A message from our founder

Everyone has a story and here is a short version of mine. Growing up I had what some might describe as an obsession with all things living. I knew the names of every dog and cat in our neighborhood by the age of three. By the time I was old enough to read, I had quickly decided I would have every animal under the sun as a personal pet in my parents' backyard. While my detailed drawings and plans for crocodile pools, serval exhibits, squirrel monkey cages, otter ponds, and aviaries housing an assortment of tropical birds never came to fruition, one idea stuck with me, that idea was a koi pond.

The first two photos show a before and after shot of the pond project. I was still in middle school at the time, but I discovered at an early age you can learn just about anything if you are willing to put in the time to do the work and research. After a few months of planning, I designed a simple LSS system and spent my spring break hand digging a hole capable of holding a large car. With a little plumbing and lots of rock moving, the end product turned out as I had hoped. This is where my passion for construction began. 

This fascination with animals and exhibit development led to various roles at zoos, aquariums, theme parks, vet hospitals, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and construction companies in both in the United States and overseas. It also afforded me the unique opportunity to become involved in various capacities in the development and delivery of twenty aquarium projects to date. 

While the scale and scope of the projects I have been a part of have changed significantly since my first design and build, my approach has remained the same. Deliver quality installs and designs with the animal, owner, and visitor in mind. If you have accounted for all three of these key stakeholders before breaking ground on any project, I believe you are well on your way to delivering an impactful and sustainable display. 

Johnny May
Aquatic Development and Consulting, LLC