John Racanelli

John Racanelli has a diverse work experience in the field of aquariums and conservation. John started their career at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as the VP of Marketing in 1984. John then moved on to become the CEO of the Florida Aquarium from 1993 to 1997. In 1998, they worked as the COO at Academy Studios for two years. From 2001 to 2011, Racanelli served as the President and Founder of Racanelli Partners, a consulting firm specializing in change leadership and strategic planning for ocean conservation organizations and socially conscious businesses. During this time, they also worked as the Executive Advisor for the Sylvia Earle Foundation/Mission Blue, where they aimed to create a global network of marine protected areas. Racanelli then became the Senior Director of the Alliance of Chief Executives, a leadership organization for CEOs in Northern California. In 2011, they became the CEO of the National Aquarium, a world-class conservation-based aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland.

John Racanelli obtained a Bachelor's degree in Strategic Management from Dominican University of California, where they studied from 2004 to 2007. Prior to that, they attended the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1976 and 1977, focusing on Environmental Planning. John'seducation began at UC San Diego, where they studied Marine Biology from 1973 to 1976.