ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy had the honor to do a workshop at this year’s 37th International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA) annual conference in Atlanta, GA. The workshop was called Career Building and we had three experienced instructors who provided tips and insights regarding career options, how to build resumes and how to do successful interviews. The response from those who participated in this workshop has been overwhelming. It was a true joy to meet many of you after the workshop and I continue to receive emails from those of you interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal training and I am humbled by your enthusiasm, passion and determination.
Together we will continue to improve the quality of the animal’s lives living under our care. You are the industries future and indeed I see a promising future for you and the animals you will care for. For those of you fortunate enough to attend the IMATA conference the theme was Teamwork and we all walked away I think with a true sense of what that means for us each and every day in our schools, jobs, and family.
Keep up the good work, and hopefully we will see you at next years IMATA conference in Boston for Career Building 2, the ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy is committed to you and we work hard every day towards our mission: to promote careers in marine mammal training and provide students with skills and knowledge to elevate their careers.
ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy at Dolphin Discovery, Isla Mujeres
voluntary eye exam
Debi was responsible for initiating the 1st USFWS permitted Manatee Training Program in the U.S. and was the Manatee Care and Training Coordinator at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for over nine years. She has an extensive background in conservation research training, with a particular focus on manatee sensory biology, behavior, animal training and husbandry, but also has cetacean stranding and sea turtle training and care experience.
She was also the Director of Research and Education at Sea Life Park in Hawaii, has served as Secretary on the International Marine Animal Trainers Association’s (IMATA) Board of Directors, and is currently their Research and Conservation Committee Chair.
Currently, she is the Vice President for Animal Conservation with the Association for Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is responsible for overseeing AZA’s core animal programs, facilitating the work of AZA’s members in cooperative population and collections management, and the advancement of AZA’s conservation and science initiatives.
She earned her Ph.D. in psychology (cognitive and neuroscience) from the University of South Florida.
Raul Novelo will never forget the first time that he saw a dolphin show, it was 1977 and he was eight years old when he visited the Miami Seaquarium. According to his mother, he stayed by the dolphin pool forever and might still be there if she hadn’t dragged him away!
In 1991 Raul graduated with a degree in Business Administration. In 1995 Raul was first hired at Via Delphi in X’caret Park and then went on to do an internship at Dolphin Quest, Bermuda.
Raul first found his career after he met Shelley and Mike Wood of Dolphin Discovery and ABC Animal Training during the regional IMATA conference in Mexico.
In 2002 Raul began his career with Dolphin Discovery Mexico and has extensive experience in British Virgin Islands working as Senior Trainer at both Dolphin Discovery location in Antigua and Anguilla and as Supervisor at both Dolphin Discovery locations in Tortola and Cayman.
Raul with dolphn calf at Dolphin Discovery Tortola