Sylvia Gendenjamts
GevoAbout Sylvia Gendenjamts
Davaajargal (Sylvia) Gendenjamts is Vice President, Accounting and Treasurer of Gevo, serving as the company’s principal accounting officer since November 12, 2024; she is 53, holds a master’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University, and is a licensed CPA in Texas . Prior to Gevo, she held senior corporate accounting roles across energy and industrials, including Pattern Energy (2019–2024), Hi‑Crush (2017–2019), and ENGIE North America (2004–2017) . Gevo’s executive pay framework emphasizes operational execution and strategic milestones (e.g., DOE loan guarantee, RNG financing, Verity commercialization, safety), with 2024 corporate goals paying out at 120.5% of target for named executive officers, underscoring a pay-for-performance orientation tied to project and capital milestones rather than purely financial metrics; applicability of identical metrics to Ms. Gendenjamts is not disclosed .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern Energy Group | Director of Corporate Accounting | 2019–2024 | Corporate accounting leadership at a developer/operator of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects . |
| Hi‑Crush Inc. | Accounting Director | 2017–2019 | Accounting leadership at a public proppant and logistics provider to hydraulic fracturing operations . |
| ENGIE North America Inc. | Corporate Accounting Manager | 2004–2017 | Corporate accounting at a private clean energy company . |
| Headwaters, Inc.; ISG Resources, Inc. | Various accounting roles | Not disclosed | Earlier accounting roles in industrials; specific dates not disclosed . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public company directorships or external board roles disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts . |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | $260,000 initial annual base salary, subject to annual adjustment . |
| Target Bonus % | Eligible to participate in the company’s bonus program; specific target percentage for Ms. Gendenjamts not disclosed . |
| Actual Bonus Paid | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts . |
| Equity Eligibility | Eligible to participate in equity programs at the Board’s discretion . |
Performance Compensation
The table below shows Gevo’s 2024 corporate annual incentive framework and payout determination for named executive officers (NEOs). Ms. Gendenjamts’ individual goals and payout were not disclosed; however, this table provides visibility into company-level performance levers used to determine bonuses .
| Metric (2024 Goal) | Weight | Performance Modifier | Payout Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| RNG project met financial thresholds; monetized ITCs (~$14M net cash) | 15% | 120% | 18.0% |
| Accelerate ethanol‑to‑olefins development; extended LG Chem JDA and formed Axens alliance | 10% | 150% | 15.0% |
| Verity operational/financial goals; first revenue, new grower tool, multiple new customers | 15% | 150% | 22.5% |
| Restructure RNG project bonds; remarketed bonds in April | 10% | 100% | 10.0% |
| Expand Climate‑Smart Farm to Flight; 125,000+ acres enrolled; USDA documentation submitted | 10% | 100% | 10.0% |
| Progress Net‑Zero Projects; conditional $1.4B DOE loan guarantee; engineering advanced; purchased RTE ethanol/CCS assets | 30% | 100% | 30.0% |
| Safety (TRIR 3‑year avg 1.01 vs goal 1.1) | 10% | 150% | 15.0% |
| Total Corporate Payout | 100% | — | 120.5% of target |
Additional plan design and governance:
- Executive pay emphasizes short‑term incentives linked to strategic/operational goals and long‑term equity to align with stockholders; independent Compensation Committee and consultant are used .
- Equity awards typically vest in three equal annual installments over three years, subject to continued service; minimum one‑year vest for awards under the plan, with limited exceptions .
- Company maintains a clawback policy compliant with SEC and Nasdaq rules; incentive‑based compensation tied to financial measures is subject to recovery upon restatement .
- Hedging, short sales, and pledging of company stock are prohibited .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (shares) | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts; the proxy table lists NEOs, directors, and >5% holders—she is not listed among them . |
| Ownership as % of outstanding | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts; 239,609,874 shares outstanding as of March 25, 2025 (table basis) . |
| Vested vs. unvested shares | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts . |
| Options (exercisable/unexercisable) | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts . |
| Shares pledged | Company policy prohibits pledging by management and directors . |
| Stock ownership guidelines | CEO 5x salary; other senior management 3x salary; directors 5x annual cash retainer . |
| Compliance status | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts . |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Short sales, hedging, and pledging are not permitted . |
| Typical vesting schedule | Options and restricted stock generally vest in 3 equal annual tranches; minimum one‑year vesting under plan (limited exceptions) . |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointment | Appointed Vice President, Accounting and Treasurer; designated principal accounting officer effective November 12, 2024 . |
| Base Salary | $260,000 initial annual base salary . |
| Bonus Eligibility | Eligible for annual bonus at Board’s discretion; individual target not disclosed . |
| Equity Eligibility | Eligible to participate in equity programs at the Board’s discretion . |
| Employment Agreement | Not disclosed for Ms. Gendenjamts in the 8‑K; no special arrangements were disclosed . |
| Severance / CIC | Gevo maintains a Change in Control Severance Plan providing double‑trigger protection for certain executives without employment agreements; specific participation for Ms. Gendenjamts is not disclosed . The equity plan permits various actions upon a change in control and provides for accelerated vesting upon post‑CIC involuntary termination of assumed/substituted awards, unless otherwise provided in award agreements . |
| Clawback | Compensation Recovery Policy aligned with SEC/Nasdaq rules for incentive‑based compensation upon restatement . |
| Indemnification & D&O | Company has indemnification agreements with its executive officers and maintains D&O insurance . |
| Related‑party transactions | None disclosed related to her appointment; 8‑K states no related‑party transaction under Item 404(a) . |
Investment Implications
- Alignment and incentives: As principal accounting officer, cash compensation is modest ($260k base) with eligibility for variable bonus and equity; Gevo’s incentive system ties payouts to execution of financing, project, commercialization, and safety milestones—key drivers for valuation in capital‑intensive decarbonization projects .
- Retention and overhang: Equity typically vests over three years with a one‑year minimum, and a company‑wide clawback, plus a double‑trigger CIC framework for certain executives, support retention while limiting immediate selling pressure; hedging/pledging prohibitions reduce governance risk .
- Ownership transparency: Beneficial ownership for Ms. Gendenjamts is not disclosed in the proxy, suggesting minimal immediate insider overhang; monitor Form 4 filings for initial grants and potential sales as indicators of near‑term supply and confidence .
- Governance backdrop: Say‑on‑pay support of 76.3% and use of an independent consultant/peer group reflect a conventional governance posture, but investor outreach was limited (1 of top 15 shareholders engaged), which can influence future compensation calibration and shareholder sentiment .
