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Still reeling from death of star dolphin, aquarium welcomes new CEO to inspire support

With an $80 million makeover and a new top executive, Clearwater Marine Aquarium aims to get people flipping out again over experience-based tourism.


  • By Brian Hartz
  • | 7:00 a.m. December 16, 2022
  • | 0 Free Articles Remaining!
Joe Handy is the new CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium. (Photo by Mark Wemple)
Joe Handy is the new CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium. (Photo by Mark Wemple)
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The past 24 months have been a period of thrilling highs and devastating lows for Clearwater Marine Aquarium. In late 2020, it unveiled the results of an ambitious, $80 million renovation and expansion project. A year later, the institution was in mourning, stunned by the sudden death of Winter, the beloved bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail who starred in two “Dolphin Tale” feature films, which collectively earned more than $150 million at the box office.

 


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Brian Hartz

Brian Hartz holds a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and has been a St. Petersburg resident since 2013. He has also worked for newspapers and magazines in Indiana, Canada and New Zealand.

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