The Marine Scene is proud to have an exceptional staff. Each member of our team brings to the organization a commitment to customer service excellence. A prerequisite for employment at The Marine Scene is a commitment to the beautiful, yet fragile and delicate marine organisms we sell. Our staffing model defines a set of job responsibilities geared towards providing the best quality product and service available. We pride ourselves on our professionalism and ability to provide our customers with top notch livestock, products, service and advice. We look forward to serving your needs.

The Marine Scene Team

Tom White – President/General Manager

Related work experience: Tom has a BBA in marketing with extensive course work in architectural design. He spent 7 years in deluxe hotels in food and beverage management. Tom designed and personally built the store interior and holding systems. (With a little help from Dad and his Step-mom, Sally. Let's not forget our good friends Paul and Cynthia for those many hours of help and support and last but not least my lovely wife Tina for all the painting and moral support. - Thanks guys!)

Specialty: System design and holistic/natural approaches to tank management. Tom has coordinated and installed tanks from 10 gallons to 1100 gallons. Tom takes your ideas from design to completion.

Favorite fish: Yashia goby, Naso tang

Favorite coral/invert: Acropora spp

Tanks at home: 85 gallon acrylic reef tank

Responsibilities: System design and installation

Melissa Sutton – Retail Manager

Related work experience: Melissa grew up overseas maintaining freshwater aquaria since 1989 including Discus, Oscars, Guppies and live plants. She started keeping saltwater aquaria after settling back into the states in 1996. Melissa joined our team as part time in 2002 and quickly became a valued employee and has worked her way up to Retail Manager. Along with this hobby, Melissa has obtained her Open Water Diver certification in 2006, Advanced Scuba Diver in 2008 and is currently working to become Rescue Diver certified. She has dove in Nassau, Bahamas, twice in Palau, and Florida Keys. You can read about her experiences in her blog. Her other hobbies include photography, wakeboarding, swimming, traveling, camping, hiking and many other outdoor activities.

Specialty: Melissa has great knowledge of Fish, Coral and Invert Compatability along with all other aspects of the hobby. She has great customer service and enjoys making sure you have a wonderful experience at the Marine Scene.

Favorite Fish: Spineyhead Blenny

Favorite coral/invert: Zoanthus sp., Euphyllia spp.

Tanks at home: Currently has a 4-gallon pico reef fully equiped with a sump, micro-chiller and LED lighting.

Responsibilities: Melissa is responsible for overall Retail store managment and customer service. She is responsible for ensuring that our livestock is acclimated properly and correct care is given to ensure our customers a healthy specimen. She works with our vendors and wholesalers one-on-one to bring in top of the line products and be able to give discounts to you, our customers. She has been writing the Weekly Newsletter for many years and creating sales and specials.

Bobby Haas – Service Manager

Related work experience:Bobby has been a hobbiest for 10+ years. He has his Bachlors in Marine Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Oceanography.

Specialty: Bobby specialilzes in new tank design, installation and service. He maintains aquariums of all sizes ranging from 10 gallons to 1100 gallons. He ensures that each aquarium gets its proper care so all the client needs to do is feed their fish and coral.

Favorite Fish: Copperband Butterfly and Hawkfish

Favorite coral/invert: Cleaner Shrimp

Tanks at home: 30 gallon Reef aquarium

Responsibilities: Bobby is responsible for our Custom Aquarium Concepts clients, tank installation, service and maintenance.

Steve Lazar – Assistant Retail Manager

Related work experience:Steve has been working in the retail aquarium business since 2006 and joined the Marine Scene team in 2008. He is currently working on his second Bachelors degree and pans to enter a Ph.D program in Marine Biology after that.

Specialty: Steve has vast knowledge in water chemistry, SPS corals and their captive care, along with all other aspects of the hobby.

Favorite Fish: Amphiprion chrysopterus

Favorite coral/invert: Cyphastrea sp.

Tanks at home: 90 gallon acrylic temperate Seahorse aquarium and two 15 gallon Reef tanks.

Responsibilities: Store maintenance, Customer Service

Jen Willett – Sales Associate

Related work experience: Jen has always enjoyed marine life. She Wants to major in Marine Biology and become a Marine Biologist in the future.

Specialty: Fish Care and Customer Service

Favorite Fish: Green Mandarin & Powder Blue Tang

Favorite coral/invert: Sun Coral & Long Spined Urchin

Tanks at home: 6 Gallon Seahorse tank

Responsibilities: Customer Service

Matt Carroll – Sales Associate

Related work experience: Has maintained saltwater aquaria for 2+ years in which he became part of our team.

Specialty: Matt is very knowledgable of SPS corals and their captive care. He is extremely knowledgable about the equipment needed to properly maintain an aquarium. He excels in Customer Service

Favorite Fish: Halichoeres sp. of Wrasse

Favorite coral/invert: Montipora sp.

Tanks at home: 38-gallon and 50-gallon breeder reefs. Both are kept on the same 30 gallon sump.

Responsibilities: Store Maintenance, Coral and Fish care, Customer Service

Matt Crossley – Sales Associate

Related work experience: Matt has worked in the aquarium hobby for many years. He joined our team after working at three other aquarium stores. Matt has 14+ years keeping freshwater aquaria and 5+ years keeping saltwater aquaria. He volunteered in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which was part of the Cleveland Metro Park Zoo, caring for all types of animals including fish, reptiles, mammals and birds of prey. He spent three months in Costa Rica rehabilitating spider monkeys.

Specialty: Matt does an amazing job keeping our systems clean to provide our livestock with a healthy environment. He is very knowledgable of the many aspects of keeping saltwater aquaria and excels at customer service.

Favorite Fish: Dogface Pufferfish

Favorite coral/invert: Zoanthus sp. and Pom Pom/Boxing Crabs

Tanks at home: Matt has kept many tanks over the past few years. He is currently piecing together a 20 gallon long Reef system.

Responsibilities: Store Maintenance, Water Chemistry and Customer Service

Kathleen Babarsky – Sales Associate

Related work experience:Kathleen joind the Marine Scene Team part time while working towards her college degree.

Specialty: Kathleen excels in customer service and makes sure you have a great experience while shopping here.

Favorite Fish: Banded Pipefish

Favorite coral/invert: Galaxy Coral and Maxima Clams

Tanks at home: Kathleen currently has a 90 gallon reef.

Responsibilities: Customer Service

Mathew Holliday – Sales Associate

Related work experience:Mat has recently become part of our team. He is finishing up school and aspiring to further his education in Aquatic Studies.

Specialty: Coming Soon

Favorite Fish: Harlequin Tuskfish

Favorite coral/invert: Torch Coral, Blue Linkia Starfish

Tanks at home: Before Mat moved he had a  90 gallon.

Responsibilities: Customer Service