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The PRIDE Resources Team has years of experience to help you with Marketing, Accounting, Technology and Training. Have a question? We have answers.
Meet the team
Our Creative Minds

Karin Sugarman
President & Chief Executive Officer
Most likely to: still believe in Santa!
The title just about says it all. Karin’s job at PRIDE is to vet and implement strategies which improve profitability for PRIDE’S dealers. Karin found PRIDE through a newspaper ad for the Controller role, and the rest is history.
When she’s not busy charting PRIDE’s future path, she’s trying out new recipes, curling up with a good book, and, of course, spending time with her LSU college sweetheart!
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Karin can trace her family in the United States back to 1770 – she has a patriot ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War – and continues to research previous generations!


Cathy Ellickson
Vice President – Dealer Relations
Most likely to: Travel the world
Cathy gets great joy from each of her roles with PRIDE over more than eleven years, and wouldn’t change a thing. She loves recruiting new dealers to PRIDE so they can increase their profitability through PRIDE’s variety of industry resources.
When not at the office, she’s spending time with her family in the great outdoors, living the Colorado lifestyle hiking, camping, shooting guns, and fly fishing! Most of her family is in Colorado, so it’s a good thing Cathy loves cooking for her crew!
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Cathy is a daredevil and has checked off bungie jumping in New Zealand, skydiving in Colorado, zip-lining in Costa Rica, spelunking in New Zealand, parasailing in Cabo, and heli-skiing in Winter Park from her bucket list.


Cara Schlarb
Vice President - Vendor Programs
Most likely to: Be the model student!
Born in Salt Lake City but raised in Metro Denver, Cara’s 18-year career makes her the perfect fit for creating beneficial vendor partnerships with PRIDE dealers. Having worked several jobs in the industry, from dealership warehouses to General Manager to her role at PRIDE, Cara is always ready to take on new challenges with a smile!
Outside of the office, Cara enjoys kickboxing, paddleboarding, hiking, cycling, and exploring different places. She loves the outdoors, and is proud to call Colorado her home.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Cara has hiked thirteen of Colorado’s Fourteeners, and biked up Mt. Elbert!


Jason Robison
Controller
Most likely to: Be the most enthusiastic fan on the sidelines for all of his daughters games--foam finger and all
Jason Robison just may be one of the few people living in Denver who can truly call himself a native. He’s called Denver home his entire life and wouldn’t change a thing. When Jason came across a job that promised him a career with a great team of professionals, that would be constantly growing and improving, he was eager to join the Pride team. As PRIDE’s Controller, Jason enjoys the responsibility that comes with his job of managing the financial operations of the company. Making sure the finances are stable and the budget is under control are just a few of the tasks Jason handles each day so the company can operate smoothly and efficiently.
Though he’s known as the Controller at work, outside the office Jason turns into an all star soccer dad. He loves a good round of golf with the guys but spends most of his time with his daughters, attending their athletic and extracurricular activities.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Jason owned a children's indoor play center for 8 years, so he understands that being a business owner isn’t just child’s play.


Jonah Hepting
Creative Director
Most likely to: Play against Kevin Hart in a charity basketball game
A Colorado native who’s proud of his CSU alma mater (Go RAMS), Jonah moved around the country after graduation, landing back in Colorado after accepting the job he’s enjoyed for the past eleven years. His role with PRIDE is to create marketing pieces that showcase PRIDE’s dealers and vendor businesses, and handle custom projects for the PRIDE office with ease.
While he doesn’t get much downtime as he raises two active boys, Jonah enjoys painting, drawing, and listening to his not-so-secret guilty pleasure: heavy metal music.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Jonah finished #1 in the state of North Carolina at map reading and cartography in a junior engineer competition. Who needs Google Maps with Jonah around?


Wesley LeNoir
Credit Manager
Most likely to: Hold a boom box outside someone's window, while simultaneously bouncing a soccer ball on his head
As Credit Manager, Wes manages PRIDE’s procurement department. Following in his father’s footsteps, Wes also began his PRIDE career in New Orleans. His dad has been in the foodservice industry since the 80’s, and Wes picked up the same passion for the industry in no time.
While he’d like to produce music one day, he’s leaving that to the professionals and settling for local karaoke and shooting pool with friends during his free time.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: In 1998, he was the 7th ranked tenor in the state of Louisiana.


Corrina Rodriguez
Executive Assistant
Most likely to: Take her lottery winnings to the beaches of Mexico where her fluency in Spanish will be of much more use to her than it has been in the suburbs of Colorado.
Born a Cali girl who traded the beaches for the mountains, Corrina Rodriguez is convinced that an alien abduction is the only explanation for her moving to Colorado and joining PRIDE as the Executive Assistant. Corrina helps support the leadership team while being of assistance to PRIDE’s CEO and taking care of office tasks.
She’s a yogi at heart in free time, and loves spending time with her granddaughter.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Corrina is fluent in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish.


Linda Curtis
Accounting Manager
Most likely to: Host the original Ninja Warrior Show
As PRIDE’s accounting and rebate manager, Linda works hard at crunching numbers to keep the company on track financially. When pursuing her career at PRIDE, Linda knew she wanted to broaden her accounting experience and this role allows her to do just that.
While the job keeps her busy, she still has time to spend with family cheering on the Broncos every Sunday. A true diehard fan, Linda would go to every single game if she could and hopes to do so when she wins the Powerball. She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and dabbling in photography, one of her true passions.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Linda speaks Japanese — konichiwa!


Brett Gieseler
Procurement Accountant & Assistant Credit Manager
Most likely to: Commandeer a drone to save the world during a zombie apocalypse
Brett is a native of New Orleans, but was eager to move to Denver to continue his job as Procurement Accountant and Assistant Credit Manager. When PRIDE’s New Orleans office closed, Brett had to say goodbye to good ol’ southern Cajun food, and hello to the great Rocky Mountains. The adjustment was smooth, as he quickly adapted to his Colorado transplant lifestyle by biking, hiking and drone flying.
While his work life remains the same, Brett enjoys the change of scenery and everything Colorado has to offer.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: : In addition to drones, Brett has also flown small civilian planes and helicopters.


Jeff Kline
Staff Accountant
Most likely to: Know the difference between a Dunkelweizen and a Dopplebock
In his role as Staff Accountant, Jeff takes pride (no pun intended) in providing dealers with the very best customer service he can offer.
A diehard, born-and-raised New Orleans Saints fan, he now enjoys all that Colorado has to offer—especially craft beer and miles of beautiful trails in the city of Denver! When Jeff isn’t honing his financial ninja skills, he’s dreaming of crossing the globe as a world-class Cicerone and Sommelier.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Jeff has eaten a 12 egg omelette in one sitting.


Feral Leeks
Accounting Supervisor
Most likely to: Whip out The Young & The Restless VHS box set at PRIDE’s next office party
Sometimes fate puts you where you fit best. At least that appears to be the case for Feral, who happened into her job at PRIDE on the recommendation of a friend. She’s filled the Senior Accountant role well, preparing and analyzing rebates while providing top-notch customer service to PRIDE’s dealers and vendors.
In her spare time, you’ll probably find Feral at a Monster Truck show or her cheering loudly at a Nuggets game with her son.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: With ninja-level financial skills, Feral has the unique ability to blow $300 in one day or make $20 last an entire week.


Luke Karn
Staff Accountant
Most likely to: At 6’ 7”, his jokes might go right over your head
When his workday is done, it’s all fun and games as he caters to his enthusiasm for craft beer and board games—Betrayal at House on the Hill, Scotland Yard, and Settlers of Catan just to name a few.
If money were no object, you would easily find him attending every Denver Broncos game during the season...that is, before he embarked on a world tour to visit as many countries as possible.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Luke has a pet Brazilian Black tarantula named Romulus who’s been with him since college. You could say that’s going to be a long-term friendship since tarantulas can live for more than 25 years!


Julie Smith
Sr. Graphic/Web Designer
Most Likely to: Constantly being moving state to state so that the government can’t keep tabs on her
As someone who’s lived from the east to the west coast, Julie Smith (but you can call her Jules) decided to settle smack in the middle of the US, where she found her niche working as PRIDE’s Senior Graphic and Web Designer. She’s happy to finally call Colorado home, while she continues to perfect her web design skills and learn about the industry of PRIDE.
Since she’s been around the states Jules has friends visit her from all over the country, so she spends her free time taking visitors on the most scenic hikes Colorado has to offer and her days taking her pup to Chatfield Reservoir.
Prideology: Jules has lived in Tennessee, Boston, New Hampshire, Michigan, Los Angeles & Colorado. Six already, and the list will surely keep growing.


Trevor Krensle
Systems Adminstrator
Most likely to: Replace Siri’s web of knowledge on the next iPhone update
As the man behind the mouse, Trevor makes sure everything is running smoothly on the systems side of PRIDE. While maintaining the network, he also controls the configuration and maintenance of PRIDE’s servers, making sure things are always running smoothly!
As a Colorado native, Trevor could never bring himself to leave, and lives just minutes from his childhood home. In his spare time, Trevor tinkers with motorcycles and cars to keep his mechanical as well as technical skills honed.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Trevor is quite the handyman, possibly earning himself the nickname “Trevor the Technological Tool Man”.


Preston Brooks
Programs Coordinator
Most likely to: Have Cher make a surprise appearance at a PRIDE event as his plus one.
Though he’s still waiting for the day he can leave his worries behind and jet off to the tropics with his family, he enjoys working in Denver and catching a movie with them on the weekends.
PRIDEOLOGY 101: Preston met Cher during her Heart of Stone tour. Preston was standing next to her when a local news magazine show interview Cher and Preston was later noted as an unidentified guest!