As chief executive officer, John Racanelli leads a team of 600 full and part-time employees and 1,000 volunteers in pursuing the National Aquarium’s mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures. More than 1.5 million people annually visit the Aquarium’s venues in Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, DC, while millions more are touched by the Aquarium’s education programs, outreach activities, social media campaigns and conservation initiatives.

A passionate advocate for the ocean, John strives to drive conservation action worldwide, ensure the success of one of the nation’s leading aquarium enterprises, and fundamentally change the way the world views the ocean and aquatic systems.

John joined the National Aquarium in July 2011 after 10 years as president of Racanelli Partners, Inc. The San Francisco-based consulting firm served the needs of nonprofit leaders nationally and globally, focusing on cultural and conservation organizations including Mission Blue/Sylvia Earle Alliance, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Surfrider Foundation.

After co-founding Mission Blue with author and oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, John assisted her in developing and launching Google Ocean, Google’s most significant enhancement of Google Earth, the most popular earth visualization tool in existence.

Prior to founding his firm, John spent 16 years in leadership positions at U.S. aquariums. He was the first CEO of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, where he built the facility, team and vision for Tampa Bay’s leading cultural attraction. He also served for nine years on the leadership team of the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium as its vice president of marketing and development, joining the aquarium a year before its opening. While in college, John began his career as a diver and aquarist, an experience that he credits with giving him great appreciation for the work of everyone on the aquarium team.

Fluent in Spanish, John holds a degree in strategic management from Dominican University of California. He is a SCUBA diver, open-water swimmer, sailor and surfer. His weekly radio show and podcast on WYPR public radio, “A Blue View,” explores important issues related to the aquatic world. John and his family are proud residents of Canton, Baltimore’s historic waterfront district.

As chief financial officer of the National Aquarium, Bruce Hoffberger oversees Finance and Accounting, Information Technology, Administrative Affairs, Human Resources, risk management, and contractual relationships.

Before joining the National Aquarium, he was treasurer and chief financial officer of the Enterprise Foundation, Inc. (now called Enterprise Community Partners), an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization focused on supportive housing. Prior to that, he was vice president and chief financial officer of Zurich Personal Insurance, a business unit of Zurich Group, and audit partner with Ernst & Young. In addition, as a certified public accountant, he has actively worked with nonprofit organizations as a volunteer and as an independent financial consultant.

A lifelong Baltimore-area resident, Hoffberger earned a B.S. in accounting from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Miami.

He has volunteered and held offices in various nonprofit institutions for more than 25 years, including the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore; the Advisory Board for the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland; National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Maryland Chapter; Sinai Hospital; the Jewish Volunteer Connection; and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore.

He is a past president of the Hoffberger Foundation, Inc., which is dedicated to responding to unmet needs in the greater Baltimore community and supporting initiatives in Israel.

When not working, Hoffberger enjoys flying, road biking, classical music, and reading fiction. He and his wife, Caren, live in Pikesville with their children, Corie and Bret, and their rescued cats.

Kathy Sher, deputy director of External Affairs, has been with the Aquarium for more than 25 years. Her Aquarium experience includes executive management and administration, strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, visitor services, retail management, and private consulting. Her duties have also included direction and management of auxiliary revenue areas, development, corporate sponsorship, membership, retail, and food service.

Currently her focus is directed toward public funding for the Aquarium’s complex multimillion-dollar capital improvements. She also serves as a liaison to the National Aquarium Board of Directors and the community.

Widely experienced in the fundraising and marketing of nonprofit attractions, Sher has served as a consultant for many institutions, including the Audubon Zoological Park in New Orleans, the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, and the South Carolina Aquarium.

In her External Affairs role, the Aquarium has increased its already strong commitment to the citizens of the City and State. She serves on a number of statewide and community boards, including the Governor’s Maryland Tourism Development Board, the American Visionary Art Museum Board, and the Aspire Fundraising Committee for the benefit of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Sher has been a pioneer in mentoring other women and helping them to establish themselves in their fields. She has a B.S. degree from Edinboro College and an M.S. degree from Duquesne University. She lives in Ruxton with her husband.

As a member of the Aquarium’s senior leadership team, Dale Schmidt is responsible for capital planning, exhibit development, guest services, safety, food services, facilities maintenance and retail services.

Schmidt has more than 30 years of experience working for accredited zoological organizations. He served as President and CEO of the Columbus Zoological Association; President and CEO of Oregon Coast Aquarium; Executive Director of Clearwater Marine Aquarium; and Vice President of Operations of The Florida Aquarium. He has also worked in operations for such organizations as John Shawn Productions, Inc.; Universal Studios Florida; and Busch Entertainment Corporation.

Schmidt, who recently served as chair of the Business Operations Special Committee for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Sciences from the University of South Florida. He also completed a leadership program at the Stanford Nonprofit Management Institute and served as Vice Chairman of the Zoo and Aquarium Committee for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.  

Steven Schindler brings to the National Aquarium more than 20 years of experience developing marketing programs. He has held key marketing positions with Bally’s Las Vegas and Contiki Holidays, where he worked on assignment in London, England, developing U.S. inbound tour programs. He also developed advertising programs for destination marketing organizations, attractions and hotels and resorts with San Diego and San Francisco Bay Area advertising agencies.

In 1992, he founded his own California-based marketing firm, Schindler Marketing Group, Inc., and served as president and creative director for 16 years before focusing his communications and marketing skills in the digital world.

In 2006, Schindler co-founded Sasa Technologies, where he launched two online businesses and spearheaded digital commerce transactions that strengthen business-to-business relationship development, led negotiations with content and distribution partners, and directed online search engine initiatives that optimize online presence and marketing opportunities.

Most recently, he was the vice president of marketing of Local.com Corporation, a leading online media company that connects small and medium businesses and national advertisers with more than 25 million monthly unique visitors. He led that organization’s successful online relaunch; launched the corporation’s daily deals site, Spreebird.com; and led all strategic marketing planning and communications for its diverse consumer and digital businesses.

Schindler earned his Bachelor of Science degrees in marketing and public relations from San Diego State University and studied international business at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.  

As Chief Conservation Officer, Eric Schwaab provides strategic vision and leadership for the National Aquarium’s Conservation and Science Division, a team of 130 professionals, engaging in initiatives ranging from field conservation and biological programs to legislative advocacy and animal rescue.

Schwaab most recently served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Management for the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In this role he works closely with Congress, other agency leaders, partner organizations and local communities to develop policies and take conservation action to ensure sustainable federal fisheries, promote coastal stewardship and enhance protection of ocean habitats. Previously, as Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at NOAA from 2010-2012, Schwaab directed the National Marine Fisheries Service. He was responsible for science, management and conservation of federal fisheries, marine mammals, sea turtles and other protected resources within the United States. Schwaab led the agency’s national requirement to end overfishing, the implementation of “catch share” management programs to better align the interests of commercial fishing businesses with conservation goals, and efforts to improve coastal and ocean habitat conservation.

Prior to his work with NOAA, Schwaab spent three years as Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where he worked extensively with legislative leaders and other agencies to support important state conservation initiatives, including Chesapeake Bay restoration, forest and park land conservation and fisheries rebuilding. Schwaab’s 20 plus years of conservation stewardship in Maryland also include service as Director of the Fisheries Service (1999-2003); Director of the Forest, Wildlife & Heritage Service (1995-1999); Director of the Forest Service (1992-1995); and Chief of Resource Management for Maryland Forest & Park Service (1989-1992). From 2003 into 2007, Schwaab served as Resource Director for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, coordinating conservation work on behalf of fish and wildlife agencies across North America.

Schwaab, who served as the NOAA Administrator designee on the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from McDaniel College and a Master of Arts degree in Geography and Environmental Planning from Towson University. He also completed a leadership program for senior executives in state and local government at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.