Pine Knoll Shores Director announces retirement
Jay Barnes, Director of the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores for the past 20 years, will leave the post at the end of October. Barnes announced his plans to retire from the position to Aquarium staff July 7.
He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his tenure but felt it was a good time for him to pursue other interests and for the Aquarium to experience new leadership. Barnes has worked for the North Carolina Aquariums Division for almost 30 years. He praised employees for accomplishing the Aquarium’s mission — inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments.
“The success the Aquarium has enjoyed through the years largely has been due to the great people who make it all work - a dedicated staff of professionals who understand the value of friendly customer service and the importance of blending environmental education with entertainment,” he said.
He also thanked the Aquarium’s hundreds of volunteers, past and present. “Their dedicated service has enriched visitor experiences and made the Aquarium’s exhibits and programs much more effective.”
Barnes lives with his family in Pine Knoll Shores.
He said his future plans include continuing to write. Barnes is well known for North Carolina’s Hurricane History and other books on hurricanes, and he is a frequent contributor to magazines such as Wildlife in North Carolina and Our State.
As Director, Barnes oversaw a major expansion at the Aquarium that required it shut down for over two years. It reopened in May 2006 at triple the size, and has since welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors.
Barnes said the successful expansion influenced the timing of his decision.
“In light of that, now is a good time,” he said.
Barnes is leaving as the Aquarium embarks on planning another large-scale project, an educational fishing pier in partnership with the town of Emerald Isle. Barnes said he plans to stay active in the pier development and will continue his advocacy for the Aquarium and its projects. He also serves on the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority board of directors.
Barnes began his career with the North Carolina Aquariums in 1980, shortly after graduating from the North Carolina State University College of Design. The three North Carolina Aquariums, now under the N.C. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, opened in 1976 and were then called the North Carolina Marine Resources Centers. The names changed in 1986.
“During that time I was one of only seven employees,” he said. “I am fortunate to have seen the Aquarium’s popularity grow through the years, along with the facility itself.”
Barnes was the Exhibits Curator at Pine Knoll Shores from 1980 until 1986, when he moved to the Division office in Raleigh to work as Exhibits Consultant for the three facilities. During this time, he also completed a master’s degree in advertising design from Syracuse University through a work-study-travel curriculum.
In 1989, he was appointed Director of the Pine Knoll Shores facility. Rapid growth in visitation at all three Aquariums prompted the state to launch expansion plans in the mid-1990s.
Funding for the Pine Knoll Shores renovation was diverted for disaster relief after Hurricane Floyd’s flooding in 1999. Construction finally began in January 2004, thanks to the North Carolina Aquarium Society. The membership-supported organization forged a public-private partnership to fund the expansion.
The Aquarium reopened in May 2006. The facility now covers 93,000 square feet. The full-time work force is 48, with about the same number of part-time and seasonal employees. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is a major tourist attraction on the Crystal Coast. The other two North Carolina Aquariums are at Fort Fisher on the Cape Fear coast, and on Roanoke Island near the Outer Banks. Together, the three rank among the state’s most-visited attractions each year.
Aquarium Division Director David Griffin said, “Jay Barnes has provided solid leadership and vision for the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. He supervised the opening of a wonderful new Aquarium, and has the Aquarium well-situated for continued success. He has been instrumental in establishing the future course of the three North Carolina Aquariums. He will be missed. We will immediately begin a thorough search for a new director.”