Bill Elliott, who during a 45-year career catapulted Bay Ship & Yacht (BS&Y) from operating out of a single, mobile shipping container known as the “Shipyard in a Box” to becoming San Francisco Bay’s premiere ship repair conglomerate, announced a new generation of leadership for the diversified marine services provider.
Joel Welter, currently Chief Naval Architect, was named Chief Executive Officer and Gerona Goethe, currently Assistant General Manager is tapped to become General Manager. Both changes are effective March 28.
Welter graduated from Webb Institute in 1994 with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and has been with BS&Y since 1998. Goethe attended California Maritime Academy, holds a degree in Marine Engineering Technology and has been with the company since 2000.
The pair take the helm of a company cresting decades of successful growth. Founded by Elliott in 1977, BS&Y’s steady expansion of marine refit and repair capabilities now serves a cross-section of commercial and government customers encompassing the region’s expanding ferry system, barge network, superyachts and more.
BS&Y’s main facility is located in Alameda, CA, along with Svendsen’s Marine & Industrial supply, employing approximately (350) craftspeople. Another facility, Svendsen’s Bay Marine in Richmond, CA specializes in commercial and recreational vessels.
Maritime craftsmanship has been a talisman for Elliott since his start building wooden boats in Maine. Training programs that preserve and pass along a host of traditional specialty trades remains integral to the yard’s operation. Historic ships from San Francisco’s National Maritime Museum are a frequent sight at BS&Y, nestled alongside modern ferries and superyachts.
Establishing BSY’s flagship facility in Alameda led a bevy of other marine companies to also locate there, including a cluster of so-called “blue-tech” companies.
Vice President Alan Cameron joined Elliott’s fledging BS&Y in 1979 and currently serves as General Manager. Both Elliott and Cameron will be engaged in business development outside BSY, with the various endeavors of Bay Maritime Corp.
Founders Bill Elliott and Alan Cameron Step Back, Name Joel Welter CEO, Gerona Goethe General Manager
