Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Xavier Cortesano, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Kelley Scott, Vice President (VP) of Finance. With the addition of Cortesano and Scott, LMC is well-positioned to advance the organization’s mission of ocean and sea turtle conservation.
“I am thrilled with the addition of both Kelley and Xavier. Kelley brings a strong financial background, along with creative revenue ideas, and is a perfect fit for the culture of Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Xavier’s attention to detail and guest-first approach to design and operations will be an asset to our team,” said LMC’s CEO and President Andy Dehart. “We have a truly remarkable team of paid and volunteer staff here at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and I am excited to see the future with the onboarding of these two talented individuals.”
As COO, Cortesano will oversee operations/facilities, aquarium operations, life support, IT/AV, marketing & communications, exhibits, event rental, security, and housekeeping. He will play a vital role in ensuring that the center is always attraction-ready for visitors and operating efficiently.
Cortesano brings 15+ years of experience in facility and construction management with him to LMC. In his previous role, Cortesano served as the Vice President of Special Projects at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami. Cortesano played a crucial part in the completion of Frost Science and continued in the ongoing management of the exhibits, the building, and other large-scope renovation projects.
Cortesano’s love for the ocean stems from his experiences while growing up in Sydney, Australia. Outside of work, he is passionate about architectural design and creating less waste in the world.
As VP of Finance, Scott will oversee LMC’s financial interests and assist Dehart with high-level organizational decisions and strategy. Her ability to provide sound financial guidance will make Scott an essential member of the organization’s leadership team.
Prior to LMC, Scott served as the Head of Accounting and Logistics at Dana International and as
the Director of Finance at Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., both based in Palm Beach County.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Villanova University and dual MBA and a
Master of Science in Finance degree from Boston College.
In addition to her career, Scott is a proud mother of three fantastic boys, a college basketball fan, and an avid traveler.