Alas Artistry Venture Governance
Alas Artistry LLC operates as a wholly owned operating subsidiary of Alas 9 Inc. Governance within the venture combines operational discipline with heightened emotional awareness, reflecting the sensitive nature of memorial and bereavement work.
1. Leadership Structure & Core Roles
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RYAN SCHWEGMAN │
│ Chief Executive Officer & Founder │
│ (Venture Vision, Brand Direction, Lead Art) │
└──────────────┬───────────────────────────────┬──────────────┘
│ │
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ DANTE LACKLAND │ │ CODY RICE-VELASQUEZ │
│ Chief Operating Officer │ │ Chief People Officer │
│ (Execution, Systems, Scale) │ │ (Culture, Team, Care SOPs) │
└──────────────┬──────────────┘ └──────────────┬──────────────┘
│ │
├───────────────────────────────┤
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ ZHANE LAW │ │ ANGEL BARRAZA │
│ Creative Director │ │ Grief Therapy Advisor │
│ (Aesthetics, Video, Brand) │ │ (Clinical Care Boundaries) │
└─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘
│ │
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ ALEX NATHANIAL │ │ JUAN PABLO BARRIENTOS │
│ Artist in Residence / Adv. │ │ Managing Artisan Partner │
│ (Partnerships, Craft SOPs) │ │ (Studio Production Craft) │
└─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘
Role Accountabilities
| Role | Incumbent | Primary Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Ryan Schwegman | Brand vision, venture strategy, executive relationships, lead artistic standards |
| Chief Operating Officer (COO) | Dante Lackland | Operational execution, logistics, supply chain agreements, tech integrations, budget oversight |
| Chief People Officer (COP) | Cody Rice-Velasquez | People strategy, executive onboarding, culture, grief wellness guardrails, talent retention |
| Grief Therapy & Bereavement Advisor | Angel Barraza | Clinical protocol review, customer bereavement interaction standards, team trauma support |
| Creative Director | Zhane Law | Visual identity, marketing collateral, WebAR 3D art direction, multimedia campaigns |
| Artist in Residence & Board Advisor | Alex Nathanial | Fine art collaborations, museum partnerships, gallery exhibitions, artisan mentorship |
| Managing Artisan Partner | Juan Pablo Barrientos | Daily studio management, specimen mounting quality control, framing craft execution |
2. Decision Authorities & Expenditure Limits
Operational spending and commitments within Alas Artistry adhere to corporate governance thresholds:
- Tier 1 (Up to $100): Individual team leads for day-to-day studio supplies, shipping sundries, and urgent repairs.
- Tier 2 ($101 to $500): Department Heads (Creative, Logistics, Technology) with post-purchase receipt logging.
- Tier 3 ($501 to $2,500): COO (Dante Lackland) or COP (Cody Rice-Velasquez) written approval required.
- Tier 4 ($2,501+ & Contracts): Requires CEO (Ryan Schwegman) sign-off and alignment with Alas 9 Inc. board parameters.
3. Emotional Safety & Grief Care Boundaries
Because the venture operates daily at the intersection of profound personal loss and creative craft, specific care standards are mandated:
- Secondary Trauma Awareness: Team members engaged in reading customer eulogies, curating memorial photo archives, or handling sensitive client communications must have mandatory decompression intervals.
- Clinical Advisory Escalation: If a customer presents signs of acute clinical distress or crisis during an intake conversation, team members must immediately follow the supportive referral protocols developed by Angel Barraza.
- No Emotional Coercion in Sales: Marketing, customer outreach, and upselling techniques common in retail are strictly forbidden. Customer interactions must prioritize dignity, space, and clarity.