Leadership Team
Dr. Adam Trexler
President & Founder
Dr. Trexler pioneered innovative processes to produce the Aurum® including advanced security features, bill architecture, and new printing methods. He also led the acquisition of two other early-stage companies to augment Valaurum’s IP portfolio in addition to raising all capital for the start-up.
Dr. Trexler continues to lead research and development initiatives at Valaurum. Inc. He is the primary inventor and first patent author of the KeyBill, the most secure form of physical cryptocurrency. He is also an inventor of numerous precious metal bill security features, with a patent issued in 2020 and several more in development.
Prior to founding Valaurum, Dr. Trexler worked in academic research and venture capital. From 2008-2012, he was a professor and researcher at the University of Exeter and Queen Mary University of London, with numerous refereed publications relating to the history of culture and science, particularly with regard to credit, the gold standard, money and labor. Before his academic career, Dr. Trexler worked at Corporate Finance, Inc., structuring early stage companies to raise equity capital.
Dr. Adam Trexler
President & Founder
Dr. Trexler pioneered innovative processes to produce the Aurum® including advanced security features, bill architecture, and new printing methods. He also led the acquisition of two other early-stage companies to augment Valaurum’s IP portfolio in addition to raising all capitol for the start-up.
Dr. Trexler continues to lead research and development initiatives at Valaurum. Inc. He is the primary inventor and first patent author of the KeyBill, the most secure form of physical cryptocurrency. He is also an inventor of numerous precious metal bill security features, with a patent issued in 2020 and several more in development.
Prior to founding Valaurum, Dr. Trexler worked in academic research and venture capital. From 2008-2012, he was a professor and researcher at the University of Exeter and Queen Mary University of London, with numerous refereed publications relating to the history of culture and science, particularly with regard to credit, the gold standard, money and labor. Before his academic career, Dr. Trexler worked at Corporate Finance, Inc., structuring early stage companies to raise equity capital.
John Mitnick
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
John Mitnick joined Valaurum as General Counsel in August 2022, having served on its Board of Directors since March 2016 (except for a period of federal government service). In that capacity, he heads Valaurum’s legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions.
Mr. Mitnick has had a distinguished career in the public and private sectors, notably serving as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2018-2019), as Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush in the White House (2005-2007), as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of a $3 billion division of Raytheon Company (2007 to 2013), and as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. (2014 to 2018). He began his legal career at the law firm now known as Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, where he was a partner specializing in mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, commercial contracts, technology and software development and licensing, and business start-ups.
Mr. Mitnick received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science (summa cum laude) from Emory University.
Alison Backus
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Operations
Alison Backus brings over 13 years of marketing experience with a focus on product design, e-commerce strategy, and branding. She has over a decade of experience driving significant revenue growth from multi-channel programs through targeted advertising initiatives.
Since joining Valaurum in the summer of 2020, Alison Backus has overseen Valaurum’s operations while playing an integral role in designing and opening a brand new factory. She uses her experience building cross-departmental programs to create a strategic plan for Valaurum’s organizational growth.
Alison Backus graduated with a BA degree in Biology from Carleton College in 2002 and received her MFA in science filmmaking and communication in 2006 from MSU-Bozeman in partnership with The Discovery Channel.
Alison Backus
Vice President of Marketing
Alison Backus brings over 13 years of marketing experience with a focus on product design, e-commerce strategy, and branding. She has over a decade of experience driving significant revenue growth from multi-channel programs through targeted advertising initiatives.
Since joining Valaurum in the summer of 2020, Alison Backus has overseen Valaurum’s operations while playing an integral role in designing and opening a brand new factory. She uses her experience building cross-departmental programs to create a strategic plan for Valaurum’s organizational growth.
Alison Backus graduated with a BA degree in Biology from Carleton College in 2002 and received her MFA in science filmmaking and communication in 2006 from MSU-Bozeman in partnership with The Discovery Channel.
Balazs Csaki
Vice President of Finance
Balazs Csaki brings operational expertise in precious metals trading, product development for the U.S. and international markets, and strategic insight into the wider precious metals and cryptocurrency markets.
Mr. Csaki is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Minshull Trading, one of the largest wholesalers of gold and silver products in the United States.
Balazs Csaki graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics in 2002, a Minor in Accounting, and Specialization in Computer Programming. He has long standing relationships with major gold bullion institutions and world mints, and is well respected in the numismatic field.
Balazs Csaki
Vice President of Finance
Balazs Csaki brings operational expertise in precious metals trading, product development for the U.S. and international markets, and strategic insight into the wider precious metals and cryptocurrency markets.
Mr. Csaki is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Minshull Trading, one of the largest wholesalers of gold and silver products in the United States.
Balazs Csaki graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics in 2002, a Minor in Accounting, and Specialization in Computer Programming. He has long standing relationships with major gold bullion institutions and world mints, and is well respected in the numismatic field.