Lucas Shane Chittum

Lucas Shane Chittum, based in Tennessee, is the President of HCB Yachts, renowned for advancing the HydraSports brand of fishing boats. His leadership and the commitment of his team have successfully introduced a new segment within the marine industry: center console yachts. This innovation provides an ideal blend of luxury fishing and cruising. Chittum has also developed the iKon, a cutting-edge bass boat equipped with automated control features, a premium suspension seat system, and enhanced maneuverability for challenging conditions.

His career in the marine industry began as the Chief Operating Officer at MasterCraft Boat Company in Knoxville, TN, where he established himself as a skilled Manufacturing Executive. His efforts there led to the company becoming the first marine plant to earn ISO certification in manufacturing, safety, and environmental standards. He is a staunch advocate for continuous improvement, applying Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to enhance operations at both MasterCraft and HCB Yachts, which significantly improved product quality and profitability.

Following a six-year service in the United States Armed Forces, Chittum pursued a Bachelor's in Science with a major in Accounting from the University of Maryland. His academic choice, driven by his natural affinity for numbers, unexpectedly prepared him for a leadership role in a highly successful boat manufacturing company, which he later helped take public in 2015.
He also holds a certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a Six Sigma Black Belt, demonstrating his proficiency in leading-edge manufacturing techniques. These skills have allowed him to optimize company operations effectively.

Chittum's professional path in business accounting began with a role as an Auditor for Deloitte & Touché, after which he took on significant managerial positions at Lear Corporation and then Visteon. His tenure at Lear involved overseeing operations at plants across Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. At Visteon, he served as Director of Global Operational Excellence, managing three Mexico-based plants and successfully reversing a $24 million loss into a $10 million profit within three years. His achievements earned him the prestigious Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence.

In 2011, Lucas Shane Chittum joined MasterCraft as COO, where he significantly increased the company's profitability, leading up to its public offering.