Don Montague
Head of Research & Development, Kite Designer, Test Captain
Don holds multiple patents on innovations in sports and energy systems. During his tenure as Head Sail Designer at Gaastra Sails and, subsequently, as Head of R&D for Naish International, he was responsible for advancements in both design and manufacturing. Don’s background as a professional windsurfer on the World Cup Tour and as a professional kitesurfer has kept him on the cutting edge of sail and kite development for the past 30 years. He has received many awards for competition and design, and has been featured in and contributed to magazines, movies, and TV shows internationally. At Kai Concepts, Don is responsible for the overall project vision, for directing kite design, and for helming the kite on boat tests.
Joe Brock
Lead Boat Designer, Shop Manager, Test Team
Joe earned a degree in physics from the Colorado School of Mines and spent the next ten years working seasonally on commercial fishing boats in Alaska. During the off-season, he built a 26-foot catamaran that he sailed with his wife from Washington to Alaska to the Gulf of California. In 2007, Joe joined Makani Power to work with Don on kiteboat development. At Kai Concepts, Joe is the shop and engineering manager and a skilled designer and fabricator. During kiteboat tests, Joe is the usual helmsman. Outside of work, Joe’s interests include creating the perfect truck and camping with his family.
Alec Korver
Head of Engineering
Alec graduated from Dordt College with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Before joining Kai Concepts, he developed algorithms for generating and evaluating motor designs in Sioux Center, Iowa, and he studied permanent magnet motor design at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 2013-2016, Alec co-founded a self-funded startup focused on reclaiming, refurbishing and reselling automation control systems. His other personal projects have included the development of an optimized electric bicycle and creating an Arduino vivarium controller. On the Kai Concepts Team, Alec works to design and build electrical control systems for the Jetfoiler™. In his free time, Alec enjoys kitesurfing, rock climbing, and walking his two dogs.
Reed Davis
Hardware Design Engineer
Reed is a native of Washington State. He spent three summers salmon fishing off the coast of Alaska. Reed’s path to joining the Kai Concepts team included a transformative internship at the shop in 2021. He was inspired to continue his education in Electrical Engineering and completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2023.
Andrew Orosco
Sr. Technical Program Manager
Andrew has over 15 years of experience in operations, program, and product management. He’s led various cross-functional teams in the EV automotive space at companies such as Tesla, Lyft, Lucid Motors, and Chargepoint. He embraces agile methodologies, operational challenges, and problem-solving as an opportunity to uncover what consumers truly value. As the Sr. Technical Program Manager, he is responsible for tracking projects, R&D development, resource allocation, key deliverables, and critical milestones to ensure we execute project deadlines. His holistic approach to program management will help the team stay laser-focused yet dynamic enough to shift priorities.
Matthew Mesan
Mechtronics Engineer
Matthew hails from New Zealand. He traveled to California in 2018 to study Mechanical Engineering and row Div 1 Crew at Berkeley. A passionate water sportsman, he gets out and spears fish, surfs, and swims given half a chance. He now holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Product Design from UC Berkeley. Matthew is excited to apply his technical experience, gained working in Silicon Valley tech, to water propulsion projects at Kai Concepts!
Dan Ringness
Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer
Dan is a versatile Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics. His passion for the outdoors fuels his avid swimming, skiing, and backpacking pursuits. With a keen eye for design and a knack for problem-solving, Dan navigates challenges with creativity and outside-the-box thinking.
Adam Bennett
Systems Integration Engineer
Adam’s career journey began as an automotive technician, where he honed his technical skills before pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of California Riverside. Transitioning into engineering, Adam became our Systems Integration Engineer and has been with Kai Concepts since 2021. With a specialized focus on high voltage systems, Adam demonstrates expertise in seamlessly integrating motors, inverters, and control systems into electric foiling watercraft. His role involves technical proficiency and a keen understanding of the intricate dynamics within electric propulsion systems.