OdySea Aquarium remains on track for a summer grand opening, a “topping out” recently took place. This new construction milestone marks the conclusion of steelwork to the top of the facility which included installation of 2 million pounds of steel and 1,198 beams for the 200,000-square-foot, three-story facility.
“This is truly an engineering marvel and a major accomplishment,” said Founder Amram Knishinsky. “We are now ramping up our team that will actively manage the aquarium as we rapidly progress on this highly innovative project.”
Greg Charbeneau has been appointed general manager and he will oversee all operations at the OdySea Aquarium. With over 28 years of experience in zoological operations, hospitality, nationally acclaimed theme parks and aquariums, Charbeneau joins the OdySea Aquarium from Atlantis Resort & Dolphin Cay in Nassau.
Also new to the senior management team are David Peranteau, the curator of husbandry and Jessica Peranteau, the curator of animal behavior. They join the OdySea Aquarium from the Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari in Jackson, New Jersey and bring a combined 40 years of experience working with both land and sea animals.
They will oversee over 5,000 animals and approximately 300 different species for the aquarium. They have also acquired the aquarium’s very first 8-foot Sandbar Shark named “Uno.”
Amit Dongerdive has been named the director of IT and will oversee all technology including all exhibits and displays. He joins the OdySea Aquarium from the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta Georgia where he was the Director of IT for 11 years.
The OdySea Aquarium officially contracted Macgillivray Freeman Films to produce the film for the facility’s 3-D Theatre. As the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen 70mm films with 38 films for IMAX theatres, Macgillivray Freeman has won numerous international awards including two Academy Award nominations and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame.
Adjacent to the OdySea Aquarium, the one-acre marketplace (that includes restaurants, retail and entertainment) has contracted California Pools & Landscape who will begin construction for the ten individual fountains and a performance stage in the center courtyard.
