Shauna Blanch
Growing up an ethical herbivore and conscious consumer, Shauna’s entrepreneurial spirit was fueled by her parents as they built their family business. Denver-based Shauna is the COO, co-owner, and co-founder of Color Up Therapeutics, a cruelty-free, all-natural CBD company. With seven years in the cannabis industry, Shauna is also a licensed massage therapist, certified reiki master, and yoga teacher.
Marrana James
Co-Owner
Marrana’s extensive 25-year journey in the wellness industry is marked by her profound understanding of wellness, and her innate ability to connect with people. Before joining our team in 2019, she practiced massage and esthetics in several well known spas, and spent several years as a skincare sales and education manager. Her role here transcends managing partnerships and education; she's a mentor and a guide, enriching our community with her wisdom and warmth. She has educated hundreds of students on both the endocannabinoid system and our line of cannabinoid infused products, and has been monumental in keeping us all dedicated to our wellness journey’s. Her yoga classes, massages, and reminders of self care, keep us all walking in the direction of our truth.
Amber White-Benzel
Co-Owner
Amber blends scientific rigor with a nurturing heart and creative mind. Her leadership in the lab is characterized by compassion, precision and a commitment to excellence through supportive feedback, patience, and open communication. With over 7 years of expertise in our manufacturing lab, her ability to remain composed and clear-headed is irreplaceable in our ever-changing industry. Blending science with creativity, she writes all of our manufacturing protocols, and she's the guardian of our product quality, ensuring every item we produce meets the highest standards. When she’s not making our products and overseeing our quality assurance checks, she’s keeping up with our inventory, ordering ingredients and packaging, and making sure our shelves are stocked for our wholesale accounts and private-label partnerships. Beyond her scientific prowess, Amber's artistic side shines through her music production, Reiki practice, and photography skills. She brings a holistic approach to the science behind our brand, and our community.
Brigitte Ownsby
Brigitte's belief in plant-medicine is not just a profession but a way of life. A devout believer in plant-medicine throughout her life, she infuses her passion into everything she does. Her positivity and contributions in the lab make her an invaluable and beloved member of our team. She has a green thumb, growing her own cannabis, mushrooms and other herbs to share with the community, and her homemade bread and baked treats are more than just food; they're expressions of the care and love she offers to our team every day. She is the embodiment of the nurturing spirit we stand for, and she never misses an opportunity to remind us all how fortunate we are to be doing this work. She’s Marrana’s mom, house momma to all of us, and a motherly reminder of how mother earth should be honored and cared for every day.
Ellen Blanch
Brigitte's belief in plant-medicine is not just a profession but a way of life. A devout believer in plant-medicine throughout her life, she infuses her passion into everything she does. Her positivity and contributions in the lab make her an invaluable and beloved member of our team. She has a green thumb, growing her own cannabis, mushrooms and other herbs to share with the community, and her homemade bread and baked treats are more than just food; they're expressions of the care and love she offers to our team every day. She is the embodiment of the nurturing spirit we stand for, and she never misses an opportunity to remind us all how fortunate we are to be doing this work. She’s Marrana’s mom, house momma to all of us, and a motherly reminder of how mother earth should be honored and cared for every day.
We Honor Every Hand that Built this House
We honor every hand that built this house—from two of the Color Up Therapeutics three co-founders who moved on in 2023, to the countless team members, practitioners, customers, students, educators, and entrepreneurs who launched their dreams within our walls. Every contribution, seen or unseen, was a brave step toward creating a more honest, caring, and loving world. It took a village to stand strong and to stay alive through the first decade of the cannabis revolution, and we wouldn't be here today without ours.
