Experience that matters.

Clayoquot Capital LLC is more than just investment funding. We bring formidable expertise to investment activities. Our leadership and Investment Advisory Board are comprised of highly seasoned professionals. We bring heavy hitting leadership to the table, with former CEOs, CFOs and other C-Suite Executives, Vice Presidents and General Managers. We also include experts in a variety of key fields including finance executives, healthcare experts, business operators and software and large system developers.

Our strength is in our combined years and breadth of experience, with a Board of Directors comprised of members from several large public companies, University Advisory Boards and 501(c)3 charitable organizations.

Meet the Team

  • John Daegele

    PRESIDENT

    John Daegele is President of Clayoquot Capital LLC, an investment company leveraging relationships, experience, mentoring and practical operating knowledge for the benefit of entrepreneurial and early-stage companies.

    Daegele is the former sector Vice President and General Manager of the Strategic Space Systems division for Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems sector. The division, a provider of premier space systems serving national security, civil and commercial customers, generated over $3.5B in Sales and $10B in new Awards in 2020, achieving 17% and 470% growth, respectively, under Daegele’s tenure. He also held positions at Northrop Grumman as a business unit vice president, vice president and program director, sector vice president of Engineering of its Aerospace Systems sector, sector vice president of Production and Supply Chain and sector vice president of System Engineering, Integration and Test of its Space Technology sector.

    Prior to the acquisition of TRW by Northrop Grumman in 2002, Daegele served as vice president of Science and Technology for TRW, Inc., and as a director of advanced microelectronics initiatives in TRW Ventures. He joined TRW as a system engineer in 1983 in its space business. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and University of Southern California, respectively.

    Daegele has served on the board of the California Chamber of Commerce, on the California Lieutenant Governor’s Aerospace Advisory Committee, and he is past chair of the board of directors of Mathcounts Foundation, a U.S. STEM-oriented 501(c) (3) that provides engaging math programs to U.S. middle school students.

  • Diane Daegele

    TREASURER & CHAIRMAN

    Diane Daegele is Chairman of the Board and Treasurer of Clayoquot Capital LLC, an investment company leveraging relationships, experience, mentoring and practical operating knowledge for the benefit of entrepreneurial and early-stage companies.

    Daegele is the former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Autonomous Systems division for Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics sector. The division is a provider of premier autonomous aircraft systems for tactical and strategic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, with approximately $2B in annual revenue. Over the years she held multiple positions with increasing responsibility in finance, contracts, proposal development, business development, and business operations. She joined TRW in 1985 in space systems business administration, prior to the acquisition of TRW by Northrop Grumman in 2002. Preceding TRW, she worked for General Electric Corporation in the Financial Management Training Program.

    Daegele has a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University, with a double major in Economics and Political Science, and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University.

    Additionally, she has served on multiple non-profit organization boards including the Blind Children’s Center Los Angeles, Friends of American Martyrs, American Martyrs School Board, and American Martyrs Finance Council.

  • William Heffernan

    SECRETARY

    William Heffernan is Secretary of Clayoquot Capital LLC, an investment company leveraging relationships, experience, mentoring and practical operating knowledge for the benefit of entrepreneurial and early-stage companies.

    Heffernan is the former Vice President of Passive Microwave Devices for L-3 Electron Technologies Inc. As Vice President, Heffernan led his team to win numerous US commercial and government contracts and secured its first international contract. He also served as Senior Director of Business Operations and Senior Director of Programs and Engineering at Com Dev USA establishing the first US-based Canadian aerospace division, led the Quality Supplier Investigations team at Northrop Grumman, and was the Operations Manager of Passive Microwave Devices at Boeing Satellite Systems. In his 32 years in executive roles, Heffernan has acquired an extensive expertise in Mergers and Acquisitions, Program Management, Business and Proposal Development, Contracts and Quality Management, as well as design and development of operations and manufacturing facilities. He graduated with a bachelor degree in electrical engineering from DeVry Institute of Technology.