Introduction to Your Business
Aleris Aesthetics is a physician-led medical aesthetics practice located in the heart of Woodinville, Washington. We specialize in advanced, science-backed skincare and aesthetic treatments — including injectables, laser therapies, microneedling, IV infusions, and regenerative services — all designed to help clients look and feel their best.
Our approach blends clinical excellence with hospitality-level care, offering a luxury experience in an environment built on integrity, safety, and results. We’re proud to serve our local community through both aesthetics and wellness, and our philosophy is simple: Walk in. Glow out.
About the Founder
I’m Tory C. Miller, MBA, Co-Founder and Director of Operations at Aleris Aesthetics. My background includes over two decades of leadership across global supply chain operations, logistics strategy, and process improvement, having held director and senior leadership roles at companies like Amazon, Boeing, Nordstrom, REI, and Expedia. I also teach at Arizona State University and City University and consult with Red Clover.
I hold a BA in Economics, an MBA, and I’m currently completing my Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). I’m also a U.S. Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, recognized for leadership during two deployments to Afghanistan.
Today, I’m channeling that same operational rigor and servant-leadership mindset into entrepreneurship — helping to build Aleris with my wife, Dr. Amber Farook, a double board-certified family physician, our Medical Director, and voted one of Seattle Met Top Doc 2025.
What Inspired You to Start This Business
Amber and I wanted to create something that combined her medical expertise and my operational and brand-building background — a business rooted in wellness, confidence, and community.
We noticed a gap in the market: many med spas either feel overly clinical or purely cosmetic. We wanted to bridge that gap by offering a trusted, physician-led experience that delivers both science and soul — where patients feel cared for, not sold to.
Three Pieces of Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs
1. Start with purpose, not profit. Money follows meaning — build something that solves a real problem or fills an authentic need.
2. Build structure early. Clarity around systems, finances, and brand messaging gives you freedom later.
3. Don’t chase everything. Focus on the few things that truly move the needle for your business and your customers.
Top Three Skills Needed to Be a Successful Entrepreneur
1. Adaptability — business evolves daily; you need to shift without losing direction.
2. Emotional intelligence — people are your greatest differentiator, from employees to clients.
3. Strategic discipline — it’s not about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most, consistently, and staying aligned to your vision.
Work Hours
I typically work 10–12 hours a day, split between Aleris operations, consulting, and teaching. But I don’t see it as “work” — it’s a purpose-driven effort. When you’re building something you believe in, time becomes investment, not cost.
Attributing Success
Structure, integrity, and service. Structure gives me focus, integrity keeps me grounded, and service — whether to clients, my team, or my community — keeps me fulfilled.
Marketing
Our marketing revolves around community connection and authenticity. We focus on local partnerships — with wineries, hotels, and lifestyle brands — and emphasize education-based marketing through events, social media, and physician-led consultations.
Our most successful tactic has been experiential marketing — letting people experience the Aleris difference firsthand.
Funding
Aleris was self-funded through a mix of personal savings, small business financing, and equipment leasing. We intentionally avoided early outside investors to preserve creative and operational control. Every dollar spent was a conscious investment in quality, from our Sciton laser platform to our design and team training.
Long-Term Success
Build a business that can outlast you — through process, people, and purpose. That means creating systems that scale, a culture that retains, and a brand that resonates long after the founder steps back.
Future Vision
In ten years, I see Aleris established as the premier medical aesthetics brand in the Pacific Northwest — known for results, ethics, and education. Personally, I see myself mentoring other physician-led entrepreneurs, expanding into wellness-based ventures, and teaching future business leaders.
Company Admired
I admire REI for its culture of purpose and community connection. They’ve proven that a company can scale without losing its authenticity — something we strive for at Aleris.
1 – Q) How important have good employees been to your success?
A) Essential. Your team is your brand. We hire for emotional intelligence, integrity, and empathy first — technical skills can be trained.
2 – Q) What motivates you?
A) Purpose and progress. Seeing Aleris grow from concept to reality motivates me daily.
3 – Q) How do you define success?
A) Sustainability — professionally, personally, and financially. True success is when your business thrives without compromising your values or your health.
4 – Q) What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
A) Seeing the first clients walk into Aleris, realizing everything we envisioned — every late night, every risk — was worth it.
5 – Q) What kind of culture exists in your organization?
A) We’ve built a collaborative, professional, and patient-centered culture. Every decision begins with one question: “What’s best for the client”?
6 – Q) In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur:
A) Deliberate.
7 – Q) How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
A) It’s made me more intentional with my time. Entrepreneurship demands long hours, but it also allows me to build something meaningful with my wife and show my kids what vision and grit look like in real life.
8 – Q) What are your hobbies?
A) I’m an avid mountain climber and skier, guitarist, and fitness enthusiast. I believe in physical challenge as a mirror for mental resilience.
9 – Q) What makes you happy?
A) Service — to my family, my clients, and my community. And watching something I’ve built help others feel more confident in their own skin.
10 – Q) What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
A) Stability, comfort, and predictability. But that’s the trade for freedom, purpose, and impact — and it’s worth every bit of it.
