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On behalf of all the volunteers and staff at the Georgia Aquarium, welcome to the Volunteer Team. Your commitment means so much as we pursue our vision of being the World’s Most Engaging Aquarium Experience!

One of the many tools used by the Aquarium to make your experience as positive as possible is the creation of the Volunteer Steering Committee(VSC). The VSC is composed of eleven volunteers who have demonstrated a superior level of commitment and a sincere desire to make the volunteer experience a meaningful and worthwhile reality. Our number one goal is to facilitate effective communication between the Aquarium and all volunteers. Let’s be on the lookout for one another as we continually create memorable experiences for ourselves and the guests.

Wanda S. Rodriguez “The moment I heard about the wonderful gift from Bernie Marcus, our Georgia Aquarium, I knew I wanted to be a volunteer. I took my first class, Orientation 101, on May 25, 2005. That June, I started volunteering in the warehouse doing water quality analysis. It was an exciting place to work, and I got to see a lot of the secrets that would soon be wowing the world. In early October, I heard that a small group of divers would be selected to help get the exhibits ready for opening day. I made the team! On Oct. 22, 2005, I became the first woman volunteer to dive in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. I was in Diver Heaven! Surrounded by whale sharks, great hammerhead sharks and gold clouds of trevallies, I spent the next month in a state of exhausted bliss as we prepared for the big day. I still spend most of my time as a volunteer underwater. I dive Ocean Voyager every other Saturday and Tropical Diver every other Monday. Land lubbers can find me doing floor shifts in the galleries or volunteering at special events.”
Vincent DiGangi “I started, as did all other volunteers prior to the Aquarium opening its doors, with initial training at Zoo Atlanta and Hands on Atlanta. My first assignments were as an interpreter with Guest Programs, working the galleries the day after opening and continuing in this position for almost a year. While working in Guest Programs, an opportunity came up in the Husbandry Commissary, and for the following six months, I worked in both the Commissary and Guest Programs until a position in Husbandry West Side (Cold Water Quest) became available. Then I volunteered in both the Commissary and Cold Water Quest Husbandry every Monday and Tuesday for close to a year. Currently, I spend all of my time volunteering in Husbandry West Side. You can find me there every Monday morning.”
Richelle Weinstock “My first volunteer assignment was early Monday morning, Nov. 21, 2005, standing outside in the cold, greeting and directing the first group of Annual Pass Members into the brand new Georgia Aquarium. Since that date, I have averaged more than 500 volunteer hours per year in a range of rewarding and challenging positions: manning the information booth for Visitor Services; working every gallery and assisting on Behind the Scenes Tours for Guest Programs; practicing husbandry in the Education Loop including food prep, cleaning exhibits and feeding animals; giving gallery and Behind the Scenes Tours to groups, volunteers from other states and visually-impaired guests for Volunteer Programs; participating in various special events; helping in Volunteer Programs and administration with telephoning, data collection and preparing items for display and use during fundraising activities; and walking for autism with the Aquarium team. I have enjoyed each and every assignment. Currently, I am Editor of ‘Steering You Forward,’ a newsletter created for and by volunteers.”
Tony Dwornitski “I started volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium in July 2005. My first assignment was at the warehouse in the Water Quality Department. It was exciting to see all of the new aquatic animals that passed through the quarantine pools in the warehouse on their way to the 'Big House.' I then transferred to 225 Baker Street and worked in the Water Quality Lab and occasionally helped out in the hospital. I started in the dive program in October 2005. Since then, I have been fortunate to dive in seven different exhibits in three of the galleries, Ocean Voyager, Tropical Diver and Cold Water Quest. When the volunteer dive program was in its infancy, there were only 10 volunteers. It would not be unusual for a dive shift to consist of only one or two volunteers, with the rest of the team consisting of staff. I would frequently get in the water and work alongside Jeff Swanagan, Ray Davis, Chris Schreiber and Chris Coco and have Marj Awai swimming around taking pictures. Talk about trying to put your 'best fin' forward… and not let it touch the acrylic! Nowadays, I can be found at the Aquarium every Sunday, alternating dives between Ocean Voyager and Tropical Diver. After the dives and clean up, I usually walk the floor and talk to our guests. If you see me, please do not hesitate to stop and say hello.”
Lily Gomez “I started volunteering as a way to deal with my ‘empty nest.’ Prior to the opening of the Aquarium, I worked selling Fish Scales, promoting the Aquarium in several venues such as the Atlanta Music Festival and completing my training classes. Once Georgia Aquarium opened, I volunteered mainly on floor shifts in all galleries. In February 2006, I joined the volunteer dive program. My current schedule includes diving about twice a week, doing two or three floor shifts a month in any of the galleries and helping out on Behind the Scenes Tours. I have been a member of the Volunteer Steering Committee for two years, and I have been impressed both by the leadership within the volunteer group working to improve our experience as Aquarium volunteers and by the upper administrations' receptiveness to our ideas and suggestions. The Aquarium has filled a great personal need... to continue giving back to the community by educating others about our delicate ocean environments and the greatness of its creatures. What great gifts our world graciously provides! Thank you Georgia Aquarium!”
Tom McNamara "On Oct. 22, 2005, I became the first volunteer diver to enter the water at the Aquarium. Since that time I have been diving in all five galleries and have logged more than 200 dives. In addition to serving on the Volunteer Steering Committee, I am a mentor for the Aquarium Ambassadors (formerly the Recruitment Sales Team) and have been selected to serve on several Georgia Aquarium focus groups in an effort to improve the Aquarium experience for our guests. Along the way, I have accumulated more than 1,100 volunteer hours through the dive program, floor shifts and community outreach."
Doug Talbott "I've been fortunate enough to volunteer at the Aquarium since it opened. As a diver, actor, Behind the Scenes Tour guide assistant and Volunteer Steering Committee member, I've had the pleasure of educating our guests about the wonders of our oceans. During my approximately 1,700 hours of time at this incredible facility, I'm constantly amazed by the curiosity displayed in the questions asked by our guests, particularly the children. So many of them want to know why Maris, our youngest beluga whale, kissed me underwater! Above all, I'm lucky to learn from, and interact with, the most dedicated staff and volunteers possible. My hope is to be both student and teacher here for many, many years."
Pam Balsley "My first volunteer experience was for Bernie Marcus’ 'black tie and sneakers' fundraiser the night before the Aquarium opened. I’ve been here almost every week since then. I generally volunteer in Guest Programs working in the galleries. I prefer Cold Water Quest and Ocean Voyager, and I’m ready to learn more about alligators and work in River Scout more often. Currently, I am doing the Actor Rotation and working on the microphone in front of the Ocean Voyager and beluga whale windows. I love working the Behind the Scenes Tour. I help in the Volunteer office making phone calls and working with Dennis Deaton on volunteer recruitment at off-site locations. I have responded to a few last minute requests; helping in the 3rd floor administrative offices stuffing envelopes and making copies. This is always fun as it gives me the opportunity to spend time with other volunteers, getting to know them better. As a member of the Volunteer Steering Committee, I have been responsible for planning trips for the Aquarium volunteers. The Traveling Trevallies have had one trip to the Tennessee Aquarium and are in the planning stages for several more."
Doug Bernhard "I began volunteering at the Aquarium to learn more about the amazing animals on display and obtain a better understanding about how a large aquarium operates. The wonderful people I have met here allow me to keep coming back week after week. I started before the Aquarium opened learning about all the animals and habitats. Since then I have worked in all of the galleries, assisted with Behind the Scenes Tours, prepared animal diets in the Commissary and now spend a majority of my time in the Tropical Diver gallery as a husbandry volunteer. I hope everyone has as rewarding an experience as I have."
Jim Eagans "I started volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium in October 2005. I was one of the first ten volunteers fortunate enough to be recruited into the volunteer dive program in order to help prepare the Ocean Voyager habitat. We spent most of time scrubbing, cleaning and preparing for the grand opening in November 2005. Since that time I have enjoyed diving various exhibits in the Aquarium both on SCUBA and surface supplied air. After and in between dives, I enjoy walking through the various galleries and interacting with the guests."

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