LEADERSHIP
Delivering on a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the highest quality, the leaders of Newport Yacht Builders leverage 50-plus years of relevant marine-industry experience in every project. Jim Thompson, Ezra Smith, and Ashley Reville Hill provide design, build, and project management, giving clients a seamless experience in new build and yacht refit from concept through delivery. As proprietors of independent businesses, the three worked together on multiple projects for many years in an association formalized as Newport Yacht Collaborative (2019) and subsequently Newport Yacht Builders.
Ezra Smith
Design
Ezra Smith has been involved in the design of some of the world’s finest yachts since 2002, first as a designer at Fontaine Design Group in Portsmouth, RI and since 2009 as Principal of Ezra Smith Design. His versatility encompasses marine and architectural design, ranging from hard-wing sails and foiling systems for C-Class catamarans to waterfront homes, mega yacht interiors to large-scale restorations of classic yachts. Some of Ezra's notable projects include the incredible Classen built Hoek 90 Acadia, the 90-foot motoryacht Contraband, the full restoration of a 1931 Consolidated motoryacht, and the interior design of the Oliver Hazard Perry, a 190' square-rigged sailing school vessel.
Always seeking innovation in both design solutions and process, since founding Newport Yacht Builders Ezra has completely re-imagined the yacht-interior design process, integrating 3D modeling, laser scanning and CNC production methods to provide a seamless progression from ideation to built reality, achieving custom solutions with production methods.
Jim Thompson
Build
Jim Thompson has been building, restoring, and repairing yachts for more than 25 years. Trained in traditional methods as an apprentice in yacht restoration, Jim opened J. Thompson Marine Carpentry in Newport in 2003, and with his crew of craftsmen, he has worked on hundreds of yachts since. There aren’t many significant yachts that have spent time in Newport without Jim having touched them.
Because craftsmen try to find the most efficient ways of doing things, Jim has consistently looked for new opportunities based on better organization and efficiency. His transition to digital design and investment in scanners and CNC tools took off when he rebuilt a classic poweryacht interior on the East Coast (see Ezra Smith)—and delivered it to the West Coast for installation! Three years later, the start-to-finish design and build of Pretti Rose has proven the Newport Yacht Builders method.
Pursuing challenging projects, developing original solutions, and delivering a high level of execution have been driving forces for Jim all along. He says he finds a hands-on approach is best suited to his management style, which means you’ll usually find him in work clothes with a tool in hand.
Ashley Reville Hill
Projects
Ashley Reville Hill started her career in the marine industry in 2008 working at Newport Shipyard. She worked with both clients and contractors in her roles as purchasing manager and project coordinator. After her time there she attained a wealth of hands-on experience aboard several yachts as a crew member, involved in all aspects of each vessel. She has crossed several oceans, and raced in superyacht regattas around the world and has worked on a variety of yachts and superyachts from Swan 82s through to J class yachts and beyond.
Today, Ashley’s expertise allows her to provide a seamless interface between client and contractor.
As project leader for Newport Yacht Builders, Ashley manages the operational side of the business. She coordinates the contractors working on each project as the primary point of contact for our clients.
Ashley is also the manager of another arm of Newport Yacht Builders called CaptureRI, Rhode Island’s premier 3D interactive scanning partner, where she has leveraged all of her experience to deliver top-of-the-line scanning of yachts and other interior spaces to provide owners, designers and builders with accurate information, increasing project efficiency.