At the heart of our brand lies this story of resilience, transformation, and the pursuit of purpose. Founded by me, a former U.S. Navy Deep Sea Diver turned former FBI Special Agent, this journey is one of overcoming adversity and finding new paths, even when the old ones closed.
In 2007, I joined the U.S. Navy, where I became a Deep Sea Diver. The rigorous demands of the job (maybe some genetics too?) took a physical toll on my body, leading to the development of Dupuytren’s Disease — a debilitating hand disease that slowly robbed me of my mobility and independence. After enduring multiple surgeries and complications, I made the difficult decision to leave the military at the end of my six-year contract. Though I had to walk away from the life I wanted, I wasn’t ready to give up on service. I transitioned into the FBI, eager to continue working in a brotherhood that resonated with me. But even while with the FBI, I faced more health challenges as the disease continued to progress, ultimately forcing me to medically retire. It was a blow: the career of service was no longer an option.
For the first time in my life, I found myself uncertain of what to do next. The disease had taken from me the only career I had ever known, and I felt lost. Yet, during the extensive two-year disability retirement process, I began to explore a new form of expression: digital art. While experimenting with AI-generated artwork at first, I quickly realized that true satisfaction came from creating human-derived art with my own hands. Despite the physical limitations caused by my disease, I found a new freedom in adapting my approach to art. The process was therapeutic, even transformative. Art became my way of reclaiming control, of expressing my subconscious, working through those demons, of embracing the things that made me who I am. Through adaptive techniques, I could still create. And as I embraced this new journey, I found not just healing but also a new purpose.