a look at...
Roger Germann and
Laura Zaremba
photography by Win Wolloff
The Florida Aquarium’s president and CEO Roger Germann,
who joined the aquarium in 2017, and his wife, health policy
expert Laura Zaremba, reside in South Tampa with their
two elementary-age children. Under the leadership of Roger, The
Florida Aquarium was recognized in 2019 by USA Today as the
No. 2 aquarium in North America, second to Ripley’s Aquarium
of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The Florida Aquarium
recently opened a $4 million sea turtle rehabilitation center and
was the first to successfully reproduce Atlantic pillar coral.
Prior to The Florida Aquarium, Roger was executive vice
present for more than 16 years at the John G. Shedd Aquarium
in Chicago. He began his career in television and worked in the
public sector for the State of Illinois.
Laura is a principal for Health Management Associates with
more than 20 years of experience in health care, public sector and
nonprofit management. She works with health plans, provider
organizations, technology companies and government agencies
on a wide range of health care transformation projects. She
earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in political science
from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
At the Illinois Governor’s Office of Health Innovation and
Transformation, she chaired a statewide data and technology
work group responsible for recommending policy and technical
specifications for health information technology to support
health care reform.
Roger was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the
Southwest Florida Water Management District board and serves
on the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, Visit Tampa
Bay and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. He and Laura
dedicate time in support of Mitchell Elementary School and the
Bayshore Little League. Laura also supports the American Heart
Association’s Circle of Red.
What do you like most about the Tampa Bay area?
Laura: I love that this area is a melting pot of people from all
over the United States and the world.
Roger: Tampa Bay is filled with diverse communities of
people and ideas and is one of the most welcoming regions
in the country.
What could you talk about for hours?
Laura: Football
Roger: My family and friends, followed by making the world
a better place, saving wildlife and sports
What is your favorite word?
Laura: Lovely
Roger: Ilk
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What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Laura: You will never regret taking time off of work to spend
it with your family.
Roger: Every morning when you wake up, make sure you
thank God for another day and then seek out opportunities
at work or in your personal life that put others first.
What are your favorite words of wisdom?
Laura: In projects and in life, money doesn’t replace time.
Roger: 1. It’s not if you fall, but how you get up that matters.
2. Carpe diem. 3. No matter how fast or slow, always keep
moving forward.
How do you think other people would describe you?
Laura: Maybe a little too serious
Roger: Approachable; strategic; easy going, but competitive;
always moving and thinking
What do you wish you could do?
Laura: Function well on less sleep. I am so envious of people
who can perform at a high level on four hours of sleep. I’ve
tried, but I can’t do it. I know as humans we’re not supposed
to be able to do that, but I can’t help but think of how much
more I could get done with all that extra time.
Roger: Our world has so many problems, I wish I could do
more to help others and make the world a better place for
every – and I mean every – person, as well as save more
wildlife and wild places.
What is your pet peeve?
Laura: Refusal to acknowledge that some problems in life
don’t have a simple answer
Roger: People who make excuses, and also people who
take credit
What talent do you wish you had?
Laura: Playing the piano well. Piano lessons are on my list
of things to do when I retire.
Roger: To be a better dancer, so as not to embarrass Laura
when I bust out the “sprinkler” at parties.
How would you like to be remembered?
Laura: I hope to be remembered as someone who showed
others that there is far more light in the world than darkness.
Roger: I would like to be remembered as a great husband and
dad who dedicated his life to providing for my family, who
always put others first, who made everyone feel valued,
who improved the quality of life for humans and animals,
and who did his best to make people laugh. 9