Meet The Aquarium Director - December - Mike Leven, Georgia Aquarium

Name: Mike Leven

Actual title: Chief Executive Officer

Name of your aquarium: Georgia Aquarium, Inc.

URL for your facility: www.georgiaaquarium.org

Number of species at your facility: More than 450

Your favorite critter at the facility: Nandi, the manta ray. Nandi is the first manta ray to ever be in a United States aquarium, making Georgia Aquarium one of only four aquariums in the world to house them. Georgia Aquarium hopes to educate millions of visitors each year about manta rays and inspire conservation.

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: Tens of thousands of fish and animals

Number of visitors annually: The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005. In 2006 the aquarium reached 3.6 million, and in 2007 it was 2.6 million. In 2008 we are estimated to reach 2.2 million as we are still stabilizing our attendance.

Number of employees: 200 full-time and 250 part-time

Number of volunteers: More than 2,000

Annual budget: 33-38 million, depending on the year.

Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and Master of Science from Boston University

Experience prior to this position: Leven was formerly President and CEO of US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), the company he founded in 1995 which franchises the Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Holiday Inn Worldwide. From 1985 to 1990, he was president of Days Inn of America, where he led initiatives to hire older workers, people with disabilities and the homeless, and was recognized by AARP as Outstanding Employer. He also served as president of Americana Hotels.

In addition to being a hotel industry icon and one of franchising’s most innovative leaders, Leven has served many industry organizations throughout his 45-year career, and has been active in numerous civic organizations. He was a member of the National Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, its Executive Committee, and chairman of its Biomedical Services Board. Locally, he was vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; chair of the marketing and public affairs committee for United Jewish Communities (UJC), and general chairman of the Atlanta State of Israel Bonds Committee.

He co-founded the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) with 12 members in 1989, and growing to some 9,000 members today. He is a former international president of the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and a member of HSMAI’s Hall of Fame. He chaired the Millennium Occupancy & Revenue Effort (MORE) task force of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the AH&LA Government Affairs Committee. Previously, Leven served on the board of Starwood Hotels, and is currently on the boards of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. (The Venetian) and Hersha Hospitality Trust.

Favorite part of your job: I enjoy watching our guests explore and interact with the aquarium, especially the children.

One dream wish for your facility: For the world to recognize our facility as the world’s best in its class.

Family: My wife, Andrea, and I reside in Atlanta. We have three sons and five grandchildren.

Pets at home: None, however, I have four dogs and one cat with my grandchildren.

When you retire, you plan to: I would love to teach and write lessons in management and leadership.