Buchanan honors longtime Mote CEO

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, honored longtime Mote Marine Laboratory President and CEO Dr. Kumar Mahadevan last week by submitting a speech for the congressional record praising Mahadevan’s contributions to marine science.

“Under his leadership, Mote has grown from a small research facility to an internationally recognized laboratory of marine science and a local treasure teaching children and adults about sea life and conservation,” Buchanan said.

Mahadevan, who has led Mote for 27 years, will become Mote’s president emeritus May 16.

When Mahadevan became CEO of Mote, the lab’s annual operating budget was approximately $2 million, and there were 52 staff members. Today, the lab’s annual operating budget is more than $17 million and there are 192 staff members, including 31 Ph.D.-level scientists

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].