Keith Stevens serves as the President for Mystique Boatworks. Keith brings twelve years of industry experience with expertise in operations, production support, customer service, and new product launch. After completing his BS Industrial Engineering and MS Industrial Engineering degrees from North Carolina State University in 1991, Keith worked for several Fortune 500 companies before entering the marine industry. Keith served two years with International Paper, where he was employed as a Maintenance Supervisor / Process Engineer. In 1993, Keith joined IBM for eleven years, where he was employed in multiple Senior Process & Industrial Engineering Manager roles. Keith completed an MBA from Duke University in 2002, while working with IBM. In 2004, Keith went to work for two years for Danaher, as VP, Operations. Keith transitioned into the marine industry in 2006 when he joined Regulator Marine, serving eleven years as VP, Operations. In this role, Keith was responsible for the end-to-end operational teams and their performance. Keith briefly left the industry in 2012 for a 3-year stint with Amazon, where he served as a fulfillment center General Manager, before returning to Regulator Maine in 2015 in the same capacity.
Leonard Rigsbee serves as Chief Designer & VP, Operations for Mystique Boatworks. Leonard brings over 32 years of marine industry experience. Leonard has built and repaired boats under the name Cap-N-Squid Boatworks since 1998, building 25 vessels ranging from 22’-65’ with the vast majority over 50’ in length. In addition, Leonard has retrofit and/or re-powered another 20 vessels, along with countless smaller repairs. Utilizing both cold-mold and traditional plank on frame construction methods, Leonard focuses his boat design and build around custom sport and commercial fishing vessels, with beautiful Carolina flair. Leonard has a strong reputation of owning the process from concept, build, sea-trial, and beyond, supporting these vessels well after delivery. Since 1984, Leonard has maintained a United States Coast Guard Captain License, and he was a charter boat captain for 20 years both prior to and during the beginning of his company. Leonard was introduced to boat building at Jarrett Bay, working on a 44’ vessel, where he involved from concept to completion. Leonard gained invaluable experience in all aspects of boatbuilding and construction during this time.
Jim Luxton serves as the Hull Designer / Construction Engineer for Mystique Boatworks. Jim brings over 45 years of industry knowledge, with expertise in all aspects of the sportfishing industry. Professionally, Jim’s first role in the marine industry was in 1976, where he served as a mate in the Morehead City, NC charter fleet. A few years later, in 1978, Jim obtained his United States Coast Guard Charter Captain license. Jim also obtained a license as a USCG 100-ton Master all US waters, in 1996. In between, Jim co-founded Jarrett Bay Boatworks in 1986, where he served as President while designing and building custom yachts up to 60 feet for both private and commercial clients. After leaving Jarrett Bay, Jim started C&L Boatworks in 2000, presiding as President for 5 years. In 2005, Jim began James V. Luxton & Associates, providing boat design, engineering, and manufacturing consultation roles for numerous other builders. Through the years, Jim developed a reputation as a change-agent in the North Carolina boat building industry for his state-of-the-art hull and boat designs as well as his manufacturing process improvements, resulting in safer, more comfortable, and more efficient hulls and boats.
Brian Cooke serves as the VP, Engineering & Supply Chain for Mystique Boatworks. Brian brings sixteen years of industry knowledge with expertise in design engineering, engineering compliance, and production support. Brian joined Grady White in 1999, working 5 years in Product Engineering where he was responsible for shop floor documentation, customer support documents, and small part design. In 2004, Brian transitioned to World Class Catamarans for 7 years where he served as a Product Engineer before promoting to Product Development Manager. Brian left the industry in 2011 to complete his BSBA in Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and MBA, at East Carolina University. Brian served in various supply chain roles and taught management / entrepreneurship at ECU from 2012 through 2018, before returning to the marine industry. Brian joined Parks Manufacturing, LLC, makers of Blue Wave and Silver Wave products, as Supply Chain Manager in 2018, and was promoted to Director of Engineering in 2019, encompassing both brands.