MICHAEL SCHIED (Owner)

Mike started Reef Tectonics in 1993. One of his reasons for getting into this business was his keen interest in aquatic organisms. He studied biology at the University of Nebraska and graduated with a degree in Biology. Mike has been keeping fish since he was 11 years of age and is most interested in marine invertebrates. He also enjoys live plant tanks that contain discus along with sympatric fish communities. Mike has many hobbies and vocations, including woodworking and also has a medical equipment business.

MATT KAMINSKI (Large System Specialist)

Matt, who is originally from Huron, South Dakota,  has been keeping aquariums for over 16 years and has been one of our large tank specialists at Reef Tectonics since 2005. While he started in the Lincoln market, Matt now spends his time servicing tanks in Omaha and Council Bluffs. His first love are marine aquariums, in fact he is a sucker for predators and odd seawater fishes. He also enjoys working with reef and live plant tanks. Matt worked with the biology department at University of Nebraska, Lincoln for four years and was responsible for the tanks in the bio-diversity lab. He also spent three years doing aquaculture – he raised the freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, for bait and human consumption at the UNL Agriculture and Resource Development Center in Mead, NE.  Here his main focus was on aquaculture construction and set-up for high stocking density. This included making and designing large sand bio filters for high density tanks. Matt’s hobbies include collecting cacti and succulents, “Frankensteining” guitars (taking several characters, qualities, and parts from different electric guitars and turning them into one that fits his current musical needs) and working with concrete.

DAVID CREWS (Large System Specialist)

Dave is originally from Omaha, has been keeping aquariums for over 25 years and has been in the ornamental fish trade for 17 years (this includes working at a number of aquarium stores in Omaha). He has been with Reef Tectonics since 2006 and is one of our large system experts. He works, along with his wife Laura, in the Kansas City area (or where ever else his specialized talents are required)! He is an expert on both marine and freshwater fishes and enjoys working with any type of aquarium system. His knowledge of marine fish husbandry has made him an invaluable cog in the Reef Tectonics machine. When he is not working on keeping fish healthy, Dave is plucking them from streams and rivers with his fishing rod, maintaining his reptile collection or camping with Laura.

JOSHUA BUSH (Aquarium Technician)

Josh is our Lincoln technician, maintaining a variety of fresh and saltwater systems. When it comes to aquarium keeping, he has many talents – he has been in the aquarium hobby for over 10 years and has been with Reef Tectonics since 2007. He is an expert on cichlids, having bred and raised over 30 different species! Josh has dozens of tanks at home, which house his many piscine charges. Josh was born in Western Nebraska and has a number of very interesting hobbies, including fencing, gun-smithing, fishing and hunting.

CHELSEA HESS (Large System Specialist)

Chelsea, who is originally from Cuero, Texas, is a member of the “southern” Reef Tectonics crew, maintaining large systems in the Kansas City area. She has been keeping fish since she was in the third grade (she had one goldfish for nine years!) and joined the Reef Tectonics team in 2008.  She is interested in both marine and freshwater tanks, but has a soft spot for pufferfishes. Chelsea was a marine services intern at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she gained hands-on experience with multiple fish species and bottlenose dolphins. This included several months of working with the Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium. Chelsea volunteers for the Lakeside Nature Center - she and her fiancé help rehabilitate animals native to Missouri (raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc.). One of her hobbies is reading about Mt. Everest.

ERIK WIEGEL (Aquarium Technician)

Erik is one of our more recent additions to the Reef Tectonics team (he joined us in 2009). He has been keeping aquariums for five years, having a particular passion for live planted aquariums. He is originally from Omaha and spends his free-time fishing with his kids and working on his own aquariums.

KIMBERLY PATZEL (Office Manger)

Kimberly keeps the whole Reef Tectonics “machine” operating. She is responsible for the book-keeping, accounting, - all those things that are often overlooked by those “in the field.” While she does not get out to maintain aquariums, she has one of her own (she has had a 20 gallon tank for over three years). She has been in the employ of Reef Tectonics since 2004. She has a BA in Business Administration from  Doane College and is originally from Humphrey Nebraska. She loves spending time with her children, volleyball and reading.

SCOTT MICHAEL (Quality Control Manager)

Scott originally started the REEF TECTONICS with Mike back in 1993, but soon found himself going a different direction. He re-joined Mike in 2008. Scott, who was born in Fremont, Nebraska, is a photojournalist, specializing in topics related to the ocean environment. He has written eleven books on sharks, rays and reef fishes and is currently working on a book on brown/grizzly bears. Scott also writes for a number of international publications dedicated to marine fishes. He has been keeping fish since 1976, has worked in the “pet fish” industry for 26 years. Scott has traveled to dozens of reefs around the world to photograph and observe their inhabitants. He serves as the Quality Control Manager for Reef Tectonics, visiting the clients and ensuring that we are providing the best possible service. He also orders marine fishes for clients and helps with husbandry issues. Scott’s hobbies include dogs, WW II history and  Husker football.