ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, rounds out its recent list of new hires with the addition of Brian Potvin as the Director of Animal care and Facilities Management and Bill Elliston as the Public Education Manager.
Brian Potvin, Director of Animal Care and Facilities, joins the ECHO team after a strong career in animal husbandry and facility management in all parts of Texas. From an aquarist at Houston Zoological Gardens to collections and quarantine biologist at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi to curator of aquarium husbandry at the newly renovated Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, Dallas. He received his bachelors of science in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston, participated in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums management program and continues to serve on several of their species survival planning groups.
Bill Elliston, Public Education Manager, will be working to increase excitement, participation and learning opportunities for all of the visitors that walk into ECHO. As the new facilitator of the teen leadership program, E-Team, Bill continues a rich tradition of cultivating a new generation of young interpreters and environmental stewards. Working with the Education team, Bill will serve as an exhibit floor manager, developing new programs, and helping volunteers, interns and staff educators be even stronger interpreters. He will also be working across departments (with Education, Animal Care and Guest Services) to enhance guest experiences.
Bill is an experienced science educator, having taught at organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and, most recently, the American Museum of Natural History.
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is located at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont’s Burlington Waterfront. ECHO features 70 live species, more than 100 interactive experiences, changing and permanent exhibits and seasonal events — all exploring theEcology, Culture, History, and Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. The 2.2 acre Leahy Center environmental campus is also highlighted by the Lake Champlain Basin Program Resource Room, UVM’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Lake Champlain Navy Memorial, ECHO’s Eclectic Gift Shop, and ecology-themed Café managed by Sugarsnap.
