Meet the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center team!

Are you interested in joining our crew?

Click here to learn about available jobs and internships at the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center.

Click here to meet the crew at Tampa Bay Watch’s headquarters in Tierra Verde, FL.

Dwayne Virgint
Tampa Bay Watch CEO

Dwayne joined Tampa Bay Watch in October 2019. Dwayne earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Bridgeport. He brings more than 25 years of broad experience in leadership, operations and management of mission-based organizations to Tampa Bay Watch including zoos, aquariums, and museums. He served over twelve years as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and its affiliated companies in Albuquerque, NM. His goal at Tampa Bay Watch is to ensure that generations of young leaders will continue the mission of protecting the bay and the world’s ocean. He is a beekeeper and an avid scuba diver and spends much of his spare time in local waters.

Peter Clark
Tampa Bay Watch Founder and President

Peter Clark is the founder and president of Tampa Bay Watch. Under his watch, the organization has coordinated more than 100,000 volunteers, installed 10,000 oyster reef units and 1,200 tons of oyster shell to create more than two miles of oyster shell reef communities, and planted more than 1,000,000 salt marsh grasses to restore 200 acres of coastal tidal ponds to Tampa Bay. Until 1993, Peter served as Director of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Agency on Bay Management, an alliance of agencies charged with protecting the Bay. He has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and over fifty professional publications on natural resource restoration, water quality and environmental planning. Peter also initiated the nomination, which ultimately led to the designation, of Tampa Bay into the EPA’s National Estuary Program. He holds a US Coast Guard Captain’s License, received the Outstanding Environmentalist of the Year award from the Florida Marine Research Institute Environmental Excellence Awards program in 1994, and the NOAA Fisheries / American Fisheries Society Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award in 2005.

Leadership

  • Leah joined Tampa Bay Watch as Discovery Center Director in 2022. She is responsible for ensuring that the Discovery Center, located on the St. Pete Pier, provides meaningful opportunities for locals and visitors to learn about Florida’s unique ecosystems and Tampa Bay Watch’s efforts to protect and restore them. With an academic background in marine science and career experience in nonprofit management and communications, she is passionate about combining her skills to promote environmental stewardship. Leah holds a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from North Carolina State University, where she also earned a minor in Nonprofit Studies. She has been a collaborator on marine conservation, education, and aquaculture projects in Florida and abroad. In her free time she enjoys yoga, stand up paddleboarding, and exploring near and far.

  • Mich was born and raised in Massachusetts, and spent her childhood on the beaches and waters of Cape Cod, where she developed a love for the ocean. She came to St. Petersburg to attend Eckerd College as an art and theatre major, and eventually developed a successful career in local non-profit management and administration. Facilitating educational accessibility for children and adults in arts, culture, history and sciences has been an important element throughout her career, and she is very pleased to be part of such an important mission as that of Tampa Bay Watch and the Discovery Center. Mich enjoys film, painting, singing, and freshwater kayaking, and especially loves anything that makes her laugh!

Education

  • Zoe joined the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center’s opening team in 2020. She plays an essential role in developing and running the education department and outreach programs. Zoe holds a Master of Education in Environmental Education from Slippery Rock University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of South Florida. She is passionate about inspiring future generations to protect our environment. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, scuba diving, live music, and collecting VW bus memorabilia.

  • Madi Weaver joined the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center in 2022. Originally from St. Augustine, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology from New College of Florida in 2019. In college, Madi focused on shark research and conservation, but she is passionate about all things marine science. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing at the beach, boating, and hanging out with friends.

  • Dana Donkle joined the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center in 2023. Originally from North Carolina, Dana’s passion for the ocean and its creatures developed at an early age, snorkeling on coral reefs while visiting the Virgin Islands, and sketching the coral reef fishes in her sketchbook. Her love for the ocean and art led her to obtain a degree in Marine Science and a minor in Studio Art at the University of South Carolina. Dana enjoys teaching the younger generation through interactive and hands-on learning, as well as spreading ocean awareness and fascination through her art. In her free time she enjoys painting ocean creatures, creating sustainable jewelry, yoga, roller skating, and experiencing live music with her friends.

  • Abby joined the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center in 2023. Her passion for the ocean stemmed from family vacations to Sanibel, Florida from Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Education. During her undergraduate studies, Abby researched the eastern oyster and helped lead an oyster monitoring program. In her free time, she enjoys birding, shelling, photography, yoga, and exploring Florida and beyond.

Eco-Vessel

  • Mo joined the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center in 2022 as a captain on the eco-vessel. Originally from North Carolina, she has called St. Petersburg her home since 2016. Mo graduated from SPC with an AA in Elementary Education and BS in Business Management. She has spent the past 5 years gaining sea time working on various ships and boats around the country. Now Mo is excited to be putting all of her gained knowledge and experiences together to help Tampa Bay Watch pursue their mission. In her free time she enjoys sailing, golfing, and swimming with her dog.

  • Aubrey’s journey with Tampa Bay Watch started in elementary school when she joined our organization for a school field trip and dissected a squid. Years later, after interning with the education department in 2019, she became passionate about marine life and environmental education. In 2021, Aubrey joined the eco-vessel team to share her knowledge with guests. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Marine Science from the University of South Florida and has earned workshop training certifications in informal education. Aubrey is thankful for the opportunity to share her love for her hometown with others through field trips and tours. She enjoys inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards through fun, interactive learning. Outside of work, Aubrey enjoys being outdoors, on the water, cooking, and traveling to new places.

  • Dakoeta was born and raised in south Florida and naturally fell in love with all of the life and nature that Florida has to offer. He grew up fishing, snorkeling, and exploring the ocean and wildlands around Miami. He received his bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University and finished his graduate degree in Environment and Society at Utah State University before moving to Tampa and joining the Tampa Bay Watch team. He enjoys engaging kids and the general public in unique environmental learning opportunities and tries to keep up with current events regarding climate change and environmental protection. In his free time he loves playing soccer and other sports, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, and being with his friends.

Animal Care

  • Born and raised in northern Ohio, Lake Erie is where Nicole’s love for the water and fish first started. She moved to Florida when she was 19 and earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida with a focus on marine biology. Nicole brings a wealth of animal husbandry knowledge to the Discovery Center after working for a number of organizations in the Tampa Bay area. She occasionally makes guest appearances as a Guest Services Associate and an Eco-Vessel Educator. In her free time, she enjoys fishing, diving, hiking and paddle-boarding with her dog, Captain.

  • Johnna is a fifth generation Florida native with a passion for Tampa Bay's marine life. She grew up fishing and navigating the local waters with her legendary father and uncles. Johnna graduated from St. Pete College in 1996 and raised three children. She currently volunteers at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision, Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and PARC Center for Disabilities. In her spare time, Johnna loves to travel and can be found on the water, where she also teaches paddle boarding.

Guest Services

  • Originally a native of Northern Virginia, Jason joined Tampa Bay Watch in 2023 after moving back from Brazil where he lived for nearly a decade. Jason has a passion for all aspects of the ecology of our blue planet. A self proclaimed autodidact, he developed his education in agroecology, agroforestry and sustainable production landscape design while living in Brazil. He is acutely aware of the interconnection between agricultural landscape use and the health of our waterways and as such is excited to be part of the mission of Tampa Bay Watch. In his free time he enjoys outdoor activities like visiting beaches and hiking, traveling abroad, taking walks with his dogs, yoga and physical fitness. He also has a great interest in nutrition and the culinary arts.