Staff and Leadership

Chairman & President

Jay Wade founded his first company in 1988, developing software designed for use in electronic case management systems for the U.S. Federal Court system. After successfully growing and selling that company in 1999, Mr. Wade continued on to pursue business interests in other technology-related fields. Currently, Mr. Wade splits his time between Red Earth Systems, an information technology professional services firm; Coyote Customs, a manufacturer of custom metric choppers; and Sub Aviator Systems a manufacturer and operator of winged submersibles. He lives in Oklahoma City.

Chairman Emeritus

Michael T. Moore has been practicing maritime and aviation law for over twenty years. Before founding his own firm he was a partner with Holland & Knight and chaired the firm’s Marine and Aviation Practice. He has also served several terms on the firm’s board of directors. Prior to Holland & Knight, Mr. Moore was associated with Messrs. Burlingham, Underwood & Lord in New York and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia offices. Mr. Moore is included in Who’s Who in American Law and is a fellow of the American Bar Association. Mr. Moore is also a member of the board of trustees of the United Way of Greater Miami, a former chairman of the Alexis De Tocqueville Society and the Coral Gables Youth Center Advisory Board. Mr. Moore is chairman of the board of the United States Coast Guard Foundation and President of the Admirals of the Fleet of Florida. Mr. Moore resides in Coral Gables, Florida.

Board Member

During his 35 years of experience in the offshore and yachting industry, Julian has been involved in building and managing a total of 620 marine projects. His pursuit of quality was awarded with several prestigious yachting awards from Monaco and Asia. Being one of the earliest yachting enthusiasts’ in Asia he has explored most of its pristine waters stretching from the Maldives to the Great Barrier Reef, and loves to share his experience, knowledge and passion for boating and the ocean with new and existing yacht owners.

On June 2019 Julian Chang was appointed as BURGESS Senior Yacht Adviser, Asia.

To protect what he loves, Julian is a board member of The International SeaKeepers Society and President and of our organisation’s Asian arm. In his spare time Julian relaxes on diving trips with family and friends, enjoys bird watching, fishing, chess, and motor biking.

Captain Glen Allen has had a successful career commanding both sailing and motor yachts since 1987. In 2019, Allen made the switch to life ashore and is now working with Derecktor Fort Pierce Shipyard helping build a state of the art large yacht shipyard. In addition, he spends time with his wife Suzan traveling the state of Florida photographing wildlife and landscapes.

Captain Allen is also currently the president of the International Superyacht Society.

Emeritus

Patty Elkus is an active global ocean catalyst based in Northern California with strong ties to Silicon Valley and San Diego. She serves on Dr. Margaret Leinen’s Directors Council at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is Co-Founder of the International SeaKeepers Society “Discovery Yachts” program, member of TBA21 Academy’s Scientific Advisory Council, and is Founding Chair of Environmental Programming for the San Diego International Film Festival. Past Board positions include Board Member of the International SeaKeepers Society of which she is a Founding Member, and Founding Chair of “Women in Yachting and Ocean Advocacy”, VP PR/Marketing for Achievement Rewards for College Scientists/SD (ARCS Found. Inc). Chosen as one of ORIGIN Magazine’s 2015 “100 Ocean Heroes”, and MODERN LUXURY/Riviera Magazine’s 2013 Altruists of the Year for her ocean advocacy, Patty’s focus is oceanographic exploration/science/the environment, marine protected areas and emerging technology. A Member National of the Explorers Club, she was a member of the Elkus/Munk Explorers Cub Flag Expedition to Cabo Pulmo, the Jackson Explorers Club Flag Expedition to Komodo, and the SIO CMBC San Diego Coastal Expedition. Expedition travel includes Antarctica, the Amazon, Galapagos, Palau and Indonesia.

Non-profit expertise in board governance, fund-development, special events. PR/Marketing and Advertising experience.

Specialties: CONNECTIVITY, team building, board development, event planning, fund development, and identifying and achieving deliverables for non-profits.

Dr. Luther received his doctoral degree in Physical Oceanography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. Dr. Luther is an Associate Professor and director of the Center for Maritime and Port Studies in the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. He has provided operation and maintenance support for the NOAA National Ocean Service Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System since 1995. He presently serves on the Tampa Bay Harbor Safety and Security Committee Vessel Movement Committee, the DHS Area Maritime Security Committee for West Florida, and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Agency on Bay Management. He works closely with the Tampa Port Authority, the Tampa Bay Pilots, US Coast Guard, and other maritime interests on environmental issues affecting and affected by maritime transportation operations and infrastructure. Dr. Luther chairs the Science Advisory Council for the International Seakeepers Society, He is an avid boater with both power and sail boats and holds a US Coast Guard Captain’s License. He has been sailing the waters of Tampa Bay and west Florida for more than 35 years.