Date and Location
Date: September 9thTime: Meeting room opens at 12:30 pm
Location: JOHN F KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL, 1901 Randolph Rd, Wheaton-Glenmont, MD 20902
Meeting Schedule
- Set up: 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
- Socializing: 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
- Speaker: 1:30 pm
- Auction: 2:35 pm
- Meeting ends: 4:30 pm
September Speaker – Les Wilson
Bio
Les Wilson is a lifelong hobbyist, aquatic biologist, President, and a founding partner of Cobalt Aquatics, overseeing Marketing, Product Development, and Operations. In Cobalt’s first 12 years, Les’s projects at Cobalt have redefined fish nutrition category with the Cobalt Probiotic Flakes and have won numerous industry awards for their innovative products like the Neo-Therm heaters, and CA Mysis frozen foods. He also brought Fishgeek level products like the Egg Rockers, USB powered air pumps, and C-Vue AIO aquariums to the US hobby. Prior to founding Cobalt, Les spent 17 years with United Pet Group aquatics as an aquatic biologist and Director of Marketing for the Equipment and Consumables group, responsible for the Marineland, Tetra, Instant Ocean, and Jungle brands and private label projects in those categories. Les personally brought to market many of the projects you know today, including his favorites Marineland’s LED lighting, Bio-Spira Nitrifying Bacteria, Corner Flow Tanks, and the Deep Dimension aquariums. Les has also served 3 terms on the World Pet Association (WPA) Board of Directors as the chair of the Aquatics Committee and was the founding chairman of WPA’s Aquatic Experience Show. Les has also served one year on the Marine Aquarium Society of North America (MASNA) show committee and 3 terms as the Director at Large for the MASNA Board of Directors, which manages the annual MACNA show and conference. Les regularly speaks on fish related topics at hobbyist clubs and associations around the country and has been a featured speaker at the American Cichlid Association (ACA) annual conference, multiple American Liver Bearers Association (ALA) annual conferences, HH Backer Pet Trade Show Industry Expert seminars and panels, and has been a judge at the Aquarama International Guppy Competition. Keeping to his Fishgeek roots, Les is a member of multiple fish organizations including, ACA, ALA, MASNA, and Florida Fancy Guppy Association.
