Ordinary People
We have come to realize that it is always “ordinary” people who at some point do the most extraordinary things. It is often a series of little moments or interactions that inspire and empower ordinary people to achieve great things.
Mike Chesne, my co-founder, was born and raised in rural Louisiana and grew up on various military bases where his father, a veteran, was stationed. Mike is also a veteran – a former Special Forces Combat Medic who has fought and participated in some of the most storied battles of the 21st century.
While his bravery is beyond doubt (he is the recipient of two purple hearts), it is unlikely anyone would have expected him, an enlisted soldier, to be the developer of, what I believe, is a world changing nutrient. The nutrient that Tecton™ is bringing to market.
I, too, was born and raised on military bases. Mostly in rural India. My dad, a fighter pilot and a war hero, succumbed at the age of 59, to what would have been diagnosed, today, as PTSD. I went to 13 different schools and my grades were a mess.
There was not a single person I know, friend or foe, who thought I’d amount to much when I was 18. But, with a fair amount of luck and a few great mentors, I was blessed with a global career with Coca-Cola within the next 10 years. It is there that I was fortunate to see “ordinary” people do extraordinary things.
I was accosted by an activist while I was running a global joint venture between Coca-Cola and Nestle. This opened my eyes to the power of business to shape the world. After playing a part in Coke’s shift towards healthier beverages, and launching a 100% Fairtrade and Carbon Neutral brand, and inspiring innovations like Coca-Cola Freestyle,
I resigned from the company.
I did not want to launch another beverage. Sugary or caffeine filled drinks full of artificial ingredients are not for me or my children.
Mike has been “blown up” more than once in Iraq. He has seen people, soldiers and civilians lose life and limb. He dedicated his post-military career to helping set up healthcare infrastructure in the war torn countries he fought in.
And while he was doing research for this, he came across a nutrient technology that DARPA, the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (who he had worked for in the past) had invested millions of dollars in developing with the National Institute of Health and others. Exogenous ketones. He began to explore ways to refine this nutrient technology in 2014.
