Who is spoke?
We are industry veterans with decades of experience in formulating complex pharmaceutical, personal care and food products.

Gregory F. Wesner, J.D.
CEO / Founder
Patent attorney and CEO with 20+ years experience in patent, trademark and IP litigation.
Bio
Greg began his legal career as a trial lawyer in Atlanta and was immediately drawn to cases involving science and technology. That led him to intellectual property law, and a focus on life sciences and pharmaceutical patent litigation.
Greg has represented major branded pharmaceutical companies, as well as startup life sciences and technology companies in federal district court litigation, on appeal to the Federal Circuit, and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings including arbitration in the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In addition to litigation, Greg has worked extensively with clients to develop intellectual property portfolio strategies to protect crucial IP assets at all phases of a company’s growth.
Greg’s experience and relationships in the pharmaceutical industry led him to found Receptor Life Sciences, a pharmaceutical company developing therapies for central nervous system disorders using FDA-approved drug-delivery technologies. Although he remains on the Board, Greg stepped down as CEO of Receptor at the end of 2020 to found Spoke Sciences, a consumer products company driven by science and dedicated to taking the plant derived functional ingredients industry to the next level. We bring proven, patented technologies – many of which were first deployed in pharma – to safely and effortlessly integrate plant derived ingredients across a wide range of food and beverage applications.
Greg lives in the Puget Sound with his wife and son, and enjoys being outdoors fly-fishing, skiing, gardening and bicycling all over the world.
Education
- J.D. from Vanderbilt University
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan
- Holds a degree-equivalent in Microbiology and a certificate in Drug Development from MIT xPro.
Publications
Greg’s writing and opinion on intellectual property issues has appeared in the World Trademark Review, ThomsonReuters, the Cannabis Law Journal, Business Week, the Puget Sound Business Journal, the King County Bar Bulletin, The Oregonian, and elsewhere.
Affliations
- Member – Washington State Bar Association
- Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Former Special Disciplinary Counsel to the Washington State Bar Association; prosecuted attorneys for ethics violations before the Bar Disciplinary Board
- United States Department of State, host on intellectual property issues for World Affairs Council Foreign Visitor Program
- Northwest Entrepreneur Network
- Washington State Patent Lawyers’ Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association

Kimberly Zubris, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Seasoned biomedical engineer and formulation development expert.
Bio
Kim started her career in highly regarded research programs at Cornell University, Lehigh University and the Penn State Hershey Medical School, where she honed her skills in biological engineering, tissue and cell culture development, and biomaterials. Her work at Penn State on polymeric coatings for reduction of platelet adhesion in pediatric artificial heart devices led to her decision to pursue her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. During her time at Boston University, Kim expanded her skillset to include polymer synthesis and characterization, nano- and micro-particle formulation, and pre-clinical efficacy studies, allowing her to successfully design products for the treatment of lung and breast cancers. In support of her work in encapsulation & drug delivery, she was awarded a National Institutes of Health Fellowship in Quantitative Biology and Physiology.
Kim then joined Particle Sciences, Inc. (PSI), starting in the New Technologies group focused on development of highly complex drug products. In the following years, she increased her scope and expertise directing the approaches to product design and scale-up within the Formulation Services team, in addition to overseeing the R&D labs. After acquisition of PSI by Lubrizol Life Sciences, Kim went on to lead the Formulation Development department as Senior Director, providing oversight of 75+ on-going formulation and drug device development and manufacturing programs. Through her time there, she shepherded programs from early phase research through pilot scale manufacturing, primarily in small molecule drug delivery for all routes of administration (including injectable, oral, topical, intra-nasal, implantable). Her primary areas of focus included increasing solubility and delivery of hydrophobic actives through solubility enhancement, leveraging excipient technologies and particle size reduction and control.
In the midst of developing her scientific resume, Kim became a highly decorated professional track (velodrome) cyclist, representing the US National Team at multiple World Cups and the World Championships in 2017 & 2018. Throughout her racing career, she earned national championship medals in the omnium, team pursuit, elimination race, points race, keirin, and team sprint. She was a national champion, and a Pan American Championship silver medalist, in the madison, in addition to being the world #1 ranked rider in the women’s madison in 2018. After achieving such athletic milestones, Kim also became involved in the sport’s governing body, becoming a certified coach and contributing to developmental and women’s specific track cycling programs.
Kim lives in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with them in the outdoors, cycling, hiking, and saltwater fishing
Education
- Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University
- M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University
Publications
- Patents Mitchnick MA, Zubris KA, Braker B. Implantable and Removable Drug Delivery Device. United States Patent Application 16/496,522.
- Draganoiu ES, Morgan BJ, Weaver DW, Shah SP, Wilson TJ, Grieco M, Randall CS, Zubris KA, Mitchnick MA, Miinea, LA. Drug-Polymer Amorphous Solid Dispersions Using Linear Poly(Acrylic Acid) Polymers. United States Patent Application 62/892,679.
- Publications Miles CE, Gwin C, Zubris KAV, Gormley A, Kohn J. Tyrosol derived poly(ester-arylate)s for sustained drug delivery from microparticles. ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2021;7(6):2580-2591.
- Zubris KA, Grinstaff MW, Colson YL. (2014). Nanoparticle therapy in lung cancer. In MS Loeb & KW Davis (Eds.), Adult Chest Surgery (pp. 1346-1349). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies.
- Zubris KAV, Liu R, Schulz MD, Colson YL, Grinstaff MW. In vitro activity of paclitaxel-loaded expansile nanoparticles in breast cancer cells. Biomacromolecules. 2013;14(6):2074-2082.
- Liu R, Gilmore DM, Zubris KAV, Xu X, Catalano PJ, Padera RF, Grinstaff MW, Colson YL. Prevention of nodal metastases in breast cancer following the lymphatic migration of paclitaxel-loaded expansile nanoparticles. Biomaterials. 2013;34(7):1810-1819.
- Zubris KAV, Colson YL, Grinstaff MW. Hydrogels as intracellular depots for drug delivery. Mol Pharm. 2012;9(1):196-200.
- Zubris KAV, Khullar OV, Griset AP, Gibbs-Strauss S, Frangioni JV, Colson YL, Grinstaff MW. Ease of synthesis, controllable sizes, and in vivo large animal lymph migration of polymeric nanoparticles. ChemMedChem. 2010;5(9)1435-1438.
Affliations
- Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
- USA Cycling Certified Coach, Level 2

Bradley J. Douglass, PhD
Chief Regulatory Officer | VP of Chemistry
Regulatory affairs and natural product chemistry expert.
Bio
Dr. Brad Douglass possesses over a decade of professional experience in the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, and cannabis industries. Prior to devoting his attention to the cannabis industry in 2013, he developed fine-chemical and active pharmaceutical ingredient applications using continuous flow reaction design before acting as an FDA Affairs consultant focused on the regulation of food, drugs, and dietary supplements.
Over the past decade, Dr. Douglass has served in a variety of roles related to cannabis and hemp including Scientific Director of a state-certified cannabis laboratory, Manufacturing Controls and Formulation Consultant, Director of Advanced Botanical Strategy, and VP of Regulatory Affairs.
Dr. Douglass is a tireless advocate for a utilitarian approach to botanical ingredient regulation who believes in the value of porting principles from existing regulatory frameworks, to help solve emerging challenges.
Brad lives in Black Diamond, WA near the blast radius of Mt. Rainier with his wife and two young children where he enjoys stacking-up books on his bedside table and honing his golf swing so it is in balance with the universe.
Education
- Doctorate in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Southern California.
- M.S. in Regulatory Science, University of Southern California.
- B.S. degree in Computer Science and Neuroscience, University of Southern California.
Publications
- Vandrey R, Raber JC, Raber ME, Douglass B, Miller C, Bonn-Miller MO. Cannabinoid Dose and Label Accuracy in Edible Medical Cannabis Products. JAMA. 2015;313(24):2491-2493. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6613.
- Douglass BJ, Clouatre DL. Beyond Yellow Curry: Assessing Commercial Curcumin Absorption Technologies. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2015;34(4):347-358. doi:10.1080/07315724.2014.950392.
- Douglass, Brad. Blackcurrants: The Forgotten Superfruit. Whole Foods Magazine. January 2009.
- Douglass, Brad. Synthetic Molecular Programming and Substrate-dependent Drug-discovery: From Multicomponent Reactions to Cyclic Peptides. Doctoral Dissertation. University of Southern California, 2006.
- Douglass, Brad. Turning Petrol Sniffing Right-Side-Up in Aurukun: Searching for the Causes and Making Plans for the Present and Future. Australian Parliament Publications, 1998.
Affliations
- The Cannabis Committee of the American Herbal Products Association,
- Scientific Advisory Committee for the National Cannabis Industry Association
- Washington state Hemp in Food task force
- Emerald Conference Science Committee
- American Chemical Society (ACS) Member

Michael Dorr
VP Consumer Products
Beverage and natural product expert.
Bio
Michael is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience leading operations, manufacturing, and sales in high growth settings. He is performance driven, achieving the highest levels of quality, supply chain excellence, and productivity.
Michael has a proven track record as a leader in hands-on operational and strategic brand management environments. He has led brands such as Tazo Tea, Kombucha Wonder Drink, Yummy Spoonfuls, Don't Go Nuts and many more.
Education
- Portland State University for Business and Real Estate Planning

Mark Mitchnick, M.D.
Executive Chairman
Physician and successful healthcare entrepreneur.
Bio
Mark founded his first company, sunSmart, Inc., in 1991 while still in his pediatric residency. The company produced the nano-zinc oxide sun protectant (via a toll manufacturer), trademarked as Z-COTE®, and sold it worldwide to pharmaceutical and personal care companies. Sunsmart was purchased by BASF in 1999.
In 2002 mark became the founding Chief Science Officer of International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), whose mission was to develop and bring to market a woman-controlled technology for the prevention of male to female transmission of HIV. That product, a vaginal ring containing an NNRTI, has been approved by the EMA and has already launched in several African nations.
In 2004, Mark founded Particle Sciences® (PSI) ,one of the leading formulation and cGMP production groups for complex drug products in the USA such as sterile products, highly potent compounds, nano-particulates and drug eluting devices. In 2015, PSI was acquired by Lubrizol, a Berkshire Hathaway company.
In 2018, became CEO of a nascent B2C tech company, Mindsciences (MS), a developer and marketer of evidenced based habit-change apps built on Dr. Judson Brewer’s work on the science of mindfulness. In the summer of 2020, MS was acquired by Sharecare.
Education
- B.Sc. in Animal Sciences from Purdue University.
- M.D. from Georgetown University Medical School.
- He was trained in Pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, is a licensed acupuncturist, and a graduate of the OPM program at the Harvard Business School (a non-degreed exec-ed program).
Publications
- David Kleinman, Jenni J. Hakkarainen, Anita Kirti Ghosh, Sean David Ogle, Kevin Sill, Brian A Mendelsohn, Mark Mitchnick, Simon Kaja; PLL-g-PEG inhibits antibody-drug conjugate uptake into human corneal epithelial cells in vitro.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(7):3239 – A0274.
- Lee, R. W., & Mitchnick, M. (2017). “Early-stage formulation considerations”. Current Protocols in Chemical Biology, 9, 306– 314. doi: 10.1002/cpch.32.
- Romano J., Variano B., Coplan P., Van Roey J., Douville K., Rosenberg Z., Temmerman M., Verstraelen H., Van Bortel L., Weyers S., Mitchnick M. “Safety and availability of dapivirine (TMC120) delivered from an intravaginal ring.” AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 25.5 (May 2009):483-8.
- Arias M., Loxley A., Van Roey G., Fairhurst D., Eatmon C., Wegmann F., Mitchnick M., Shattock R. “HIV-gp140 antigen-adsorbed wax nanoparticles induce strong in vivo systemic and mucosal humoral immune responses.” Poster Presentation (2008) AIDS Vaccine 2008, South Africa.
- Cain, Christopher D., Schroeder, Frank C., Shankel, Stewart W., Mitchnick, Mark, Schmertzler, Michael, Bricker, Neal S., Identification of xanthurenic acid 8-O-B glucoside and xanthurenic acid 8-O sulfate as human natriuretic hormones, 2007, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 17873-17878, 104 45
- Gasparro, F.P., Mitchnick, M. and Nash, J.F. (1998), A Review of Sunscreen Safety and Efficacy. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 68: 243-256. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.1998.tb09677.x

Andrea Leone-Bay
Board Member
Pharmaceutical development & delivery authority.
Bio
Andrea started her career as a synthetic organic chemist with a PhD from Texas A&M University. From there she spent one-year testing the academic waters as a lecturer at the University of Maryland and then moved on to a postdoctoral research position at The Ohio State University. Subsequently, Andrea made her initial foray into industry as a research chemist at Stauffer Chemical Company designing and making novel herbicidal compounds. But the pharmaceutical industry came calling and Andrea joined a small start-up, Emisphere Technologies, pursuing novel approaches to oral drug delivery. While there, Andrea invented an oral absorption enhancer called SNAC. It is the primary component of the Novo Nordisk diabetes blockbuster Rybelsus® oral tablet. Moving from oral drug delivery to inhalation drug delivery, Andrea joined Mannkind Corporation where she played a major role in the development and regulatory approval of Afrezza® inhaled insulin.
By this time, Andrea was an internationally recognized authority on drug delivery with extensive experience in drug development from inception to FDA approval. This experience led to an association with Greg Wesner and they co-founded Receptor Life Sciences where Andrea serves as Chief Scientific Officer. At Receptor, she’s developing an orally inhaled CBD for the treatment of acute anxiety.
Andrea lives in Connecticut with her husband and daughter. She is the President of the Board of Directors of ROAR (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) where she is also an animal care volunteer. Andrea will freely admit that she likes animals better than most people.
Education
- BA from Mount Holyoke College
- PhD from Texas A&M University
- National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at The Ohio State University
Publications
Andrea has two FDA-approved and currently marketed products to her credit. She is an inventor on 110 issued US patents and the author of 49 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Arthur Rubinfeld
Board Member
Former Global President of Starbucks and consumer products thought leader.

Mandy Lozano
Board Member
15+ year commercial CPG industry expert.

Andrew Loxley, PhD
Board Member
Nanotechnology expert with over 30 years experience covering a wide range of nanotechnology applications.

David Fairhurst, PhD
Board Member
Expert in the development and use of nuclear magnetic resonance equipment to analyze particle characteristics.

Mamhoud A. ElSohly, PhD
Board Member
Internationally renowned expert in cannabinoid chemistry.

Mark Eliasen, CPA
Board Member
Public company finance expert and former VP Finance and Treasurer of Alaska Airlines.

Tom Hawkins
Board Member
CEO Forté Ventures with more than 24 years of venture capital, entrepreneurial and operational experience.
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