PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Transforming Artistic Vision into Strategic Technology Ventures: My Complete Professional Timeline
Over the past four years, I’ve co-founded and provided strategic creative direction for multiple technology ventures while simultaneously building a thriving wellness business. This unique dual-track approach demonstrates my ability to bridge artistic vision with strategic execution, learn emerging technologies through practical application, and create lasting business value across diverse industries.
Complete Entrepreneurial Journey Timeline
My entrepreneurial journey spans multiple decades and industries:
• Aaron K Metz Studios (1993-Present): Developed my signature fine art style and established international presence, selling over 800 artworks worldwide across galleries and private collections
• The Faceless Art (Creative Director & Business Development): Museum-quality digital art project bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary expression through curated NFT collections, educational exhibitions, and culturally respectful digital collections
• Evolved Human Care (Co-Founder | COO & Chief of Holistic Development): Healthcare platform co-architect contributing to $45M pre-money valuation
• Fortress Protocol / Decentr Technologies (Chief Creative Officer & Strategic Innovation Architect): Privacy-based web browser and privacy-first technology platform preparing for $2M SAFE raise
• Exhale Art & Crystal (Owner & Wellness Director): Premier therapeutic retail gallery and healing sanctuary
• Selenite Kingdom (Co-Founder, 2019-2024): Dedicated to ethical sourcing and education around this remarkable healing mineral
• South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors, 2021-2023): Supporting small business development
Current Technology Leadership
Co-Founder | COO & Chief of Holistic Development
Evolved Human Care | Remote | Aug 2021 – Present
Co-founded revolutionary, borderless healthcare platform targeting the entire healthcare ecosystem—from hospital networks and private clinics to general and holistic practitioners. Co-architected the venture concept and facilitated strategic development of a progressive web app where patients control their own medical data, designed for universal accessibility across all devices and contributing to a $45M Deloitte pre-money valuation.
Strategic Leadership & Fundraising Support
- Co-authored comprehensive business plans, financial projections, and pitch deck iterations over 4 years supporting $45M Deloitte valuation
- Supported investor meetings and developed materials for $2M seed round (5% equity stake)
- Prepared strategic frameworks for international expansion across Canada, UAE, and Mexico with healthcare providers
Technical Coordination & Team Facilitation
- Supported coordination with development teams on the platform’s decentralized architecture, zero-knowledge proof implementation for patient-controlled data, and secure communication protocols for a universally accessible progressive web app.
- Recruited 3 additional co-founders and facilitated coordination of 14-person development team spanning multiple continents
- Served as central coordination hub ensuring project milestones and team alignment across all functions
Brand & Digital Platform Development
- Designed and built original EvolvedHumanCare.io website and created complete brand identity system
- Directed all marketing materials, user-facing content, and digital presence with brand consistency across communications
Chief Creative Officer & Strategic Innovation Architect
Fortress Protocol / Decentr Technologies | Remote | Mar 2025 – Jan 2026
Architected complete brand identity, product strategy, and cross-functional team coordination for privacy-tech application suite preparing for $2M SAFE raise at $8M pre-money valuation.
Brand & Creative Direction
- Created comprehensive brand guide, logo design, complete visual identity specifications, and trademark-ready deliverables
- Produced professional-grade digital assets across 6+ platforms including social media libraries, website graphics, and marketing collateral
- Designed and built fortresshub.net and coordinated unified brand implementation across cultvpn.com and bazaarswap.io ecosystem
- Developed The Faceless NFT collection concept (Genesis 111) including philosophical framework and subscription utility integration
Strategic Business Development
- Authored complete investment memorandum, business plans, financial projections, and pitch materials for $2M SAFE raise — developing strategic narratives that aligned with investor expectations and market positioning
- Conducted comprehensive competitive analysis including NordVPN defection campaigns, pricing optimization reports, and strategic market positioning documentation
- Developed product strategy across 3-application core suite (VPN, cloud storage, password manager) plus additional platform developments
- Created detailed business plans for AI-resistant privacy infrastructure and future product lines
Cross-Functional Team Coordination
- Facilitated coordination between design, marketing, and technical teams as central communication hub
- Ensured alignment across all business functions through weekly strategic meetings
- Coordinated multiple concurrent product launches and brand initiatives simultaneously
Strategic Impact: Supported the development of a privacy-tech suite preparing for $2M SAFE raise — coordinating cross-functional teams, brand systems, and investor materials to create a fundable, scalable venture
Wellness Business Operations
Owner & Wellness Director
Exhale Art & Crystal | Oliver, BC | 2021 – Present
Operate premier therapeutic retail gallery while building thriving e-commerce presence.
Customer Consultation & Healing Support
- Provided 1,000+ one-on-one consultations addressing emotional, spiritual, and wellness needs through crystal therapy and art guidance
- Created personalized crystal protocols for clients navigating stress, anxiety, emotional transitions, and healing journeys
- Built trust-based relationships generating significant revenue through relationship-centered service and referrals
- Established partnerships with healthcare providers for complementary emotional support services
Business Operations & Growth
- Transformed gallery into thriving business within small community market, managing daily operations, inventory, staff scheduling, and financial management
- Built and maintained e-commerce website using WordPress and WooCommerce with customer inquiries, order fulfillment, and platform optimization
- Managed all digital marketing across Instagram, Facebook, and X including content creation, community engagement, and sales funnels using Buffer
Brand & Visual Merchandising
- Developed compelling gallery brand identity and visual merchandising strategy attracting clients throughout South Okanagan region
- Created all marketing materials including photography, product descriptions, and promotional campaigns
Professional Fine Artist
Aaron K Metz Studios | aaronkmetz.com | 1993 – Present
Professional fine artist with 30+ years experience generating $750k+ in revenue across 25+ countries.
Artistic Innovation & Market Success
- Created unique multi-dimensional crystal artworks merging selenite, minerals, and resin with pioneering techniques including UV-responsive pieces and EMF-absorbing works
- Collaborated with South Korean laboratory to scientifically validate therapeutic properties of artwork materials, bridging artistic expression with measurable wellness benefits
- Established international collections across 25+ countries with consistent demand and premium pricing
- Developed and marketed unique artistic brand with clear value proposition attracting global clientele
Digital Platform Development
- Designed and developed aaronkmetz.com as comprehensive personal brand hub and portfolio
- Built and launched TheFaceless.art as full-scale digital art business and NFT platform
- Created multiple WordPress-based websites using Elementor, Kalium, and Ashade themes
- Demonstrated hands-on blockchain expertise through NFT development and crypto-native platforms
Previous Leadership Experience
Store Manager
Opus Art Supplies | Kelowna, BC | 2005 – 2018
Led high-performing retail team driving dramatic business transformation.
Business Turnaround & Strategic Leadership
- Masterminded the store’s transformation from the lowest-performing location to the highest-profit store company-wide within two years by fundamentally rebuilding its operational foundation, strategic direction, and team culture.
- Achieved an unprecedented 100% performance bonus payout, becoming the first employee in company history to receive this top-tier recognition for exceeding all corporate targets.
- Conducted in-depth market analysis to realign the store’s product mix and services with the specific needs of the local artistic community, evolving the location from a generic retailer into a vital resource for creators.
Team Development & High-Performance Culture
- Recruited, trained, and mentored over 100 employees, architecting a comprehensive development program from the ground up that instilled a high-performance culture centered on exceptional customer service and product expertise.
- Cultivated a team-first environment focused on empowerment and accountability, which became the blueprint for employee engagement and was credited as a key driver of the store’s long-term success and premium reputation.
Innovation & Community Engagement
- Pioneered a new model for community engagement by creating a successful in-store artist demonstration program. This initiative drove significant foot traffic and sales while positioning the store as a cultural hub, leading to its adoption as the new standard across all company locations.
Entrepreneurial Ventures & Innovation
The Faceless Art | thefaceless.art | 2023 – Present
Complete digital art project transitioning physical fine art into Web3 with integrated utility, philosophical framework, and NFT collections.
Selenite Kingdom | 2019 – 2024
North America’s premier selenite collection with direct sourcing from Jalisco, Mexico and Utah, USA. Established wholesale and retail selenite business with international supplier relationships and responsible sourcing practices.
International Artisan Collaboration | Morocco | 2020
Established direct relationships with artisans in Meknes, Morocco providing sustainable income during pandemic while creating unique handcrafted selenite products.
Board & Community Leadership
Board of Directors
South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce | 2021 – 2023
Strategic guidance for regional business development, small business advocacy, community economic development initiatives, and mentorship program development.
Professional Development & Continuous Learning
Formal Education
- Fine Arts Program — Okanagan University College (1993-1995)
- Angel Therapy Practitioner Certification — Angel University (2012)
- Sacred Geometry & Mer Ka Ba Workshop Certificate — Drunvalo Melchizedek
Self-Directed Technical Education
- Full-Stack Development Fundamentals — Udemy
- Advanced Prompt Engineering & LLM Applications — Udemy
- Blockchain Fundamentals & Smart Contracts — Udemy
- Web3 & DeFi Protocol Architecture — Self-directed study
- Community Learning: Active participation in Web3 developer communities and privacy-tech forums
- Daily immersion in emerging technologies through experimentation and collaborative projects
- Practical Application: Applied learning through real-world technology venture development and coordination
International Mineral Research
- Jalisco, Mexico — Direct sourcing relationships and sustainable extraction methodologies
- Utah, USA — Specialized crystal processing and therapeutic-grade selenite identification
- Ongoing collaboration with geologists and crystal experts
Advanced Certifications & Recognition
- Crystal Energy Specialist — Advanced education in crystal therapy and energy healing
- Sound Therapy & Energy Balancing Certification
- Professional Recognition: People’s Choice Award (2018 Lake Country ArtWalk)
- Media Features: CBC Radio, Castanet News, international media coverage
Investment & Equity Portfolio
Current Equity Stakes:
- Evolved Human Care: Significant equity position in company with $45M pre-money valuation
- Fortress Protocol/Decentr Technologies: Equity stake in privacy-tech suite preparing for $2M raise
- Bazaar Industries: Contributing investor in DeFi platform with $25M pre-money valuation
Revenue Generation:
- Fine Art Sales: $750,000+ over 30-year career across international markets
- Wellness Business: Thriving retail gallery with 1,000+ client relationships
- NFT & Digital Assets: Secured agreements for subscription-based digital art revenue streams
This comprehensive professional experience demonstrates my ability to bridge artistic vision with strategic execution, coordinate cross-functional teams, and create measurable business value across multiple industries while maintaining creative excellence and human-centered focus.