Current Employees/ Past Employees and Volunteer

Current employees

Andy (2017-Present) updated 7/28/2023s

Andy started at Reef Systems volunteering his free weekends over 10 years ago. Now he is on his 4th year of being a full time service technician. His job is to service, maintain, and install new systems for our clients. Andy has over 31 years of experience in the hobby, and is very grateful to be able to maintain some of the most beautiful saltwater aquariums and koi ponds we have ever seen. He is a proud father of 4 and enjoy scuba diving in his free time.

 Danny (2018-Present) Coral Farm Manager

Alysse (2023-present)

 Alysse is an upcoming senior in high school studying Environmental and Wildlife resources. Her love of marine biology and passion for saving coral reefs brought her to Reef Systems in February of 2023. She loves to take every opportunity she can to help the customers and learn as much as she can in the process. Alysse loves spending time with her family and friends and beloved cat Binx! Her interests include snow boarding, fashion, and nature. She hopes to grow and further her learning in the coming years studying biology at college.  

AJ (2023-present)

My name is AJ. I am going into my sophomore year of highschool and have been working here since March. I have been coming to reef systems since 2019 for my saltwater tanks and eventually got a job. I enjoy working here because it helps me understand a lot more about reefing than I did before. I also play football and lacrosse in my free time. I currently have a 40 gallon at home, with all types of coral. My favorite are my torches. I like the little guy, especially Tiny Fish !!!

PAST EMPLOYEES

Andrea (2021-Present) updated 7/28/2023 RETIRED

Andrea joined the Reef Systems Coral Farm team in June of 2021. Andrea attended Bowling Green State University for a year and a half with a major in Biology and a specialization in Marine Biology. She returned home once Covid hit and started working at Reef Systems. She has learned a lot in the time she has worked here and valued that knowledge. At home she has a 55 gallon reef tank, which has developed greatly since starting at Reef Systems. Outside of Reef systems, she has worked at Centerburg High School as a color guard director for the marching band. She also recently started a new job at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in February of 2023. She looks forward to this new adventure at the Columbus Zoo, along with more knowledge to learn. Andrea enjoys sharing her knowledge with people and helping out where she can. 

Abby(2020-2022) updated 7/28/2023

Abby is a second-year student at Bowling Green State Univesity in the early childhood education program. She is a coordinator at BGSU's marine lab, where she is in charge of aquarium husbandry students. Since joining Reef Systems in 2020, she works on keepingall the tanks clean, fish fed, and water chemistry maintained. At home she keeps a 20 gallon reef with a pair of clownfish and numerous types of zoanthids. Currently a Teacher.

Cam (2021 - 2022) (AKA Shorty Shorts, 2021 NO REGRETS)

Camden is a incoming freshman at Ashland University. He is also apart of the soccer program. Camden started working in the shop since February. He has a 10 gallon reef tank at home that he has been taking care of for a year. He enjoys taking care of tanks and helping customers

Katie (Summer 2021- and back to school) 

Katie is a second year student at Miami University (OH) studying biology, sustainability, and photography. At school, she is a part of a sorority, a Marine Biology club, and many environmental awareness organizations. With goals of working in marine biology and marine animal rehabilitation in the future, she joined the Reef Systems team as a volunteer in January 2021. She became an employee in May 2021 and works on keeping the tanks clean and organized in the store, along with performing water quality testing. 

Garrett (2020-2022)
Summer Part time and whenever back in town

Garrett is a second year student studying architecture at Bowling Green State University who recently joined the team in 2020. He volunteers his free time in BGSU’s marine lab, working as a coordinator, taking care of freshwater and saltwater systems. At Reef Systems, he performs daily maintenance tasks such as preparing our water, cleaning aquariums, and keeping corals organized. He is always excited to help customers and unbag new fish shipments.

Madi (2019-2021 1/2)

Madi began working at Reef Systems in January 2020 and has volunteered at the shop since 2016. She has loved the ocean her entire life, which is what led her into the hobby in 2015. In the future, she hopes to take her experience gained at Reef Systems into her potential future career; as she hopes to major in marine biology in college. At home Madi keeps a 27 gallon tank and a 60 gallon tank both home to an array of different fish and corals from the farm. She is more than happy to help with any questions you may have and loves to start new tanks with customers. 

Elton (2015-2020) RETIRED 
On to further education. Real Estate. Medical School? or Whatever Elton decides he wants to do.  

Elton has been an employee at Reef Systems Coral Farm, Inc. since 2015. He has been a reef aquarium hobbyist since 2014, and aquatic aquarium hobbyist since 2010. His experience at the farm is diverse with knowledge in marine and freshwater/pond husbandry. Since joining the team, he has pursued an education at The Ohio State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology in 2020, and completing a thesis on marine Tridacnid and Mercenaria clams. His collaborations and academic work at OSU include researching coral response to interactive and long-term effects of rising CO2 and temperature, Hawaiian coral physiology, and the development of a marine education lab as an integration to the Center for Life Sciences course curriculum. He will continue his education at Wright State University, pursuing a master’s degree in Biological Sciences. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, photography, and loves animals. Please don’t hesitate to ask Elton for any advice or information!

Elton's Reef Capacity: 40 Gallon Breeder Lighting: Ecotech Xr30 G4 Flow: Ecotech MP40 and Mp10

Nathan (2017-2020) 
Currently working for the Columbus Zoo
Life Support Systems and Water Quality Keeper 1

Nathan started managing Reef Systems Coral Farm in 2017 and has been keeping marine animals since 2013. Prior to joining the team he was the lead in charge of taking care of over 6,000 gallons of freshwater corporate display aquariums and has been in the fish keeping hobby since a very young age. In early 2017 he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Marine Science from Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute. His education focused on the chemistry, biology, and geology of oceanic environments; as well as the hierarchy structure of marine species. In 2016 he was able to study for a short time at the Garace Research Centre in San Salvador, Bahamas. Nathan’s other interests include shooting sports, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Nathan’s Reef: Capacity: 120 Gallon Flow: Ecotech MP40’s, Ecotech S2 (return) Lighting: 2 Ecotech XR15 G4 Skimmer: Reef Octopus 110 int

Volunteers

Dave (2018 - Present, or whenever he wants) updated 7/28/2023

I have had fish tanks since I was a kid. First saltwater tank was a fish only tank in 2006, it was converted to a reef tank in 2017. I have worked full time as an aircraft mechanic for 26 years; 23 years of that on business aircraft. For fun I teach scuba diving & ride motorcycles. Married almost 20 years to Paula, don’t have kids but we do have 4 cats (Finnegan, Murphy, Bailey & Molly).

Thurman ( 2018 and whenever he wants to work)

INTERNS

Cecilia (BGSU Intern Summer 2023 and became and employee for the summer)

Cecilia is a second-year student at Bowling Green State University studying biology with a specialization in marine biology. She started as an intern at Reef Systems in May 2023 and moved to a paid position shortly after. In her spare time, Cecilia enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and crocheting.

Maddie (BGSU Intern Summer 2023 and became and employee for the summer)


Maddie is an undergraduate student at Bowling Green State University studying Marine and Aquatic Biology. At school, she is part of BGSU’s marine lab, the Marine Biology Association, and the American Fisheries Society. With the goal of working with marine mammals and being a working aquarist, she became part of the Reef Systems team to further her experience and knowledge in the field. In the shop, she helps keep the tanks clean and organized in the store, and is always excited to help the customers.  "May the Force be with you"

VOLUNTEERS

Kenzie (2023 Summer)

 Kenzie joined as a volunteer in the summer of 2023. She currently attends school at Florida Southern College where she plays lacrosse and is earning her degrees in marine biology and environmental science. Her interest in marine sciences came about thanks to a middle school science trip to a field station in the Bahamas. Since then, she has pursued work and education within the field, including visiting the same field station in her high school years. Her greatest achievement has been winning a goldfish, named bubbles, at the fair and keeping him alive since 2014. 

Tylar(2023 Summer)


Tylar started volunteering in the summer of 2023 and currently attends Ohio University with a major in wildlife & conservation biology. She has always been fascinated by marine life, specifically sharks, and hopes to someday work with them.

Carly (2021- 2021) Retired

Carly been working at reef systems Coral farm since February 2021. She started out as an intern, but moved to a paid position at the beginning of April. Outside of work she's going to school at Otterbein University for zoo and conservation: aquarium studies. She takes care of Otterbein aquarium lab system, the 300 gallon display tank, and the 150 gallon tank in the president's office. At home she has her own 75 gallon tank that she is just started setting up.