Ryan Stearns
About Ryan Stearns
Ryan Stearns, age 53, was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Sacks Parente Golf, Inc. effective January 6, 2025, reporting to the Executive Chairman, with responsibilities encompassing financial strategy, operational reporting, and technology integration; he holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington . Prior roles include CFO positions at JTB Strategic Services (professional services focused on healthcare, fintech, and SaaS) and Medical Innovations (biotech/medical devices) . In his role, Stearns has certified SOX 302/906 for Newton Golf Company (the company’s updated corporate name in later filings), signaling accountability for disclosure controls and fair presentation of results . Company-level TSR, revenue growth, and EBITDA growth tied to his tenure are not disclosed in the filings reviewed.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| JTB Strategic Services, LLC | Chief Financial Officer | Since 2019 | Professional services firm specializing in healthcare, fintech, and SaaS; oversight of finance and operational reporting |
| Medical Innovations | Chief Financial Officer | 2017–2021 | CFO for biotech and medical devices company |
External Roles
- No external public company directorships or committee roles disclosed in the filings reviewed .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $225,000 | Annual (from 01/06/2025) | Paid as CFO; reports to Executive Chairman |
| Target bonus % | Not specified | — | Considered for discretionary bonuses determined by the Company |
| Actual bonus paid | Not disclosed | 2025 YTD | No bonus payments disclosed in filings reviewed |
Performance Compensation
| Incentive | Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary cash bonus | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not disclosed | Discretionary (Company-determined) | N/A |
| Stock options (subject to Board approval) | Time-based vesting | N/A | N/A | N/A | 36,000 options granted | 1/3 vests 12 months after vesting commencement; 1/36 of total shares vests monthly thereafter (subject to continued employment) |
| Stock options exercise price | Fair market value on grant date | — | — | — | — | Grant date not disclosed |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Category | Shares/Units | Status | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct common shares | 0 | Beneficially owned | 01/08/2025 | Initial Form 3 shows no beneficial ownership |
| Derivative securities (options) | 36,000 | Grant detailed; subject to Board approval | 01/06/2025 | Offer letter outlines time-based vesting |
| Exercisable vs unexercisable | Not disclosed | — | — | Vesting schedule provided; specific exercisability timing not itemized |
| Shares pledged as collateral | Not disclosed | — | — | No pledging disclosed in reviewed filings |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Not disclosed | — | — | Executive compensation section references policy headings; specifics for CFO not shown in excerpts |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employment start date | January 6, 2025 | |
| Reporting line | Reports to Executive Chairman | |
| Employment type | At-will; either party may terminate at any time for any reason | |
| Severance provisions | Not disclosed in CFO offer letter | |
| Change-of-control provisions | Company references general policy headings; CFO-specific economics not disclosed in provided excerpts | |
| Clawback provisions | Not disclosed for CFO | |
| Confidentiality/IP | Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement included with offer materials | |
| Non-compete/non-solicit | Not disclosed in filings reviewed |
Performance & Track Record
- SOX compliance: Stearns signed SOX 302 and 906 certifications for annual and quarterly filings (Apr 4, 2025 10‑K and May 14, 2025 10‑Q), affirming disclosure controls and fair presentation of financials .
- Governance signatures: Listed as Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) in company signature pages (10‑K and 10‑Q), confirming role and accountability .
Compensation Structure Analysis
- Cash vs equity mix: 2025 compensation as disclosed is primarily base salary plus time-vested options; bonus is discretionary and metrics are not specified .
- Risk profile shift: Time‑based stock options without disclosed performance hurdles indicate retention-focused equity rather than strict pay-for-performance; absence of PSU/metric-based awards in disclosed materials .
- Guaranteed vs at‑risk pay: Base salary fixed; bonus discretionary; option vesting contingent on continued employment, not performance metrics .
- Repricing/modifications: No evidence of option repricing or award modifications for Stearns in filings reviewed .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Insider ownership/pressure: Initial Form 3 shows zero beneficial ownership as of 01/08/2025; option grant carries a 12‑month initial vesting period, implying limited near‑term selling pressure from time‑based equity .
- Pledging/hedging: No pledging or hedging disclosures for Stearns in filings reviewed .
- Legal/SEC matters: No investigations or proceedings related to Stearns disclosed in reviewed documents .
- Governance clarity: Change‑in‑control and clawback specifics for CFO not detailed in the excerpts, an information gap for pay‑risk assessment .
Equity Ownership & Vesting Schedule Detail
| Award Type | Grant Date | Quantity | Strike/Exercise Price | Vesting Milestones | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock options | Not disclosed | 36,000 | Fair market value on grant date | 1/3 after 12 months from vest commence; 1/36 monthly thereafter (subject to continued employment) | Subject to Board approval |
| Beneficial common | — | 0 | — | — | Form 3 initial statement shows no direct ownership |
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Equity incentives are time‑based options with a 12‑month initial vesting milestone; near‑term insider selling pressure appears low, but long‑term alignment depends on ongoing service rather than explicit performance hurdles .
- Retention risk: At‑will employment and lack of disclosed severance/change‑of‑control economics reduce contractual retention anchors; equity vesting provides some retention tether via the 12‑month cliff .
- Pay-for-performance visibility: Discretionary bonuses without disclosed metrics and the absence of PSU‑style awards in reviewed materials limit transparency on pay‑for‑performance alignment; investors should monitor subsequent proxy disclosures for metric adoption .
- Governance/compliance: SOX certifications and CFO signature responsibilities indicate accountability for controls and reporting; no red flags surfaced regarding options repricing, pledging, or related‑party transactions for Stearns in the documents reviewed .