Cypress Rudloe, Executive Director
Cypress Rudloe is the Executive Director of Gulf Specimen Marine Lab. He is the brainchild of two of Gulf Specimen’s newest directions the Sea Mobile and Sharks and Chablis. The Sea Mobile is a mobile aquarium that travels throughout South Georgia and North Florida to schools to teach kids about marine sea life and environmental ecosystems and to protect them. Sharks and Chablis is an annual fundraiser for the aquarium that is held in the spring. The fundraiser helps raise funds for the annual operation of the facilities. It has over 300 to 400 people in attendance each year, and is the aquarium largest fundraiser. He has been attracted to the ocean and marine environment ever since he was a small child. He grew up collecting specimens on the boat for the aquarium, and it became an apparent he was more at home on the ocean than anywhere else. He was raised by Ann Rudloe and Jack Rudloe founders of the aquarium. They are highly respected in the field of marine biology and environmental conservation. He is a scuba diver, boat captain and generally a nice guy. He is very knowledgeable of the marine animals throughout the North Florida area and the different types of ecosystems found in the oceans. His plan is to expand the aquarium so that it can serve more people and continue its mission of teaching people about the marine environments and ways to protect them for future generations to enjoy. He is at the aquarium most days and you can e-mail him at [email protected].
Jack Rudloe, founder
Education: Independent study, Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, Yale Peabody Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Fields of Competence: Marine science, natural history writing and interpretation, aquarium design and operation, marine animal life support systems, public relations and publicity
Experience: Mr. Rudloe is the founder of Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory. He is the author of 7 well-known books on Florida natural history and marine life. He achieved the first live exhibit of the world’s largest isopod, the deep-sea giant sea roach. He was instrumental in the New York Aquarium’s exhibit of the giant Surinam toadfish, also a first. He traveled to Malaysia and The People’s Republic of China as a representative of the U.S. International Trade Commission to develop fisheries cooperative agreements. He participated in teaching the first field marine biology class offered at the University of Central America, Managua, Nicaragua.
Debbi Clifford, Office Manager
In the spring of 1991, Debbi Clifford drove down from Vermont to visit the lab she had been reading about in Jack Rudloe’s books. To her surprise, a short 30 years later, she is still here. She is the lab’s office manager. and has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge working in the field. She corresponds with aquariums, labs and universities from all over the country and occasionally does beachcombing and kayaking tours . In her spare time, Debbi makes jewelry and is an avid photographer, a gifted artist, sculptor and naturalist. Her favorite marine animal is the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus.
Leslie Breland, Intern and Volunteer Coordinator
Contact Leslie for information about Gulf Specimen’s volunteer programs at [email protected]
If you would like to contact Leslie about volunteer opportunities, please visit our “Support” page.
Anne Rudloe, Co-founder
Education: Ph.D., Florida State University, 1978
Fields of Competence: Marine ecology, behavior, aquaculture, marine science education, natural history writing, and non-profit management
Experience: The late Dr. Rudloe has been associated with GSML since 1970 in all capacities. She was an adjunct professor at Florida State University and has worked as a consultant on public resource issues for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Atlantic States Fisheries Management Council. She is an author of 1 book, 15 natural history articles in national magazines, and 18 research articles in peer reviewed professional journals. She managed GSML full time from 1996 to 2012.
You Will Be Greatly Missed. In Loving Memory.
“Protecting the earth gives meaning and wholeness and a sense that you are contributing to a greater good. This earth should not be allowed to disappear. Now it is your turn.”Anne Rudloe
Hunter Eichler, Head Aquarist, AmeriCorps Site Supervisor, Sea Turtle Standing Coordinator
Hunter Shines in showing her dedication to marine science! Her passion for sea turtles continues to strive daily here at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium. From diving into daily care routines to nurturing our underwater ecosystem, Hunter has shown incredible passion and commitment over the last 5+ years.
Email: [email protected]
Diana Poe, AmeriCorps Program Director
Diana has 10 Years of Volunteer Mountain Search and Rescue experience and 25 years in the electrical distribution field. She is a certified Instructional Designer and Tech Writer, a computer gamer, and a lover of hiking, cooking, and scuba diving. The ocean is her passion.
Email: [email protected]
Michael Holten, Boat Captain, and Collections Specialist
Krista Perini, Office
Michael Smith, Head of Maintenance
Andy Anderson, Maintenance
AmeriCorps Members
Paige Parker. Outreach Ambassador and AmeriCorps Environmental Steward
Say hello to our AmeriCorps Environmental Steward, Paige Parker! Pictured at the end, she is from the Tallahassee area and has a strong background as a biology teacher and nurse. She would bring her two kids, Hunter and Blaine, to the aquarium when they were younger often. Paige began volunteering at Gulf Specimen and quickly transitioned into the role of Outreach Ambassador.
Bailey Ball, AmeriCorps Environmental Steward - Handles Tortoise, Quarantine, and Urchin tanks
Education: Tennessee Tech University, B.S. in Wildlife Fisheries Sciences with a concentration in Conservation.
Always in search of life’s treasures, Bailey Ball loves to take nature walks and thrift. A mountain girl from Johnson City, Tennessee Bailey grew up on Oak Hill Quarter Horse Farm. A graduate of Tennessee Tech University, she holds a B.S. in Wildlife Fisheries Sciences a concentration in Conservation.
Email: [email protected]
Lexi Ramnarace, AmeriCorps Environmental Steward - Handles New Exhibits, and Touch Tank Room
Education: University of South Florida, B.S. in Marine Biology.
Lexi Ramnarace received her B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of South Florida. A scientist who also loves to paint, Lexi has joined GSMLs AmeriCorps team ready to explore the beauty and wonders of the sea found on the Gulf coast. Captivated by the moments of awe that unfold through the exploration of life in all its forms.
Email: [email protected]
Rachel Ottino, AmeriCorps Environmental Steward - Handles Trip Tickets, Enrichment, and Ray Tank Room
Education: Oregon State University, B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Spanish
Rachel Ottino is from San Diego, CA! In June of this year, she achieved her B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Spanish from Oregon State University. Rachel did research on intertidal community ecology for five years and worked for a non-profit building homes in different areas of Mexico while working towards her degree. She enjoys Scuba diving, traveling to other countries, surfing, tide pooling, and exploring nature. Her favorite thing about working at Gulf Specimen is getting hands-on experience, and learning about the different species that inhabit the Atlantic and the Gulf.
Email: [email protected]
Jalen Elwell, AmeriCorps Environmental Steward - Handles Dock Crab Traps and Crab World
Education: Western Carolina University, B.S. in General Biology
Jalen grew up in Iowa and then made his way out to North Carolina on a cross-country and track scholarship. He did research on two of species salamanders in western North Carolina. He spent a year and a half looking at abiotic and biotic factors that would hinder or encourage salamanders to leave their burrows to forage and mate. Jalen enjoys running, biking, listening to music, birding, and hanging out with friends.
Email: [email protected]
Matthew Jammal, AmeriCorps Environmental Steward - Handles Water Systems
Education: Ohio Northern University, B.S. in Environmental and Field Biology.
Matt Jammal, he was an intern over the summer of 2023 and has returned to work a full year with us as an AmeriCorps Member. He graduated from Ohio Northern University in December of 2023 with a B.S. in Environmental and Field Biology. He was born and raised in Cleveland, OH and is a “proud Ohioan”. Matt enjoys hiking, fishing, camping, and everything nature.
Email: [email protected]
Kelsey Waldo, AmeriCorps Environmental Steward - Handles Social Media and Mother Ocean
Education: Ohio Northern University, B.S. in Environmental and Field Biology.
Kelsey is originally from Arkansas and has lived in several states including Oklahoma, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, and Ohio. She attended Ohio Northern University where she earned her B.S. in Environmental and Field Biology in December 2023. Kelsey worked at Keeper Ranch in Texas taking care of fawns and studying the different kinds of Illnesses they can carry. She enjoys Volleyball, taking care of her horses and chickens when she’s home, and spending time with her friends and family.
Email: [email protected]