What is your hometown, what brought you to the 

EMERALD COAST and how long have you been here?

I moved here two years ago with my yellow lab, Biscuit, for 

a job opportunity as an animal trainer for Gulfarium Marine 

Adventure Park. I am originally from Victoria, TX, where I was 

employed with The Texas Zoo for over five years working with 

all sorts of terrestrial animals from primates, big cats, and birds 

of prey. Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park provides me with the 

opportunity to work with a number of species including dolphins, 

seals, sea lions, otters, penguins and tropical birds.

What is your profession and what led you to choose it?

 

I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals, but never quite 

sure of where to start. My career began in the Texas Zoo gift shop as 

a cashier, and I moved over to a zookeeper position once an opening 

presented itself. As a zookeeper, I was able to learn and implement 

positive reinforcement training techniques with a variety of species 

which allowed the staff to help with the animal’s overall care. Once 

I started working closely with the animals and seeing the difference 

I could make in their lives, I knew I wanted to be an animal care 

professional and turn my passion into a profession.

Choose three words that best describe you.

Creative. Passionate. Driven.

What do you like best about Destin?

I love the food! Destin has an amazing variety of restaurants, but I 

was very impressed by the sustainable seafood options that many of 

our local restaurants offer.

What is your favorite thing about Destin?

The beach is my absolute favorite. Living and working this close 

to the Emerald Coast has been such an amazing opportunity. It’s a 

great location to educate the public about marine species, and how 

we can help conserve our ocean for future generations.

Finish this statement, I AM DESTIN because…

I am passionate about preserving our ocean and the many species 

that inhabit it. Destin is an amazing destination along the Emerald 

Coast, attracting thousands of visitors every year, and many of 

them make Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park an exciting part 

of their visit. The abundance of guests affords me the opportunity 

to share my passion and help our visitors develop a stronger 

appreciation for animals and the environment. Sharing the animals 

with our guests every day with the Emerald Coast as our backdrop 

really does help spread the message of conservation, which is why I 

AM DESTIN. 

photo by Samantha Blair

!"#$"%&'(!)

!"#$"%&'()*+,-

90 IamDestin.indd   1

4/25/19   9:47 AM