Aubrey Amatelli
Aubrey is the Founder & CEO of PayRio, the first payments provider exclusively focused on Cannabis & Alternative Medicines.
Aubrey’s career started at J.P. Morgan in their Merchant Services group. Over a decade, she rose to Executive Director Commercial Banker, specializing in Technology and Disruptive Commerce in Silicon Valley. This extensive experience in fintech has made her industry expertise incredibly valuable in the cannabis payments space.
Adding to her impressive professional achievements, Aubrey is also a single mother of three who has successfully led PayRio to profitability in under a year. Her inspiring story serves as a testament to her resilience and leadership in an industry where female executive leadership and business overall have struggled to survive.
Currently, Aubrey is serving on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s (NCIA) Banking & Financial Services Committee (BFSC) for the 2025 term. This appointment underscores her commitment to advancing financial solutions in the cannabis industry and further establishes her as a thought leader in the space.
Laura Forrester
Laura, Vice President of Sales at PayRio, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in leading and growing sales organizations. With nearly 17 years of dedicated work with iconic brands like J.P. Morgan, Jeep, and Toyota, Laura’s career has been marked by significant achievements in the automotive industry.
Laura’s academic background includes graduating Magna Cum Laude from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She currently resides in sunny Florida with her husband and two soccer-enthusiast boys.
At PayRio, Laura focuses on scaling the sales team’s business books while implementing operational improvements. Her approach integrates KPI-driven strategies and streamlined processes rooted in her strong grasp of data and analytics. Known for exceeding targets and fostering growth through dynamic content and simplifying complexities, Laura strives to drive for excellence in everything she does.
