OUR TEAM
CO-FOUNDERS
JOTH DAVIS, PhD
Joth is a long-term, affiliate Professor at the University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS), where he co-advises MS and PhD students and collaborates with SAFS faculty on shellfish aquaculture-related research projects. Joth is also the owner of Baywater Shellfish Company, one of our shareholders, and co-owner of Hood Canal Mariculture, the only combined shellfish and seaweed farming company in Washington. Joth also serves as Senior Scientist with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Research Institute, and is a long-term member and former President (2009-2011) of the National Shellfisheries Association. Joth earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies at Colby College, a Masters in Environmental Studies at Yale University and a Ph.D. in Fisheries Sciences from the University of Washington.
DENNIS HEDGECOCK
Dennis Hedgecock earned a B.S. in Biology magna cum laude from St. Mary’s College, California, in 1970, and a PhD in Genetics, from the University of California, Davis, in 1974. Following a 30-year career at UC Davis, Hedgecock completed another 16 years with the University of Southern California, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where he is now the Paxson H. Offield Emeritus Professor in Fisheries Ecology. At USC, he served as Head of the Marine Environmental Biology Section, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, and Interim Divisional Dean for Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Dornsife College. Hedgecock has published over 140 scholarly articles on the genetics of fish and shellfish, is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an Honored Life Member of the National Shellfisheries Association, and a member of several other scientific societies. He serves on the editorial boards of Aquaculture and the Journal of Shellfish Research.
LEADERSHIP
MELISSA DELLATORRE
Melissa is an aquaculture and marine biologist who has a fascination for understanding the genetics and physiology of marine organisms. She obtained a Master’s degree in Toxicology, examining molecular pathways in sturgeon, and a PhD analyzing strategies of resilience to environmental stressors in marine invertebrate larvae. Currently, Melissa is the Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Hybreed, where she leads research efforts aimed at improving the yield and sustainability of shellfish farming. In her free time, you can find Melissa exploring the coastlines of Hawaii, always on the lookout for new insights into the marine life she loves.
JON KROMAN, JD
Jon has over 35 years of professional experience with organizational design, financing, business development and strategic relationships for new and growing businesses. From 1982 to 2010, Jon practiced law in the Seattle office of Garvey Schubert Barer. Since 2004, Jon’s work has focused on sustainability and included legal or consulting engagements for The Nature Conservancy and other nonprofit organizations, as well as mission-driven businesses. He is a co-owner of Hood Canal Mariculture and has been an investor as a member of E8, an angel investment organization focused exclusively on clean technology and sustainability, where he served as “deal lead” on a number of investments. Jon Kroman earned a B.A. in Anthropology with high honors from Michigan State University and a J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where he also served as a Note Editor of the Michigan Law Review.
FRANCIS PAN
STAFF
ALEXA ROMERSA
Alexa is the Hatchery Manager at Manchester and has extensive industry experience with Pacific Northwest seafood and commercial fisheries. She has an academic background in rocky shore ecology, aquaculture systems design, and crustacean bioenergetics. She has been with Pacific Hybreed since 2020 and continues to enjoy working at the intersection of industry and research.
OLIVIA CARLSON
New England raised-oysters found Olivia back in twenty eighteen when she began farming in Duxbury Bay. There has been no looking back as oysters have continued to follow her around ever since then. Or maybe she is following them around.
Regardless, after farming in Massachusetts, Maine, the Puget Sound in Washington, and Mahurangi Harbour of New Zealand the journey continues here in Hawaii. At Pacific Hybreed Hatchery, she is now training to be an oyster doula. When not immersed in the aquaculture world you can find her outside playing, harvesting shellfish, and foraging for anything she can eat.
RACHAEL TAYLOR
Rachael is a Senior Hatchery Technician at Kailua-Kona. She graduated with a First Class Honors BSc in Marine Biology with Oceanography at the University of Southampton, UK. She gained her oyster farm experience as the Farm Tour Director & Algae Technician at The Carlsbad Aquafarm, Southern California. Rachael is passionate about outreach education and food security in an ever-changing climate. When she’s not at work you’ll find her surfing, hiking or exploring the Big Island of Hawai’i.
KLOIE KUGLER