PamliEcoConnectCommitted Executive Leadership
These are the only currently committed management roles. All other individuals are advisors or prospective management candidates as the company and financing mature.
Jay M. Phillips
Chief Executive Officer & Project Manager
Founder; responsible for overall company leadership, program management, route and service design, and stakeholder relationships. Jay has been immersed in the maritime industry since the age of 14, accumulating over 100,000 bluewater miles. His career spans ownership and management of sail lofts, boat building operations, and maritime web development firms. Jay currently serves as Chair of Hatteras Sailing, an educational maritime nonprofit.
John Edward Elion
Chief Financial Officer
Responsible for capital strategy, financial planning & analysis, investor relations, and oversight of grant/loan structures. John has served as Chair of the Waterworks Foundation, a Chesapeake Bay environmental organization. He has owned and built several multihull brands across the United States and Canada, combining deep financial acumen with a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.
Hand-Picked Candidates & Open Roles
The following individuals have been specifically identified for the expertise they would bring to PamliEcoConnect. They are interested parties at this stage — not yet formally committed — and will be selectively invited into advisory or management roles as the company and its financing mature.
Design & Naval Architecture
Phillips Boatworks
Target role if invited: Design Lead
Design authority sits in-house with Phillips Boatworks. The company specifies design intent and engages selected naval architects, structural engineers, and foil specialists as subcontractors working to that specification under the direction of the project manager. Specialist expertise is matched to each work package — hull structure, foil section, flight control — while the resulting drawings and design IP remain with the company.
Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
Larry Ward
Target role if invited: M/E Engineering Lead
Has deep experience in propulsion systems, systems integration, and control architectures for high-performance marine platforms. His background positions him well to contribute to the technical development of PamliEcoConnect's electric drivetrain and foil control systems.
Battery & Powerplant Technology
Role to be filled
Target role if invited: Battery/Powerplant Technology Lead
Seeking an expert in energy storage, powertrain architecture, and marine charging systems to guide battery management and electric propulsion as vessel development progresses.
Investment & Grant Strategy
Role to be filled
Target role if invited: Investment & Grant Acquisition Lead
Seeking a capital markets and grant strategy lead with a track record in investor outreach and public grant programs, to guide financing structures and institutional relationships as PamliEcoConnect moves toward securing its initial funding round.
USCG & Insurance Compliance
Role to be filled
Target role if invited: Compliance Lead
We are seeking an experienced maritime regulatory specialist to guide USCG approval processes and insurer expectations — from 20-passenger R&D vessels through to 50-passenger commercial certification. This is a critical role for the company's path to commercialization.
Production Management
Role to be filled
Target role if invited: Production Management Lead
We are seeking an experienced production leader to guide tooling, supply chain management, quality systems, and manufacturing scale-up across multiple hull programs. This role becomes increasingly critical as vessel production ramps.
Advanced Boatbuilding Technology
Jim Gardiner / Compmillenia
Target role if invited: Strategic Technology Partner
A recognized authority in advanced composite construction and high-performance hull manufacturing. Compmillenia's capabilities in precision composite fabrication represent a potential strategic fit for PamliEcoConnect's vessel production goals.
Aligning Incentives with Long-Term Success
Our compensation philosophy is built around capital efficiency in the R&D phase — minimizing fixed cash outlay while offering meaningful upside to those who help build the company.
Capital Efficiency
During the R&D phase, we minimize fixed cash outlay in favor of funding vessel development, USCG approval, and operational pilots.
Upside Alignment
We offer meaningful equity-based incentives to those who take on ongoing management responsibilities — structured to reward sustained commitment.
Performance & Commitment
The most substantial upside is reserved for individuals who move beyond advisory roles into operational leadership and drive measurable milestones.
Advisory vs. Management Compensation
Advisory roles may receive modest cash stipends and/or small equity grants (subject to board approval), reflecting their strategic input and introductions.
Individuals who transition into formal management roles will be eligible for management-level equity participation as described in the equity structure below.
Equity Pool & Vesting Structure
As the company secures initial financing and moves into full vessel development and operations, it intends to implement a Management & Key Contributor Equity Pool representing approximately 10–20% of fully diluted equity, subject to board and legal approval.
Standard Vesting Terms
Who Participates
Founders (CEO & CFO)
Meaningful common equity positions reflecting early risk and contribution.
Advisors → Active Management
Significant equity grants sized according to role, time commitment, and impact upon transition into formal leadership.
Key Management Leads
Design, M/E Engineering, Battery/Powerplant, Compliance, Production, and other formal roles.
Performance-Based Milestone Grants
USCG Approval — 20-Passenger R&D Vessels
Entry into service of the first 20-passenger R&D vessels triggers performance-based equity kicker grants for active management.
50-Passenger Vessel Design Approval
Completion and regulatory approval of the full commercial platform design unlocks the next tranche of management equity.
Significant Commercial or Defense Contracts
Execution of major institutional, commercial, or defense contracts triggers additional performance-based grants.