to many operational and strategic planning issues that the company requires.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Ottawa in Chemical Engineering in 2015, Travis has been working full time in the brewing industry. He first gained experience propagating experimental yeast strains for Lallemand, one of the largest yeast manufacturers in the world. Since then, Travis served as an assistant brewer at a craft brewery start-up, and managed and operated a local microbrewery for almost 2 years before joining Province Brands.

Social Media & Marketing Manager

Lindsay spent 3 years studying a Bachelor of Fine Art in San Francisco, then moved on to study a BA in Fashion Merchandise in Denver, CO. in 2019 she dove into a Bachelor of Health Science leaving her with a well-rounded knowledge of marketing, graphic design, and the human body. This knowledge has given her the ability to market Province Brands in a unique and effective way.

Bioprocess Scientist

Dr. Das joined Province Brands in 2020 and has been a vital member of the scientific team dedicated to optimizing the technical bioprocesses and protocols related to the company’s core technology before its first manufacturing scale-up. As part of this goal, Dr. Das has led projects that involve designing and conducting extensive studies to improve organoleptic properties and evaluate and maximize the shelf-life stability of food-grade products in collaboration with service providers. In this role, Dr. Das also regularly performs chromatographic analysis and data interpretation of other analytical tests as the projects demand. Aside from this, Dr. Das also supports technical queries and due diligence questions from investors and strategic partners.

Dr. Das manages monthly production schedules for hemp sugar samples production for potential investment organizations and strategic partners to fulfill scheduled samples deliveries. She ensures the smooth operation of the company laboratory by calibrating instruments periodically, procuring new equipment, routinely troubleshooting production processes and experimental protocols, updating chemical inventory, scientific reporting, and complying with GLP regulatory standards. Finally, she is a crucial member of the corporate team that writes and submits research grants that support the company’s intellectual property and manufacturing goals.

Before joining Province Brands, Dr. Das worked at the University of Zurich investigating the effect of senescence in various cash crops, conducting symposia, and overseeing plant research in laboratory and field crop scenarios. Her passion for learning and travelling earned her a Bachelor of Science from the Manipal University, India, a Master of Science degree in Plant Genetics & Crop Improvement from the University of East Anglia and John Innes Center, UK, and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Bioprocess Scientist

Mr. Arora serves Province Brands’ efforts to scale up from laboratory research and development to pilot scale production and manufacturing of its first products, and continued development of proprietary claims related to efficient processes for sugar extraction from cellulose in selected biomass. Sachin brings 10 years of experience in product development, with extensive understanding of biochemical quality, experience in creating, reviewing and maintaining SOPs and optimizing process yield using different chemical and biochemical techniques, and developing different extraction strategies for cost effective production of high-value products from lignocellulosic plants. Sachin has also designed and commissioned research labs, and understands how to manage compliance with ISO 9000 Quality management systems and regulations.

Prior to joining Province Brands, Sachin gained valuable experience and broadened his expertise at Renmatix (Philadelphia, PA) where he served as a product development scientist and gained experience in process development and characterisation of cellulosic hydrolysis products.

Sachin earned a Bachelor of Biotechnology Engineering from the University Institute of Engineering & Technology in Panjab University, India, and later a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Corporate Counsel

Audit & Tax

Regulatory Affairs

Sales & Marketing

Manufacturing