Meet Delana Paukert
Coast Maritime Founding Partner and Financial Operations Leader.
When Delana (Stoica) Paukert co-founded Coast Maritime, she brought together an uncommon combination: deep maritime roots through Sea Scouting and collegiate sailing, sophisticated financial expertise from her career in wealth management, and proven business operations leadership from scaling growing companies. As the founding partner responsible for Coast Maritime's financial operations and business administration, Delana ensures that the company's business foundation matches the professional excellence of its maritime operations.
Maritime Heritage and Competitive Sailing
Delana's connection to the water began early through Sea Scouting, where she developed both seamanship skills and the leadership abilities that would define her career. Her maritime experience continued through collegiate sailing, where competitive racing taught her the precision timing, strategic planning, and performance under pressure that characterize successful business operations.
"Sailing teaches you that preparation and execution have to be perfect," Delana explains. "Whether you're racing around buoys or managing business operations, success comes from understanding the conditions, planning strategically, and executing flawlessly when it matters."
Her ongoing involvement with Corsair Yacht Club maintains her connection to the sailing community and keeps her current with Southern California's maritime landscape—valuable insights for a company serving the region's marine industries.
Building Business Excellence Through Education
Delana's commitment to professional excellence led her to pursue business education at two of California's respected institutions. She earned her Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Fullerton College, where her academic achievements earned her membership in both Alpha Gamma Sigma and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies.
Building on that foundation, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Finance at California State University, Fullerton. This specialized education in financial analysis, investment strategies, and business management provided the technical expertise that would prove essential in her business career and, ultimately, in co-founding Coast Maritime.
"Finance isn't just about numbers," Delana notes. "It's about understanding how business decisions create value, manage risk, and build sustainable growth. That perspective has been crucial in establishing Coast Maritime's business model."
Proven Leadership in Business Operations
Before co-founding Coast Maritime, Delana built a track record of operational excellence across multiple industries. At Triqor Group, a growing real estate investment firm, she progressed from Marketing Coordinator to Operations Manager, ultimately managing staff and working directly with company partners on expansion strategies.
Her role involved organizing complex proposals, developing marketing materials, and maintaining sophisticated tracking systems—skills that translated directly to managing Coast Maritime's business operations. More importantly, her experience scaling a growing company while maintaining founding principles provided the blueprint for Coast Maritime's own growth strategy.
"At Triqor, I learned that scaling a business successfully requires maintaining your core values while adapting your operations," Delana reflects. "That experience has been invaluable as we've grown Coast Maritime from concept to established operation."
Her additional experience as a real estate investor with Pacific Dawn Capital LLC provided hands-on understanding of investment analysis, property management, and financial planning—expertise that benefits Coast Maritime's strategic decision-making.
Financial Advisory Expertise
Since 2018, Delana has served as a Client Service Associate with Sackett Wealth Advisors, Inc., where she provides financial planning and investment guidance to high-net-worth clients. This role requires the same attention to detail and client-focused service excellence that defines Coast Maritime's approach to supporting defense and energy sector clients.
"Wealth management teaches you that every client's situation is unique and requires customized solutions," Delana explains. "That client-focused approach influences everything we do at Coast Maritime—understanding each mission's specific requirements and delivering exactly what the client needs."
Her financial advisory experience also extends to serving as financial advisor to her family's company, SSR Engineering, where she applies her expertise to support another family business with deep industry roots. This background provides valuable perspective on the financial challenges and opportunities facing specialized engineering and technical service companies.
Balancing Professional Excellence with Family Leadership
As a mother of two and Girl Scout troop leader with Girl Scouts of Orange County since 2018, Delana brings the same organizational skills and leadership development focus to community service that she applies to business operations. Her experience leading youth programs demonstrates the communication skills and patience required to work with diverse groups—abilities that prove valuable when coordinating complex business operations.
"Leading Girl Scout troops teaches you to plan thoroughly, communicate clearly, and adapt when situations change," Delana observes. "Those skills apply whether you're organizing a camping trip or coordinating a complex marine operation."
Her partnership with husband Mike Paukert in co-founding Coast Maritime reflects their shared commitment to excellence and complementary skill sets—his technical and operational expertise combined with her financial and business management capabilities.
Co-Founding Coast Maritime: Strategic Vision Meets Financial Discipline
When the opportunity arose to co-found Coast Maritime in 2024, Delana's diverse background positioned her to serve as the business foundation for the company's maritime operations. Her responsibilities encompass financial management, business administration, strategic planning, and operational coordination—ensuring that Coast Maritime's business practices match the professional standards of its maritime services.
"Mike, Evan, Doug, and I each bring different strengths to Coast Maritime," Delana explains. "My role is ensuring that our business operations, financial management, and growth strategies support their maritime expertise and allow us to deliver exceptional results for our clients."
Her financial background enables Coast Maritime to structure contracts appropriately, manage cash flow effectively, and plan strategically for growth in the defense and energy sectors. Her operations experience ensures that administrative systems support rather than hinder the complex logistics of marine support operations.
Strategic Financial Management for Growth Markets
Delana's understanding of both financial markets and business operations positions her to guide Coast Maritime's expansion into California's rapidly growing offshore wind sector and evolving defense technology market. Her ability to analyze market opportunities, assess financial risks, and structure business relationships provides the strategic foundation for sustainable growth.
"Our target markets—defense, energy, and marine construction—require partners who understand both the technical requirements and the business realities," Delana notes. "My role is ensuring that Coast Maritime's business model supports long-term partnerships with sophisticated clients."
Her experience with high-net-worth financial planning translates directly to working with corporate clients who require customized solutions, transparent communication, and reliable performance—the same qualities that define Coast Maritime's service approach.
Building Lasting Partnerships
Delana's approach to business reflects her belief that lasting success comes from building genuine partnerships rather than simply completing transactions. Whether working with wealth management clients, coordinating complex business operations, or developing Coast Maritime's client relationships, she focuses on understanding needs, delivering value, and maintaining long-term connections.
"Coast Maritime's success depends on our clients' success," Delana emphasizes. "My job is ensuring that every aspect of our business operations supports that partnership approach—from initial proposals to ongoing service delivery."
Her combination of maritime heritage, financial expertise, and operational excellence provides Coast Maritime with the business leadership necessary to serve sophisticated clients in demanding markets while maintaining the company's commitment to professional excellence.