our story

My name is Alexander Romer, the owner and head mycologist at Luminaire Mushroom Company, and here is a little bit of my story. In the summer of 2022, I experienced a traumatic brain injury that almost ended my life, and changed the course of my, and my family’s future forever. I had been working as a counselor and crisis intervention specialist at the time, and after almost a decade working as a mental health professional, I had to step away from that part of my life, which at the time was devastating. Unsure of what the future would hold, I did everything I could to focus on healing and being there for my family, and this is exactly what led me to the extraordinary power of fungi. When nothing else helped, I turned to mushrooms and they provided me with the exact support I needed to recover, something they continue to do for me each day.

After my experience, I knew I had found my calling. As a counselor, I made it my mission to walk with each client on their journey, and stand with them through the ups and downs that life presented, no matter what. Although I couldn’t step back into that role after my head injury, I knew that I had to keep fighting for our community and do everything in my power to keep helping others. I had to make a difference and stand back up, a need that led to the creation of Luminaire Mushroom Company and the work that we do. 

There is a part of me that knows that this is what I was meant to do all along, that my experience and profession were necessary to prepare me for this moment. I have placed everything I have, and all my hope into the future of Luminaire Mushroom Company because I truly believe it has the ability to save lives. Nothing could ever possibly be more important than that.