Our Team
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Mark Coast
As Founder and CEO of BCAGS, Mark Coast is the visionary inventor behind the company's patented supply chain technology. His unique background, combining a BS in Physics with a Master of Public Administration, and engineering experience, allows him to design novel and sophisticated technical solutions that solve complex regulatory challenges. This dual expertise enabled Mr. Coast to identify critical vulnerabilities in agricultural commerce and architect the definitive blockchain platform to secure it.
Mr. Coast's vision is forged from decades of high-stakes operational experience as a retired USMCR Colonel and DEA Special Agent (Criminal Investigator). He has firsthand experience combating the very threats that BCAGS' technology prevents, having spent his career dismantling international criminal organizations and shaping Homeland Defense as the Policy Chief at the Pentagon. Furthermore, his real-world experience found him teaching at San Diego State University, Homeland Security Graduate Program. This profound, authentic security expertise is embedded in the BCAGS platform, creating a battle-tested, cutting-edge solution designed to protect the integrity of the global supply chain.
Chief Operations Officer
Steve Coast
Steve Coast, COO, brings BCAGS a wealth of experience with over 30 years of strategic leadership from the military, federal law enforcement, and international business sectors. His unique qualifications are rooted in a powerful combination of academic achievement, holding a Master's of Business Administration and a Master's in Homeland Security, coupled with distinguished field experience. As a retired DEA Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) and a USMCR Lieutenant Colonel, he managed complex trans-border operations, dismantled international criminal organizations, and served as a Foreign Military Advisor. This extensive background gives him unparalleled expertise in complex operations and securing logistics within challenging, multijurisdictional environments.
At BCAGS, Mr. Coast applies this unique skill set to implement the industry's best supply chain business practices. He translates his deep understanding of risk management, security, and international compliance into a formidable operational strategy for the company's patented blockchain technology. His leadership is instrumental in deploying a system that provides robust security and transparency for high-value agricultural commodities like wine, cosmetics, cannabis, and pharmaceuticals. He ensures BCAGS effectively protects client assets from theft, counterfeiting, and contamination as they move across state and national borders, making him a critical asset in revolutionizing supply chain integrity.
Chief Financial Officer
Charles Sellers, CPA
As CFO, Charles "Charlie" Sellers anchors BCAGS with over 40 years of distinguished experience in public accounting. His career began with an eight-year tenure at the prestigious firm Ernst & Young before he founded and successfully managed his own CPA firm, Sellers & Company, for two decades. Mr. Sellers' expertise is further supplemented by his academic contributions as a Clinical Professor at San Diego State University, where he taught Accounting Ethics to graduate students. He holds a master's degree in taxation and is a CPA, an Accredited Estate Planner, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
Mr. Sellers' role at BCAGS is the culmination of his extensive experience, particularly in compliance and ethics. His background in teaching accounting ethics gives him a unique perspective on the value of blockchain technology to create systems of perfect transparency and integrity. This is complemented by his time as the Regional Director of fiduciary planning and compliance for SquarMilner (now Baker Tilly), which directly informs his strategy for navigating the complex financial and regulatory landscape of agricultural commerce. Mr. Sellers translates BCAGS's cutting-edge technology into a robust financial model, guiding the company's fiscal growth and ensuring its innovative platform is backed by disciplined, world-class financial stewardship.
Our TEAM
Chief Legal Officer
John Hemmerling, J.D.
John Hemmerling serves as the CLO for BCAGS, where he architects the company's legal and compliance framework at the critical intersection of technology, agricultural law, and public safety. His role is foundational to the business, ensuring our patented blockchain solution not only meets but sets the standard for regulatory adherence. Mr. Hemmerling's extensive background as the former Lead Counsel for the San Diego Police Department gives him a rare and invaluable perspective, enabling him to design data-sharing protocols that are both commercially powerful and legally sound for government and law enforcement partners. He is instrumental in structuring our blockchain's data integrity to meet rigorous evidentiary standards, a key requirement for its use in regulatory compliance and legal proceedings under frameworks like the FDA's Food Safety & Modernization Act (FSMA).
As a corporate guardian and business enabler, Mr. Hemmerling leverages 30 years of experience to protect our intellectual property and facilitate strategic growth. His expertise in transactional law and contract design is vital in forging and managing our key partnerships, while his deep knowledge of policy development and risk mitigation ensures our operational resilience. A retired USMCR Colonel with a proven record of leadership in high-stakes environments, Mr. Hemmerling's strategic counsel is essential for navigating the complexities of international commerce and inter-agency cooperation. He provides the critical legal oversight that de-risks our operations, secures our competitive advantage, and empowers BCAGS to scale confidently as the trusted leader in supply chain transparency.
Chief Government Affairs Officer
Eric Katz
As BCAGS CGAO, Eric Katz brings over 25 years of leadership experience from federal law enforcement, intelligence, and crisis management. As a former DEA Supervisory Special Agent, he led complex, multijurisdictional investigations and coordinated sensitive operations with the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. His career has focused on building robust security programs, mitigating operational risk, and advising congressional stakeholders on protecting the nation's critical supply chains. This expertise is complemented by his private sector role leading security and strategic initiatives for a biotech firm focused on national health threats.
At BCAGS, Mr. Katz is the crucial bridge between our patented blockchain technology and the government agencies that regulate and secure commerce. He aligns the company's legislative strategy with its mission to deliver a unified platform that solves complex regulatory challenges and protects the chain of custody for high-value agricultural products. Leveraging his deep background in interagency coordination and supply-chain security, Mr. Katz spearheads policy initiatives and builds strategic partnerships with regulators, law enforcement, and industry groups. He ensures BCAGS's compliance architecture is not only technologically advanced but also practical and implementable for all stakeholders in the real world.
Chief Marketing Officer
Trevor Devine, PhD.
As CMO, Dr. Trevor Devine leads BCAGS's market strategy with over 30 years of experience as a transformational leader in federal law enforcement, military, and business development. His background is perfectly aligned with BCAGS's mission, including security and marketing consulting experience, where he provided strategic guidance for international projects in the blockchain, business development, and cannabis compliance sectors. This is combined with distinguished careers as a retired DEA Special Agent/Pilot (Criminal Investigator) and a retired USMCR Colonel, where he managed multi-million-dollar budgets and supported complex international partnerships, including influence with Norway's $8.3 billion acquisition of fifty-two F-35 jets. Dr. Devine's Ph.D. in Public Safety Leadership and Master's in Public Administration provide the academic framework for articulating the critical value of secure supply chains to a global audience.
Dr. Devine's career is defined by driving growth and market penetration. As president of a defense technology company, he directed business development that culminated in the company's acquisition by a publicly traded entity, launched three innovative products in a single year, and established vast domestic and international distribution channels. This proven history of forging strategic partnerships and accelerating market reach has been instrumental in executing BCAGS's go-to-market strategy. His expertise in critical risk analysis and building customer-first solutions ensures that our marketing efforts will resonate deeply with stakeholders who require absolute trust and operational excellence, positioning BCAGS as the definitive global leader in agricultural compliance technology.