Jacob Berton is co-founder and CEO of Rheos Nautical Eyewear, which designs and manufactures sunglasses for everyone on or near the water: boaters, fishers, and whatever-you-do-outsiders.

Jake started a digital marketing company in 2008 and led the organization for seven years through to acquisition by Havas Media, working with small and regional business clients as well as global brands like Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson, and the Olympic Athlete’s Village. During that time he served on the board of Extra Special People, an after school program and summer camp for kids with disabilities, where he witnessed the true meaning of selfless servant leadership from the board and executive team.

After losing countless sunglasses to a watery grave in 2015 while traveling the country in a 1981 Airstream, Jake and his wife Becca set out to solve this problem through floatable eyewear. Rheos believes the best of us comes to life on the water and the best way to protect our waterways is to help more people fall in love with them. We’re proud to give back to the coast we call home through our 1% for the Planet membership, beach sweeps and marsh cleanups, and partnership with local nonprofits like Charleston Waterkeeper, Charleston Surfrider Foundation and the SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center. Rheos gave more than $20,000 to local nonprofits last year.

Rheos has been featured by The Today Show, Good Morning America, Forbes, Outside Magazine and more and was recently recognized on the Bulldog 100 list of fastest growing businesses owned by UGA alumni. Today, Rheos can be found in hundreds of retailers across the country and we’ve delivered more than 100,000 pairs of sunnies into the hands of our community.

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