Our Team

Noella is a licensed Utah attorney with over a decade of experience in criminal law, policy, and data-driven justice reform. While serving as a Senior Policy Advisor to Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, Noella led the successful campaign to pass Utah’s Clean Slate law, which automates the expungement process for more than 450,000 Utahns. Noella has served on the National Clean Slate Initiative Steering Committee and has provided technical assistance to other state campaigns to pass automatic clearance.  Noella has received several honors and awards for her public service, including being selected as Utah Business Magazine's 2019 Woman of the Year and being honored with the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Utah State Bar.  In her spare time, Noella enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her two girls. In 2023, she was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 200 most dynamic female founders in America.

Mark has been an engineer, tech leader, and team builder for more than 20 years, in Utah, Silicon Valley, and New York. The systems he has built have powered successful startups of all types, often starting from scratch with single-digit teams. Most recently, Mark comes to Rasa from F5, where he was a Director of Software Engineering. In his spare time, Mark likes to hike, play guitar (both joyfully and poorly), and tinker with ideas and code.

Athens McLaughlin is a growth and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience building and scaling sales, customer success, and operational teams across startups and large enterprises. He previously led large, complex organizations at LegalZoom and has built and scaled a multi-unit Gameday Men’s Health operation in Birmingham, Alabama. Athens is drawn to Rasa’s mission through both professional experience and personal conviction — shaped by seeing how past mistakes can continue to limit opportunity long after real change has occurred. Outside of work, Athens enjoys time with his wife, two adult children, and two dogs, traveling and learning from new cultures, staying active, cheering on Alabama football (Roll Tide), playing golf when he can, and finding perspective during quiet moments at the beach.

Christine is a finance leader who enjoys helping mission-driven and growing organizations build the financial structure they need to scale thoughtfully. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in strategic finance and planning, and has spent much of her career partnering closely with founders and leadership teams to support decision-making during periods of growth and change. Prior to joining Rasa, Christine served as CFO of Mentor Collective and previously held senior finance leadership roles at Interfolio, where she helped guide the company through several stages of growth. She believes finance can play an important role in expanding access and opportunity. She was drawn to Rasa’s mission of removing barriers for people with criminal records and sees strong financial strategy as a way to help the organization reach and serve more people across the country. Outside of work, Christine enjoys spending time with her family and can often be found on the sidelines cheering on one of her three kids at their many sporting events.

Chase Hertel is Rasa's Head of Legal Innovation & Compliance, where he works at the intersection of law, technology, and forward-thinking strategy. Passionate about scaling access to justice, Chase is dedicated to empowering lawyers and clients to work together through technology. Chase is a graduate of Missouri State University and Michigan State University College of Law. He is a member of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, the Maryland Bar, and the Legal Services Corporation's Emerging Leaders Council. When he's not working on legal innovation projects, he can probably be found alongside his wife playing with their two Australian Cattle Dogs somewhere in Northwest Michigan.

Cheyenne joined LegalZoom during its startup days and spent more than 20 years growing with the company across multiple operations roles, most notably as Fulfillment Director and Government Affairs Manager. She knows firsthand the energy, hustle, and creativity it takes to build something from the ground up. When Rasa Legal came along, it was an easy yes. She is passionate about helping people clear their records and reclaim their futures because it is the kind of mission that changes lives and feels more meaningful than any title. Outside of work, Cheyenne enjoys reading, going to the gym, cheering loudly for college football and basketball, watching cartoons, Twilight Zone, and Law & Order reruns, and eating. Always eating.

Ben is a digital marketing and communications specialist. He combines creative skills with analytical problem-solving, constantly seeking out new and better methods; ideal for fast-paced digital environments. He brings a wealth of experience in photo and video content production. His work experience encompasses a broad range of industries including newspaper production, non-profits, higher education organizations, legal, & e-commerce. Ben has a degree in graphic design and has attained industry certifications in digital marketing. In his free time, Ben can be found wandering through art museums, playing board games, or exploring with his camera.

Chris grew up in Cache County, Utah and is a graduate of Utah State University. He has always been passionate about social justice and received his degree in social work. Prior to joining Rasa, he worked as a case manager for adults and kids in the criminal justice system for 10 years, and has worked in a wide variety of leadership roles throughout his life. When Chris is not working, he loves spending time with his family, cooking, and being outdoors.

Virginia is a native of Tucson and began her involvement in the justice system at the age of 16. She spent 28 years in active addiction and 17 years cycling in and out of the Arizona State Prison. During her fifth prison term, she realized that something had to change and finally understood it was her that had to change. Since returning home in 2018 she has dedicated herself to building a successful career in sales, mentoring others who struggle with addiction or are making the transition to life after incarceration and is busy raising and making memories with her 15 year old granddaughter, Esmarie.

Madison studied at Utah State University and Salt Lake Community College, spending six years building a strong academic foundation and exploring my interests in a variety of fields. Her time there helped shape her analytical thinking, work ethic, and passion for continued learning. Her passion for working with Rasa comes from her personal experience with the legal system. Growing up, she saw firsthand how legal issues can affect families and individuals. Those experiences gave me a deeper understanding of how complicated and overwhelming the system can feel for people who are going through difficult situations. Because of this background, she cares deeply about supporting individuals who need guidance, advocacy, and compassion while navigating legal challenges. She believes everyone deserves to be heard and supported, and that belief motivates the work she does with Rasa. Outside of work, Madison enjoys traveling, baking, crafting, and spending time with friends. She loves exploring new places, trying new recipes, and finding creative projects that let me relax and recharge.

Noble Gardner is a Client Solutions Specialist at Rasa Legal with over a decade of experience in consultative sales and client advocacy. Throughout his career, he has worked directly with individuals facing high-stakes decisions, helping them understand their options and take confident next steps. At Rasa Legal, Noble focuses on guiding clients through the process of clearing their criminal records, making complex legal processes easier to understand and access. Outside of work, Noble trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which has taught him discipline, resilience, and problem-solving under pressure—skills he brings into every client conversation. He is passionate about helping people move forward with their lives and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.

Taylor comes from a customer-focused background with more than 10 years of experience building strong client relationships, supporting retention, and creating positive experiences across the hospitality and account management industries. She is passionate about working for Rasa because she thrives when caring for others and helping bring them peace. Rasa also aligns with her current career goals and needs. Outside of work, she is mildly addicted to fitness and highly obsessed with her two little girls. Her home is often filled with crafts and dance parties. When she has time to herself, she enjoys painting, watching a show, or chasing waterfalls around the Pacific Northwest.

Cynthia graduated from high school and earned a certification in Health Coaching through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She brings more than 10 years of experience in customer experience, including work as a top-performing representative in fitness sales, along with a background in county court services. She is passionate about working with Rasa because of its mission to help people transform their lives within the legal system. This work aligns with her belief in accountability, perseverance, and never giving up on yourself. She is proud to be part of a team focused on improving the legal system and helping others move forward. Outside of work, Cynthia enjoys videography, working out, reading, and spending time with her loved ones. She lives by finding the beauty in the finite and leaving an impactful mark on people’s lives.

Melissa was born and raised just south of Boston, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Boston University, where she earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. Melissa brings more than 20 years of experience building and leading finance teams, establishing strong operational infrastructure across accounting, payroll, benefits, business insurance, and compliance, and scaling accounting operations during periods of revenue growth. She feels incredibly grateful to join the passionate team at Rasa, to have the opportunity to use her skills to support a mission focused on helping people overcome barriers and realize their full potential. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking in the White Mountains, taking road trips through the national parks, reading while sipping a cup of tea, and attempting to meditate amidst the chaos of six children (four humans and two dogs.)

Marny is a multidisciplinary storyteller and creator who believes authenticity is one of the most powerful tools in communication. For nearly a decade, she has helped mission-driven organizations leverage media to share their work through thoughtful storytelling and strategic communications that build trust and highlight meaningful impact. Her approach blends creativity with intention, producing content that is clear, accessible, and rooted in genuine human connection. Driven by curiosity, she's always exploring something new—whether that's a place, a band, a skill, a culture, or a perspective—in search of fresh inspiration and stories worth sharing.

Chris has developed software with Utah startups for more than 15 years, working within close-knit teams to lay strong technical foundations for success. With his experience in numerous industries, from ecommerce to publishing to security, he has developed a diverse skillset that he hopes to leverage for the good of the community. Outside of his professional life, Chris loves to take new technologies apart to see how they work, and he sometimes even manages to put them back together again! He is also an eager student of film, seeking out international and independent stories to explore new perspectives.

Jen enjoys the magic of coding to facilitate tasks that improve the lives around her. She is a believer that “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” (Seneca) and feels fortunate to join a company that provides much needed opportunities. Before Jen earned her degree in Computer Science from the University of Utah, she obtained a Music Education degree and taught middle school choir. Recreationally, Jen enjoys food, reading, music and time with her loved ones.

Gib is a software engineer with over 20 years of experience building and refining web applications. His background spans engineering, UX, and design systems, with a focus on creating software that’s easy to understand, evolve, and trust—especially in domains where clarity matters. Outside of work, Gib is a dad who enjoys the outdoors, playing guitar, and performing a handful of favorite songs when he gets the chance.

Rachel is a full stack software engineer who enjoys tackling a wide range of technical challenges. Most recently, she worked at Stripe, where she expanded her security knowledge on the security infrastructure team. While studying computer science, Rachel also took coursework in social work, which sparked her interest in applying technology to real-world barriers. She’s excited to support a mission that helps people move forward and access new opportunities. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys fostering cats, playing the drums, gardening, and pickleball.