The Team

Nicholas King, Owner

Nicholas King

Biography for Nicholas King

Nick has a varied (some might say checkered) background, from high school dropout to teacher, photographer, inventor, business owner and writer.  He has been involved in many groundbreaking enterprises.  While a teacher in San Diego’s inner city schools, he created and pioneered curricula for the first law, psychology and anthropology classes to be offered at high schools in his district.  In the seventies and eighties he was part of a race relations team charged with facilitating the smooth desegregation of a major school system.

Nick left public education to pursue commercial and fine art photography.  He invented a product that created a new category in consumer products that is still in distribution today.  This led to his building a successful manufacturing business.  He sold that business in 2001 before moving to Colorado to resume fine art photography and write books.

A year and a half after his move to Colorado his wife was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  His experience with how cannabis helped his wife through those difficult years before her death in 2006 laid the foundation for his belief in the medicinal value of cannabis.  But it was not until 2009 that he learned that medicinal cannabis was legal under Colorado law.  His fiancé, a cancer survivor, also experienced the benefits of medical marijuana through her own ordeal.

As a result of those experiences, he and his fiancé decided to open Alpine Herbal Wellness, a medical marijuana center (MMC) located in Cherry Creek North.  In addition to providing high quality medicine to their patients, their mission is to educate patients and the public about the benefits medical cannabis can provide patients for many different conditions.  Subsequent to the opening, he was selected to represent small “mom & pop” MMCs in the Department of Revenue’s Advisory Committee to help shape the rules that would implement the medical marijuana act HB 1284.

A newcomer to the medical marijuana industry, Nick knew his understanding of the cultivation and medicinal aspects of the industry was limited at best.  Consequently he reached out to other small MMCs, manufacturers of infused products (MIPS), growers, caregivers and patients to gather information to use in the deliberations of the advisory committee and to share those deliberations with as many people in the industry as possible.  Out of that collaboration, the Association of Cannabis Trades for Colorado (ACT4CO) was born with Nick as its first president.

Sue Harank, Owner

Biography for Sue Harank

Sue started life in Massachusetts and moved to Arizona when she eight years old.  She was a very active kid and learned a lot about life in the tough lane with five older brothers.  Growing up with all brothers built a strong inner core for what was to come in life.  Sue’s greatest challenge to-date has been overcoming cancer, Lentigo Maligna, and has now been “clean” for over six years.  It was during this experience she learned of the medicinal benefits of cannabis.  When the opportunity to start Alpine Herbal Wellness arose, Sue jumped in with both feet, knowing she could offer a unique patient perspective and continue to expand her cannabis knowledge while educating patients and the general public.

An opportunistic entrepreneur since she was 10 years old, she has over 30 years of managerial and operational business experience in the manufacturing, service and now retail sectors. She is a professional life and business coach who is passionate about working with other female entrepreneurs to take their businesses to a higher level of success, including Alpine Herbal Wellness!

Sue has had the unique opportunity to be a woman pioneer in several arenas in her life.  At the age of 14, she was the first girl newspaper carrier in her hometown of Scottsdale, AZ.  As a carrier she was the first girl to earn the awards of, “Carrier of the Month and Carrier of the Year.” After joining the U.S. Navy at age 18, she became one of the first 40 enlisted women on-board a West coast ship in U.S. naval history.  Her pioneer spirit continues as she participates in creating this amazing new medical cannabis industry!

Sue loves to explore and discover the endless possibilities that exist in the world to add new riches to her life treasure chest. Sue published her first book, Communicate with Grace, in 2009 as a tribute to her parents and is looking forward to finishing the sequel.  When Sue is not expanding her horizons and interacting with patients and the general public at AHW, she enjoys writing, hiking, skiing, laughing with friends, traveling and meeting people from all walks of life.  She lives in Bailey, Colorado with her fiancé and their two dogs.

Juddith Del Real, Administrative Manager

Juddith Del Real

Biography for Juddith Del Real

Juddith, or as you might know her, Juddi, was born and raised in Southern California.  Though Colorado isn’t her native state, she’s grown to love Colorado and what it has to offer – beautiful scenery and great people.   As the administrative manager of Alpine Herbal Wellness, Juddi keeps busy with work and further efforts of getting involved in the medical marijuana industry; she loves to learn about everything around her, especially something she’s passionate about.  She’s not only passionate about the cannabis industry and its benefits, but carries a true passion for helping people.

California was a different life for Juddi; she wasn’t able to find her true self until she moved to Colorado.  Still, learning and experiencing new adventures is an everyday occurrence.  Moving to Colorado has brought success, great friends, lessons learned, and great memories had and to be had.  Colorado was the best decision she made for herself; she says it was one of the most difficult choices, but one of the best!

Always having a great work ethic to always work hard and set her standards and expectations high, Juddi was a perfect match for a position as an administrative manager of a wellness center that is changing the standards of the industry.  Referred by a good friend, she interviewed with Sue, one half of Alpine’s great owners, and decided this was exactly where she wanted to be, but better yet, she realized this was where she was meant to be.  Juddi was able to find her place in the world, a place where she can help people, and educate them on benefits of cannabis and other “Quality of Life Alternatives.”

Robb Lynch, Dispensary Manager

Robb Lynch

Biography for Robb Lynch

Born and raised in the suburbs of South Jersey, Robb grew up spending his time either at the Jersey Shore or in Philadelphia looking for fun!!

After high school, Robb attended Gloucester County College, where he earned his Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.
From there, he continued his education at Philadelphia University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with a track in International Business.

While attending college, he began a career with Staples back in 1999 which led to an 11 year relationship, and in turn, helped prepare him for his role as manager with Alpine.  While with Staples, approximately 7 years were spent in a management roles such as: Operations Manager, Sales Manager and General Manager Designate.

It has always been Robb’s dream to own and run his own business; and is pleased to have his previous management experience, as well as his knowledge with the Medical Marijuana Industry to have led him to where he is today.

One day he will be able to own and operate his own Wellness Center, but until that opportunity arrives, he has been given the opportunity to assist Alpine Herbal Wellness and couldn’t be happier!!

When not working at Alpine, Robb enjoys the outdoors for biking, skating, snowboarding, camping, hiking, and anything else that gets him out’a the house and having fun!!