The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is pleased to announce that Cynthia Spanoulis will join the staff as the new deputy director for the Department of Museums and Historic Resources on March 16, 2012.
As a sixteen-year employee of the City of Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development, Spanoulis brings skills that will increase Aquarium brand awareness, drive new revenue, and stabilize the financial picture of existing programs. Spanoulis has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Urban Affairs and Planning, and a Master of Public Administration, both from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She also has a Certificate in Municipal Retail Fiscal Management from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her work with the City, she was a congressional legislative aide in Washington, D.C.
Virginia Aquarium Executive Director Lynn Clements said, “Cynthia’s energy, intellect and breadth of experience in operations, fiscal management and strategic thinking comes at a perfect time in the life of the Aquarium. We are aggressively developing the Owls Creek Plan to include research and educational opportunities for the facility over the next twenty years. Her expertise will be an invaluable asset both for the Aquarium and the City’s historic resources.”
As the City’s Economic Development Strategy and Performance Coordinator, Spanoulis counts many projects among her successes such as bringing new and foreign domestic business and industry to the beach through complex negotiations and land closings on behalf of the City with executives of the industry. Especially notable is her work toward establishing Tax Increment Financing, Tax Abatement Programs and retail development.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research and sustainable practices. It is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks. The Aquarium is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach.
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