Seattle Aquarium
Sonja Baron, SHRM-CP, currently serves as a Human Resources Business Partner at Seattle Aquarium since June 2022. Previously held roles include Human Resources Manager at Universal Language Service, Inc. and Human Resources Business Partner at ADP, where responsibilities encompassed supporting complex products and delivering best practices to clients. Sonja's HR career began at Foss Maritime Company, progressing from HR Assistant to HR Generalist, leading recruitment and onboarding initiatives. Earlier experience includes Assistant Manager at Barnes & Noble, Executive Team Lead at Target, and Store Manager at J. Peterman Company. Sonja holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese and International Studies from The Ohio State University, along with certifications in Human Resources from the University of Washington and SHRM.
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is the ninth largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance and among the top five paid visitor attractions in the Puget Sound region. Since our opening, we’ve hosted over 22 million visitors and provided marine conservation education to over 1.6 million school children. We’re proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Opened in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium was owned and operated by the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation until 2010, when the nonprofit Seattle Aquarium Society assumed its management—a model used by most leading zoos and aquariums across the country. In 2007, the Aquarium opened a major expansion that added 18,000 square feet of space to the facility, including an impressive 120,000-gallon exhibit, a gift shop, café, meeting/event space and more. Our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, is reflected in everything we do—exhibits, events, conservation and education programs, research activities and more. This important work wouldn’t be possible without support from our community, members, staff and volunteers. The Seattle Aquarium operates as a nonprofit 501c3, through a long-term operating agreement with the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.