John Banyas is a fish house owner and fisherman from Cortez, Florida. His grandfather, Neriah Taylor, was a boatbuilder in the community. John fishes for mullet and baitfish. He also owns a wholesale/retail seafood shop and restaurant on his property, along with a boat haul-out facility.  Banyas began fishing with his grandfather around the age of ten or twelve, starting with repairing cast-off nets and progressing to fishing full-time after high school. His primary fishing activities included mullet fishing, as well as catching mackerel, pompano, and trout.

Dr. John Bossler was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1936.  He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in civil engineering in 1959 and went to work for the Coast and Geodetic Survey.  John earned a master's and PhD in Geodetic Science from Ohio State University.  Until 1986, John served as Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS).  As Director of C&GS, he was an Admiral in the NOAA Commissioned Corps.

John Fischbeck is a seasoned professional who has made significant contributions to the field of space exploration, particularly in the SRB Recovery Ships project at the Kennedy Space Center. His career is marked by his involvement in the challenging and innovative task of retrieving solid rocket boosters from the ocean. Fischbeck's work has not only involved technical expertise but also unique experiences such as dealing with a Russian trawler and the salvage operation after the Challenger disaster.

John Campbell, a resident of Cortez, Florida, has spent his life engaged in the profession of fishing, a trade that runs deep in his family lineage. His career on the water is not only a testament to his personal dedication but also serves as a living history of the fishing industry's evolution. Prior to his full immersion into fishing, Campbell served in the Army, an experience that stands as a distinct chapter in his life.

John Hand is a 4th generation Floridian. Originally from the Tampa area, he moved down to Everglades City and became a charter captain. John Hand does not allude to any specific Red Tide event, but gives insight to the environmental changes that are happening in the Everglades. The only Red Tide events he talked about occurred in the Tampa area.

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John Koenig is a long-time resident of the Florida Keys with extensive experience on the waters surrounding the archipelago. His life has been deeply intertwined with the marine environment, giving him a unique and personal perspective on the ecological changes that have occurred over the years. Koenig's firsthand knowledge comes from years of direct interaction with the marine ecosystem, particularly through fishing, which has been both a passion and a way of life for him.

John McDonald, a native of Cortez, Florida, has a rich history rooted in the local fishing industry. Born into a family of fishermen, McDonald learned the trade from his father, spending his formative years on the waters around Mullet Key. His upbringing in Cortez was marked by a close connection to the sea and the community's maritime traditions. Seeking to broaden his horizons, McDonald enlisted in the Navy, where he acquired technical education and embraced the opportunity to travel.

John Banyas is a fourth-generation fisherman from Cortez, Florida. He has dedicated his life to the fishing industry, learning the trade from his grandfather and engaging in various fishing techniques such as gill netting and purse seining. Banyas has become a vocal advocate for addressing the detrimental effects of red tide on the fishing industry, highlighting the decline in fish populations and the urgent need to improve water quality to ensure the sustainability of the fishery. 

Jonnie Walker has been chartering in the Sarasota base since 1974.  He has lived there since 1957.  His parents had a bait shop on the Venice Jetty in the 60s and 70s.  He works mainly in Sarasota Bay and the Gulf. He mainly fishes trout, redfish, mackerel, kingfish, cobia, grouper, and mangrove snapper.

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Jordan Rabinowitz is a Ph.D. student at the University of Missouri, specializing in meteorology. He is also the CEO and operations director of the Global Weather and Climate Center website, an organization dedicated to global weather, climate, and environmental education, communication, and awareness. Rabinowitz's interest in science and meteorology was sparked during his childhood in Long Island, where he developed a fascination with snowstorms. This fascination grew into an obsession, which eventually became a passion and led to his career in meteorology.