Ryan J. Hoffman
About Ryan J. Hoffman
Ryan J. Hoffman, 46, is Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Interlink Electronics (LINK) since 2020; he holds an accounting degree from Chapman University and is a licensed CPA (inactive). He previously spent 16 years at RSM (audit partner) and 4 years at Ernst & Young, with specialization in software and multiple‑element revenue recognition . During his tenure, Interlink’s SEC “pay‑versus‑performance” disclosure shows total shareholder return values of $96.59 (2024), $131.73 (2023), and $84.21 (2022) per $100 initial investment, alongside net income (loss) of $(1,984,000) in 2024, $(383,000) in 2023, and $1,672,000 in 2022 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSM US LLP | Audit Partner | 16 years | Led audits of global tech/consumer/manufacturing companies; specialized in software and multiple‑element revenue recognition . |
| Ernst & Young | Professional services | 4 years | Big Four experience supporting complex audit/accounting matters . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualstar Corporation (OTCMKTS: QBAK) | Acting Chief Financial Officer | Current (as of 2025) | Shared services and cost‑sharing arrangements with Interlink; operational, admin, sales, and marketing services exchanged under consulting agreements . |
| BKF Capital Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS: BKFG) | Chief Financial Officer | Current (as of 2025) | Related‑party cost sharing; CFO role supports coordinated financial oversight across affiliated entities . |
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary ($) | $94,379 | $95,128 | $112,417 (net portion charged to Interlink) | $154,059 (net portion charged to Interlink) |
| Bonus ($) | $50,000 | $20,000 | — (not disclosed) | — (not disclosed) |
| All Other Compensation ($) | $697 | $2,684 | $3,142 | $4,189 |
| Total ($) | $145,076 | $117,813 | $115,559 | $158,247 |
Notes: 2023–2024 figures reflect only the net portion charged to and incurred by Interlink due to Mr. Hoffman’s concurrent roles at Qualstar and BKF Capital .
Performance Compensation
| Year | Incentive Type | Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cash Bonus | Discretionary (committee‑determined) | n/a | n/a | $50,000 | Paid | Cash (immediate) |
| 2022 | Cash Bonus | Discretionary (committee‑determined) | n/a | n/a | $20,000 | Paid | Cash (immediate) |
No equity or PSU/RSU awards are disclosed for Mr. Hoffman; “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End—None” (2023 and 2024/2025 proxies) .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Metric | 2023 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (common shares) | — (no shares reported) | — (no shares reported) |
| Ownership as % of shares outstanding | — | — |
| Vested vs unvested shares | None; no equity awards outstanding | None; no equity awards outstanding |
| Options (exercisable/unexercisable) | None outstanding | None outstanding |
| Shares pledged | Policy allows pledging; no executive‑specific pledging disclosed | Policy allows pledging; no executive‑specific pledging disclosed |
| Ownership guidelines | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Company‑level RSUs: In May 2024, 46,875 RSUs granted to certain employees under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (5‑year service‑based vesting; ~$136k grant‑date fair value). Executive‑specific recipients not identified; unrecognized compensation ~$95k at 9/30/2025 .
Employment Terms
| Term | Details |
|---|---|
| Start date / role | CFO since November 2020 |
| Contract type | At‑will employment; may be terminated by either party at any time |
| Current base salary (Interlink arrangement) | $252,350 (2025 proxy); portion charged to Qualstar/BKF based on time allocation |
| Bonus | Discretionary annual bonus; no target % disclosed |
| Severance | None; no termination or change‑of‑control payments/benefits under his agreement |
| Change‑of‑control | None for Mr. Hoffman |
| Clawback | Compensation Recovery Policy for incentive‑based pay upon financial restatement; adopted per SEC rules (Exhibit 97.1 to 2024 10‑K) |
| Indemnification | Directors and executive officers indemnified to fullest extent under Nevada law |
Compensation Governance
- CEO recommends compensation for executive officers (excluding himself); compensation committee (independent directors) reviews and approves; no external compensation consultant retained since 2016 .
- Compensation committee members: Independent directors (2023) Maria N. Fregosi (Chair), Joy C. Hou, David J. Wolenski; audit and nominating committees similarly comprise independent directors .
Related‑Party Transactions (Alignment and Conflicts)
- Shared facilities and mutual consulting agreements with Qualstar and BKF Capital; expenses billed/reimbursed per usage; Interlink billed Qualstar and BKF for facilities and services; Interlink incurred costs for Qualstar facilities; detailed quarterly and YTD balances disclosed .
- M&A advisory agreement with Bronson Financial LLC (BKF subsidiary) at $10,000/month was terminated in April 2024; prior fees recorded .
- Mr. Hoffman concurrently serves as CFO for BKF Capital and Acting CFO for Qualstar, both related parties with overlapping control by Interlink’s CEO/chair .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Hedging prohibited; pledging permitted under insider trading policy (potential misalignment risk if pledging occurs), though no pledging by Mr. Hoffman is disclosed .
- Zero share ownership and no outstanding equity awards indicate limited direct equity alignment and minimal insider selling pressure tied to vesting/expirations .
- Extensive related‑party dealings (Qualstar, BKF) and multi‑company CFO roles require continued audit committee oversight to mitigate conflicts of interest .
Investment Implications
- Pay mix is predominantly fixed cash with discretionary bonuses; absence of disclosed performance‑metric weighting and lack of equity awards for the CFO reduces direct pay‑for‑performance alignment and creates limited insider selling pressure from vesting schedules .
- At‑will employment with no severance or change‑of‑control protections lowers potential exit costs but may increase retention risk versus market peers offering equity and severance packages .
- Multi‑company CFO roles and related‑party cost‑sharing heighten governance scrutiny; robust audit committee oversight and the clawback policy partially mitigate risk, but equity alignment remains minimal given no disclosed ownership .