Lose the Fear
Love the Ocean
Shark OFF's Mission
It is Shark OFF’s mission and passion to help millions of beachgoers every year Lose the Fear & Love the Ocean
While there are actually very few shark attacks on humans, the profound fear of them genuinely impacts the beach experience for 90% of beachgoers. A lot of people are afraid of the ocean. But when we talk to people about that fear, of course it’s not a fear of the water itself. It’s a fear of what’s in the deep dark unseen depths. It’s mostly a fear of sharks.
Our proven and patented technology repels curious sharks so you and your loved ones can Lose the Fear & Love the Ocean.
Why Shark OFF?
Shark OFF's Passion
While keeping you and your loved ones safer in the ocean is certainly our mission, our real passion is the ocean. We believe that if people are less afraid of the ocean (and sharks) then they will be less likely to stand by and let them be destroyed. Shark OFF is dedicating significant resources to help mitigate commercial and sports accidental bycatch (fishing) that kills millions of sharks every year. And don't get us started on the disgusting shark finning trade...
More directly, Shark OFF has committed to donate 10% of our profits to physically help clean up our oceans through Ocean Voyages Institute. While some of the more notorious cleanup efforts strive to perfect unproven technology, or reap massive profits in order to do some good, the Ocean Voyages Institute is getting their hands dirty going out and picking up tons of plastic garbage. Their system is simple and proven - first, with help, they scour the seas to find the debris. Then, they tag the floating trash islands with GPS markers. Finally, they employ (many volunteer) fishing vessels that are already nearby to pick up the plastic garbage. Simple and effective.
Ocean Voyages Institute Cleanup Expedition
Meet Shark OFF's Founders
"Shark OFF will save sharks one human at a time. And save our oceans one shark at a time. This is about sharing the beauty of our world with families everywhere with the idea that it will be impossible to watch something you love die."
Shea Geist, Boss Momma (a.k.a. Chief Executive Officer), has spent most of her working life in non-profit organizations including a suicide hotline and rape crisis center, continuing education for judges, and as Director of Operations of a local $7M/year center serving adults with disabilities. Years of working in administrative positions (and wearing multiple non-profit hats) have prepared her for the organization that is the foundation of successful companies. Earning an MBA from Rockhurst University has given her the skills to lead Shark OFF through the growing pains with an eye on the future.
Shea has all kinds of irons in the fire. She is a feng shui practitioner, archery lover, avid yogini, and doula (attending one birth per year for free for friends/family or someone in need). She and Geoff regularly volunteer in their local community. And now, because of Shark OFF, she loves the ocean.
Shea Geist
Even more importantly, Shea’s well-intentioned aunts and uncles took her to see Jaws at the drive-in when she was a kid. That led to years of intense fear of the water - even in the pool. Finding a way to lose that fear has been a big driver for Shark OFF.
Geoff Geist, Big Kahuna (a.k.a. Chief Operating Officer), provides 25+ years of bada$$ relationship sales experience as well as extraordinary attention to detail. He’s turned entry level positions into major accounts sales with an acute eye for opportunities. And he had the vision to see the opportunities in a video about repelling sharks with elemental metals.
Geoff has been a Subaru-addicted tuner for years. The “girlfriend” (as Shea calls his 2002 WRX Sportwagon) is still his beloved daily driver. He discovered yoga while healing from a surgery repair of an old motorcycle accident and practices daily. Geoff’s favorite role is dedicated husband and father. He is the source of snarky humor and the fixer of all things broken in the Geist household.
Geoff Geist
Max Geist, Lil Kahuna (a.k.a. Chief Technology Officer), rocks grade school, Mathletics and Shindo Jitsu. (No, his parents are not proud or anything.) He also has mom and dad’s snarky sense of humor, his own brand of thoughtful kindness & and, under all the shyness, an adventurous streak. In spring of 2018, Max swam with 20 adult lemon sharks off the coast of Florida. Mom was trying not to hyperventilate because he wasn’t wearing Shark OFF.
Wrex Geist
Wrex Geist, Wiggly Butt (a.k.a. Who Rescued Who?), protects the premises, protects "his boy", eats stuff, and is very sure visitors have come only to scratch his butt.
Max Geist
Kansas City
Kansas City (a.k.a. The Most Entrepreneurial City Evah) is the place Shark OFF was born. What? Who puts their city in their bio? We do! The support of the vibrant entrepreneur community in Kansas City has been instrumental in the creation and success of Shark OFF. Special thanks to - Elizabeth Bejan at the Women’s Business Center, Justine Petersen, Rebecca Gubbels at the University of Missouri Kansas City - Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Kauffman Foundation, and KCSourceLink (among scores of amazing organizations).
