My career in the Gulf of Mexico really began in 1969 when I made my first recreational dive on a production platform reef off the Texas coast. Since then I have been involved in commercial diving, environmental consulting, underwater photography and film making, marine research, public aquaria, environmental policy development and advocacy, commercial shrimping, marine education (formal and informal), education outreach and public awareness, government relations, private business and industry engagement, international relations, and more. My career has taken me to numerous countries outside of the U.S. and networked me with countless associates working in the broader Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea region.
I am skilled in project management, strategic planning, personnel development and management, budget management, public speaking and writing, ecological research, scientific writing, fundraising, and, network development, team building with industry and resource management professionals. I work well with peers from other countries. My work has been the focus of multiple media productions and documentaries.