Aaron believes technology should bring us closer to the people and experiences that give us joy.
As co-founder and CEO of The & Company, Aaron is reimagining how technology serves human connection. The &tag identity system puts people at the center of their own lived experience—infrastructure for authentic connection in an increasingly fragmented world.
From Corporate to Community
Aaron's journey began at Cerner Corporation, where he pioneered micro-location in healthcare settings and led teams deploying real-time location platforms to hospitals nationwide. The lesson was clear: technology succeeded when it disappeared into the background, letting human connection take center stage.
This insight drove him to leave corporate stability for entrepreneurship. Through ventures like GAMEDAY (simplifying how sports fans gather) and Lantern Software (making local commerce frictionless), Aaron tackled the friction points that prevent meaningful experiences. His co-founding of KC Hub helped establish Kansas City as an innovation ecosystem built on homegrown talent.
The Joy Imperative
"I don't ask people 'what do you do?' anymore," Aaron notes. "I ask 'what are you working on?'—that's their passion."
This philosophy drives The & Company's approach. Technology should understand context—not just location but intention, not just identity but relationship, not just data but meaning. With expertise spanning patents in healthcare technology and digital identity, partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, and deep knowledge of mobile UX and location services, Aaron measures success by a single metric: are we helping people find more joy?
A programmer by training, an entrepreneur by calling, and an optimist by choice, Aaron continues building toward a simple truth: the fusion of technology and human connection can create a more joyful world.
