FORZA X1 - Key Persons
Blank Rome - Chief Legal Officer
Mr. Norton has spent over 20 years working in the technical design engineering arena for companies including Caterpillar Inc., Gerber Technology, and ATI Industrial Automation, in various project management and engineering development positions. He currently holds over 20 patents related to innovative electromechanical solutions to automation, boat docking, and work piece clamping. He is also the inventor of the NLS (Nautical Landing System) technology and has been developing the Smartlander positive restraint system for use in heavy-duty marine applications. Mr. Norton received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1998, from Northeastern University. and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He received his Certified Scrum Product Owner certification in 2019.
Jim Leffew is the CEO and President of Forza X1, Inc. Previously, Mr. Leffew served as the Senior Vice President, Manufacturing of Maverick Boat Group, Inc. from September 1999 until November 2021, where he was responsible for overseeing manufacturing operations and over 450 direct employees at a company with over $125 million in sales. Prior to joining Maverick Boat Group, Inc., he was a Facilities Director at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution where he directed all construction and maintenance needs for an over 500,000 square foot mixed-use space and managed a budget exceeding $5 million a year. Mr Leffew received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida in 1987.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief of Product Development
- Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief of Product Development
Mr. Visconti is the Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief of Product Development at Forza X1, Inc. With over 25 years of executive level operational and financial experience, Mr. Visconti was the founder, CEO and President of two previous companies, the first company was a regional Investment Bank that he built to over 400 employees and sold in 2000. The second company was ValueRich, a financial media company that was taken public on the American Stock Exchange in 2007. Mr. Visconti has experience building teams of professionals with a focus on product development and bringing those products to market. Mr. Visconti received his Associate's degree from Lynn University in 1984.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
- Audit
- Member of Our Board of Directors
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Lead Independent Director of Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Kevin Schuyler has been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2021. Mr. Schuyler is the Vice Chairman of the board of directors and Lead Independent Director of Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADIL) where he has served as a director since April 2016. He currently also serves as a senior managing director at CornerStone Partners, a full-service institutional CIO and investment office located in Charlottesville, VA, with approximately $10 billion under management. Prior to joining CornerStone Partners in 2006, he held various positions with McKinsey & Company, Louis Dreyfus Corporation and The Nature Conservancy. Mr. Schuyler serves on various boards and committees of Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, and Stone Barns Center. He is a member of the investment committee of the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. Mr. Schuyler graduated with honors from Harvard College and received his MBA from The Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
- Audit
- Member of Our Board of Directors
- President of SheGoes, Inc
Ms. Kull has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2022. Since November 2017, Ms. Kull has served as President of SheGoes, Inc., where she provides consulting services that guide manufacturers' strategic efforts to prepare regulators and distribution chains to accept and advocate for new technologies. From April 2017 through October 2017, she served as President of Torqeedo, Inc., a pioneer in the field of water-based electromobility, where she guided the global sales team to exceed revenue target, resulting in a successful acquisition. From April 2005 through March 2017, Ms. Kull worked at Volvo Penta where she served as Vice President-Marine Sales (from November 2011 through March 2017) where she led a diverse sales team offering products in both leisure (gasoline stern drive, diesel inboard, stern drive, jet and Volvo Penta IPS) and commercial marine segments throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Ms. Kull also practiced as a trial attorney for over 11 years where she specialized in defending manufacturers in complex products liability, warranty and other business litigation. Ms. Kull received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and her JD from the University of Iowa College of Law. We believe Ms. Kull's business experience, particularly in the boating industry as well as her legal expertise makes her well qualified to be a director of the Company.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
- Audit
- Member of Our Board of Directors
Mr. Ross has been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2021 and a member of the Board of Directors of Twin Vee Powercats Co., our parent company, since April 2021. He has over 30 years of experience in launching products and companies and promoting and growing brands. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer of James Ross Advertising since founding it in February 2003. Most notably, Neil has extensive marine experience partnering with brands like Galati Yachts Sales, Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales, Allied Marine, Bertram Yachts, Twin Vee, Jupiter Marine and Sealine to name a few. Mr. Ross received his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University.
Ms. Camacho has been the Chief Financial Officer of Forza X1, Inc. since August 2022. Nicole Camacho, age 37, served as the Deputy Finance Director for the City of Aspen, Colorado from January 2021 to August 2021, where she oversaw the financial functions of the City of Aspen, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, accounting, payroll, fixed assets, and procurement, supervised the timely and accurate recording of all financial transactions by the finance department for the City of Aspen and was responsible for over $500 million in city funds. From November 2019 to January 2021, Ms. Camacho worked part-time during tax season as a tax preparer at H&R Block. From January 2016 to July 2018, Ms. Camacho served as the Director of Accounting for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in Richmond, Virginia, where she oversaw financial functions, including accounts payable, budgets, procurement processes and grants departments. Ms. Camacho received her both her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in May 2006 and July 2008, respectively. Ms. Camacho has also served in the Army National Guard since November 2011.
Preston Yarborough is the Director of Tooling for Forza X1, Inc. and brings over 23 years of marine manufacturing experience. For the last several years, Mr. Yarborough has led the design, development and production of several boat models and built over 8,000 boats during his career. Mr. Yarborough has designed and produced specialized vessels for the US Navy, the National Park Service, and various state and county agencies and governments. Mr. Yarborough has received his Composite Tech Certification with ACMA as is a Certified Outboard Suzuki Marine Tech.