PACIFIC HYBREED TEAM
(Click + for Bios)
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.
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.
CARRIE FERRENCE
Carrie is the owner of The Big Lil and a fractional COO for mission-driven organizations. She knows the challenges of running mission-driven start-ups and small businesses and loves to work through them. Carrie thrives in figuring out the best ways to engage individuals and teams; involve clients, stakeholders, partners, and donors; and design organizational systems to support teams and drive change.
ROBIN LANCASTER
Robin is the Chief Financial Officer of Pacific Hybreed and has been with the company since 2018. As owner of Daisy Creek Accounting Solutions, Robin has gained extensive experience helping startups establish their finance departments from the outset. She creates and implements internal control policies and manages budgets to align with companies’ strategic goals. Robin grew up on the beaches in Florida and loves all things marine life. She has been captivated by the magic of the Puget Sound since moving to the PNW in 1995.
FRANCIS PAN
Francis is the Director of Genetics and Breeding at Pacific Hybreed. His research has been focused on genetic and environmental influences on performance traits for shellfish. Francis has co-authored and presented 55 scientific papers with over 700 citations. His passion is in sustainable food production and learning about science to improve farming.
JEREMY ESPOSITO
Jeremy leads Pacific Hybreed’s on-the-ground efforts as their director of hatchery operations. He’s been a farmer, business owner, hatchery manager, shucker, and aquaculture instructor in his 13 years in industry for both for-profit and restoration endeavors. Jeremy is his best self when he’s on the water: underway, paddling, farming, or napping.
ALEXA ROMERSA
Alexa is the Hatchery and Research Manager at Manchester and has extensive industry experience with Pacific Northwest seafood and commercial fisheries. She has an educational background in rocky shore ecology, aquaculture systems design, and crustacean bioenergetics. Her research experience includes building and testing food delivery mechanisms for recirculating barnacle aquaculture systems.
MELISSA DELLATORRE
Melissa earned her PhD at the University of Southern California in Marine and Environmental Biology. Her work evaluated physiological and biochemical mechanisms that may confer resilience to environmental stress in marine invertebrate larvae. She is excited to further develop her findings to enhance food production in the Breeding Program at Pacific Hybreed. Prior to USC, Melissa received a master’s degree at New York University in Environmental Toxicology, investigating sensitivities of sturgeon to toxins in the Hudson River. When she’s not working Melissa enjoys competing in races and triathlons, skiing, scuba diving, and volunteering for CORE Response.
AVERY LAU
Avery is the Algae Specialist for Pacific Hybreed in Kailua-Kona. He has nearly 10 years of experience in aquaculture, managing the aquaculture laboratory at the University of Hawaii, interning at the Oceanic Institute, and managing a commercial macroalgae farm on Oahu before moving to Kona and leading microalgae production at the Cyanotech corporation. His career mission is to contribute toward innovative technologies that aid in increasing the responsible production of unsustainable resources.
SARAH HAMAL
Sarah is the Algae/Hatchery Technician at Manchester, and graduated from the University of Northern Arizona with a B.S in Biology and Minor in Chemistry. She has been a licensed scuba diver for over 10 years. Sarah grew up on the Olympic Peninsula and has a deeply rooted passion and interest for what’s beneath the water’s surface.
