Why Würk

Deborah Saneman

Chief Executive Officer

Deborah Saneman is the Chief Executive Officer at Würk, the leading Human Capital Management (HCM) platform tailored for the cannabis industry. With over 25 years of experience in business operations, payroll, compliance, and strategic leadership, Deborah is passionate about building efficient, people-first organizations. She thrives on working alongside teams to identify challenges, implement solutions, and drive meaningful change.

Before being appointed CEO, Deborah served as Chief Operating Officer at Würk, where she played a pivotal role in scaling operations, strengthening internal processes, and ensuring cannabis businesses had access to workforce management solutions that prioritize compliance and efficiency. Since joining Würk, she has been deeply focused on enhancing product development, ensuring that the company’s technology and services continue to evolve to meet the unique needs of the cannabis industry. Her leadership has been instrumental in helping the company navigate the complexities of the highly regulated cannabis space, while delivering tailored HR solutions that empower businesses to succeed.

Prior to Würk, Deborah spent 27 years at Kelly Benefits Payroll (formerly known as Kelly & Associates Insurance Group, Inc.), where she rose through the ranks to become Chief Operating Officer, a role she held for over 15 years. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and past President of the Independent Payroll Providers Association, she also chaired the Business Excellence Conference in 2020, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing best practices in payroll and human capital management.

Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Salisbury University and a Health and Life Insurance license. As CEO of Würk, she remains dedicated to creating a positive, ethical, and forward-thinking workplace while expanding the company’s ability to support cannabis businesses with compliant, industry-specific HR solutions. Under her leadership, Würk continues to grow, evolve, and champion the needs of cannabis employers, ensuring they can navigate challenges with confidence and focus on building thriving businesses.

Outside of work, Deborah has been married for 30 years and has three children.

Dan Obendorfer

Director of Product

Dan Obendorfer is the Director of Product at Würk, where he leads product strategy and innovation to support businesses in highly regulated industries. With over two decades of experience in product management, business intelligence, and data-driven solutions, Dan has a proven track record of delivering impactful technology products.

Jillian DeHerrera

Director of Sales

Jillian DeHerrera is the Director of Sales at Würk, a leading human capital management platform tailored for the cannabis industry. Based in Denver, Colorado, she brings a dynamic blend of sales leadership, industry-specific expertise, and a passion for workforce solutions that empower cannabis businesses to thrive.

Jillian joined Würk in 2019 and has since held roles including Mid-Market Account Executive, Sales Manager, and Senior Sales Manager before stepping into her current leadership position. In her role, she oversees sales strategy and team development, focusing on delivering comprehensive solutions—from applicant tracking and onboarding to payroll and compliance—that support cannabis companies from hire to retire.

She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a focus on Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Jillian is known for her collaborative leadership style and commitment to fostering team cohesion.

With a strong track record in enterprise SaaS sales and a deep understanding of the cannabis sector’s unique challenges, Jillian continues to drive growth and innovation at Würk, helping clients navigate the complexities of workforce management in a rapidly evolving industry

Navin Thawani

Managing Partner & Chief Financial Officer

Navin Thawani is a Principal at New York-based investment firm, Foundry Capital. Foundry executes and actively manages proprietary and structured growth investments in high-quality companies across a range of industries. Navin also serves as Managing Partner and CFO of Würk, taking an active leadership and board roles across other Foundry portfolio companies.

Navin started his career on the derivatives desks at Barclays Capital and Morgan Stanley in New York and London, respectively. Navin received his M.B.A. from Georgetown University, where he was the president of the M.B.A. Student Government Association. He earned a B.A. from the University of Delaware. Navin resides in New York, NY.

Melissa Erb

General Counsel

Melissa Erb is Würk’s General Counsel and has more than 20 years of experience as a corporate attorney. She has served as legal counsel for companies in industries including payroll, benefits, insurance, and healthcare. Melissa’s role at Würk is pivotal in navigating the legal landscape of the company. She is entrusted with safeguarding the company’s legal interests, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing strategic guidance on complex legal issues. From contract negotiations to risk management, her aim is to support informed decision-making while mitigating legal exposure. With a focus on ethical standards and proactive legal strategies, she collaborates across departments to achieve business objectives efficiently and responsibly.

Melissa earned a B.A in Political Science from Mount St. Mary’s University and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore Law School. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three daughters.

Karen Davis

Chief Customer Officer

Karen Davis is the Chief Customer Officer at Würk and an experienced Customer Success professional with a proven track record of driving client satisfaction and effective engagement. Skilled in relationship management, customer support and onboarding, Karen has partnered with Enterprise and small market clients in a variety of industries.

Karen leads a team of Human Resources and Payroll technology experts that offer support to the growing cannabis industry. With previous experience in multiple start-ups in the HR and Benefits space, Karen understands common challenges and uses that experience to drive customer engagement and a mutually beneficial long-term relationship. Karen graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Marketing.

Jennifer Meadows

Chief Operating Officer

Jennifer Meadows serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Würk, the leading Human Capital Management (HCM) company tailored for the cannabis industry. Since joining Würk in 2020, Jennifer has leveraged over three decades of experience in business development, operations management, and leadership to drive the company’s growth and operational excellence.

Prior to her appointment as COO in June 2023, Jennifer excelled as Director of Operations at Würk, where she developed a team of implementation experts to support the company’s expansion objectives. Before entering the cannabis sector, she managed HCM Support teams across various industries and software providers, honing her expertise in streamlining operations and enhancing client services.

In her role as COO, Jennifer is responsible for leading processes across the organization, developing business strategies, and executing the company’s goals. She oversees the implementations, product, tax, money movement, and operations teams, ensuring that Würk continues to provide essential services to cannabis operators, including industry-specific human resources foundations and reliable payroll solutions.

Jennifer’s extensive HCM systems experience and dedication to operational excellence make her a pivotal leader in advancing Würk’s mission to support the unique needs of the cannabis industry.