NEW BEDFORD June 1, 2012 — Mark Smith, executive director of the Ocean Explorium in downtown New Bedford, is stepping down after five years in charge and will be replaced by Abbey Spargo, the Explorium's education programs coordinator.
Spargo, who has a master's degree in environmental science and fisheries biology, has been with the Explorium since it began, working first with its outreach program.
"Leaving is bittersweet. I've made friends here that are lifelong friends," Smith said. A native of Australia, Smith said he plans to return there to be closer to his extended family and will live in Queensland.
"I think I've brought something everywhere I've been and I hope I'm leaving a legacy here," he said, reflecting on his tenure. "Things look very promising for the Explorium and I believe Abbey is the best person to bring it forward."
Smith's last day on the job will be June 22 but he will remain in the area for about a month beyond that, he said.
Spargo, who was born in Zimbabwe and lived there for eight years before moving to England and finally the United States, said the ocean has always held a fascination for her.
"Zimbabwe was landlocked and I think that made the ocean all the more exciting to me as a child," she said.
"Mark will be terribly missed. He's been an incredible team leader," she said. "But I think we'll be able to leverage the assets he's built up here as we continue to grow and expand."
Despite the poor economy, which always creates a difficult climate for nonprofits, the Explorium is doing well, Spargo said, and to date has doubled its number of paid visitors this year over the same period in 2011. The Explorium is not self-sustaining and relies on various sources for funding such as state and federal grants, admission charges, revenue from programs and private donations.