About
Meet the team
Andrew Sandler
Founder & CEO
Outside of several local businesses, Andrew is currently collaborating with and on the board of various charities in order to give back to the hobby. Andrew has a very busy schedule between his business and family, but his passion for the reefing hobby is unmatched. He has worked with his team to develop a thorough fish and coral quarantine process that many reefers are intrigued to learn more about. Andrew and the team would not be complete without the assistance of his beautiful wife Aurily. She helps to keep Andrew focused, and makes sure that all of the projects blend with the rest of the house. Her keen eye for detail ensures that each tank matches with the design of the house and that nothing gets out of control. She also has the unenviable task of keeping Andrew and everyone else from losing focus, which she always manages with grace and has developed a skill for doing so very diplomatically.
Patty Martin
Director of Operations & Media
Patty Martin is a dedicated leader in marine conservation, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless operation of Polo Reef. She oversees all aspects of daily operations, including the management of aquarium systems and associated teams. Driven by a deep commitment to coral reef sustainability and hands-on education, she finds fulfillment in inspiring future generations to protect marine ecosystems. An avid scuba diver and experienced aquarist, Patty serves as a backup diver for the 17,000-gallon Polo Reef Aquarium and maintains her own specialized reef tanks, with expertise in anemones and nano systems. As an award-winning photographer, she captures the beauty of marine life to further awareness and advocacy for coral conservation. Beyond her professional contributions, Patty enjoys scuba diving, riding her motorcycle, and spending time with her family. Her leadership, expertise, and passion are integral to Polo Reef’s success, ensuring operational excellence while advancing its mission to educate and inspire.
JC Munoz
Project Manager / Logistics
JC has been deeply immersed in the marine industry since the age of 8, driven by a lifelong passion for reefkeeping, marine science, education, and conservation. His journey began with his first job at a marine aquarium store, eventually leading him to run a coral propagation operation in the late 90s and early 2000s. Over the years, his expertise expanded to include operating a state-certified jellyfish aquaculture facility, herpetology, import/export, and international finance, with a specialization in letters of credit for global steel trade. As an early member of the Polo Reef team, JC plays a multifaceted role in project management, logistics, web development, marketing, video production, and educational and philanthropic outreach. His work at Polo Reef seamlessly integrates his diverse experience with his passions.
Yalcin Tanburaci
General Operation Manager
Yalcin handles much of the day to day maintenance of the tanks including water and equipment testing as well as the critical aspect of feeding all of the tanks. While this aspect of many tanks is often thought of as trivial, with a tank this size as well as with the number of other tanks it has proven critical to its long-term success that Yalcin develop a feeding regimen that not only keeps the fish and corals healthy and happy, but also so that it does not pollute the tank or produce excess nutrients. In this regard Yalcin has become a maestro of keeping the fish and their feeding in harmony.
Dun Dumlao
Aquarium Maintenance
Dun’s curiosity and dedication make him an invaluable part of the team. As a part-time team member, he plays a crucial role in aquarium maintenance and coral care, ensuring the health and stability of the system. His attention to detail and commitment to learning allow him to identify and address potential issues, helping to maintain a thriving environment. As Polo Reef continues to grow, so does Dun’s expertise, making him an essential contributor to its success.
Jonathon Hale
System Designer /
General Contractor
Jonathan Hale has been involved since the start of this project and has not only been central in the overall design and construction of many of the tanks including the 17,000-gallon tank, but he also helped bring in specialists to handle the engineering and other important tasks. He also handles all of the large maintenance tasks as well as any other problems that might arise with these tanks and all of the related equipment.
Michelle Hope
Dive & Coral Care
Michelle has been with the tank projects since day one and is an integral part of the team. While she also manages the store, Country Critters, she also manages much of what occurs inside the large tank. She performs many of the dives within the tank and her knowledge of what are the optimal conditions for each coral has provided her with the insight to optimize placement of most of the corals in the tank. Her accounting background also helps her keep track of each coral, so if one falls she tends to notice something is out of place before everyone else. She also provides insight into all of the various processes necessary to allow the tank to be successful.
Derrick Walker
Videographer