Eric Martin
Facility Director & Educational Co-Director

In 2011 Eric was honored with the American Meteorological Society's award for Outstanding Non-Formal Educator for his great teaching here at the Roundhouse! Eric has been with the Roundhouse since Feb 2002.  In 2004 he became the Co-Director.   He received his Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from California State University of Long Beach. Prior to the Roundhouse, Eric worked for many years as an educator in the animal care unit at the late Marineland by the Pacific. Since then, he has been working in conjunction with the Center for Whale Research on the Orca project, and Cascadia Research working on Blue Whale and Humpback projects. In 1997 he founded a nonprofit organization called The Marine Mammal Study Center. The center is now housed at the El Segundo Center Street School. Eric continues with his work by taking his boat and camera out often to document the whales and dolphins that roam in the Santa Monica Bay.

Valerie Hill
Administrative Director & Educational Co-Director

Valerie began her career at the Roundhouse as an intern in 2003, and continued to help out part time until she became the Co-Director in 2007.  Valerie has a BA in Marine Science from the University of San Diego. While at USD she was the president of The Environmental Action Group, where she shared her love for the environment. She recently received her Master's Degree in Biology from California State University, Long Beach. Her masters research focused on the smallest organisms in the ocean - phytoplankton.  Before settling in here at the Roundhouse Valerie was an outreach educator with the Cabrillo Aquarium, and worked as a Teaching Assistant at CSULB. When Valerie's not at the Roundhouse she loves to SCUBA dive and poke around the beach looking for seaweed.

Lauren Holman
Assistant Director & Educator

Lauren joined the Roundhouse in 2007. Lauren graduated from The University of California Santa Barbara with her Bachelor's Degree in Geography and went on to receive her Master's Degree in Environmental Education from California State University, San Bernardino. She grew up right here in the South Bay and her love for the ocean has never ceased. Lauren has shared her excitement for the environment all throughout Southern California. She has interned for Waves on Wheels at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, coordinated exhibitors for the Environmental EXPO in San Bernardino and taught Environmental Science 101 in San Diego, to name a few. Lauren wound up back in her hometown and can't wait to help make the Roundhouse the most exciting place to volunteer. When Lauren isn't on the pier, you might spot her traveling up and down the coast, collecting seashells, playing soccer and hanging out with her family and friends.

Dawn Eyre-Martin
Administrative Assistant

Dawn joined the Roundhouse as a Volunteer in 2001. She started out as our cook in our most famous summer camp on Catalina Island. While her college degree has taken her to work in Corporate Travel, her love and respect for the ocean has drawn her close to the Roundhouse. Dawn works for the Roundhouse part-time and part-time for CGC Travel in Hermosa Beach, all the while being a full time mom to the Roundhouse’s youngest volunteer, Cody. Dawn books our 1-hour, 3-hour, home school, tidepool classes & more! She also assists with in tank sponsorship and grants. If you don’t see her at the Roundhouse she is out on the water with Eric and Cody documenting whales and dolphins in the Santa Monica Bay.

Stacy Hammond
Saturday Operations Assistant

Elizabeth Grooman
Sunday Operations Assistant