History

Established by Joseph A. Zucchero July 1, 2005 for helping schools, museums and other interested parties obtain Touch Tanks that inspire children to learn about the environment and the delicate ecosystems that support life. Touch Tanks For Kids is committed to achieving Joe’s vision of improving the environment in tandem with growing our economy.

Mission Statement

Touch Tanks for Kids enables our most precious resource, our children, to study, respect and gain appreciation for the world's oceans, through a unique hands-on educational program. Life lessons taught in the classroom, empower the children to realize that individuals acting collectively can positively change our world. 

Established in 2005, Touch Tanks for Kids is a charitable organization that challenges each of us to live to our fullest potential as good stewards of our natural resources while building a strong economy with informed environmental policies and innovative solutions.

Goals

• To improve education with better learning tools.

• To improve the environment by increased awareness.

• To improve the economy through environmental innovations.

Our Team

Michael Martin (Executive Director)
Mr. Martin oversees the day-to-day operations of Touch Tanks for Kids. His vast professional experience includes serving in the United States Navy during Operation Desert Storm. Michael passed the Series 7 exam the same day he was honorably discharged, where he pursued a career in
securities management.  After a car accident, he moved back to his home state of Maine and started consulting local politicians on strategies to win elections. Since then his has been a fixture at the Maine Statehouse and advocates for bipartisan politics.

Shannon Martin (Secretary / Treasurer)
Mrs. Martin works for the Department Health and Human Services and is an advocate for women and children issues. She has experience developing recreational programs for children with developmental and behavioral issues, working with special needs children and women who are survivors of domestic violence.  Shannon graduated with honors from the University of Maine and has special interests in environmental issues.

Charlton Shackleton (Public Relations & Corporate Development)
Mr. Shackleton is the CEO of Shackleton & Co, a public relations and marketing consulting firm. His work includes establishing contacts around the globe for a seafood export company and the development of the national Touch Tanks for Kids themed media campaign for Plumb-Away®.

Robert “Bob” Sterling (Dr. Touch Tanks Program)
Mr. Sterling is a graduate of Unity College with a degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries. Bob spent a summer working, for Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation, raising Sockeye Salmon fry (baby salmon) in Paxson, Alaska before joining Touch Tanks for Kids to develop the Dr. Touch Tanks program. 

Richard Oellers (Aquaculture)
Mr. Oellers is the owner of New England Aquarium Services, a company that specializes in the design installation and maintenance of aquariums since 1984. In 1996, Richard started teaching aquarium husbandry at the University of New England and in 2006 headed the aquarium project “Biomedical Research” featuring a reef aquarium lab.

Sen. Joe Perry (Political)
Mr. Perry is a dedicated public servant with years of legislative experience. Born and raised in Bangor, he attended John Baptists High School and the University of Maine at Orono. Senator Perry currently serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation, and as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In addition, He is a vital part of the Government Oversight Committee, also known as OPEGA.  Having long roots in his district, Joe was inspired to run for public office by a desire to represent his area and to help create a positive future for his children.

Tiffany Strauchs Rad, JD, MBA (General Counsel)
Mrs. Rad is the CEO of the intellectual property management and consulting firm, ELCnetworks. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Maine and a board member and guest lecturer at Cortona Academy, a private school in Northern Virginia. Tiffany is a former medallist and current sponsor of the United States Congressional Award program for high school and college students.