JUPITER, Fla. — What started as a disappointing fishing trip to DuBois Park in Jupiter quickly transformed into a life-saving mission for an intern and a member of NextEra Energy’s IT Ignite program—a rotation developed by the company’s IT department for early talent development.
As storm clouds gathered overheard, Manuel Capiendo and Klark Balay were about to call it a day when they spotted something alarming in the water. A sea turtle was repeatedly bumping into the dock beams.
"Without hesitation, Manuel dropped his fishing rod and jumped into the water," says Balay. "The water was deeper than he thought, and he couldn't see that well under the docks, so I was directing him where to swim."
What Capiendo discovered in those murky waters was alarming—nearly an entire spool of thick, braided fishing line was wrapped around the turtle's neck. Fighting through heavy mud and chest-deep water, he carefully guided the frightened animal toward shore.
"It was extremely difficult," Capiendo recalls. "I lost a shoe at one point, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get the turtle to safety."
As rain poured down around them, the colleagues used a multi-tool to carefully cut the fishing line away. Remembering they had seen a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission vehicle in the area, Balay left to search for the officers while Capiendo kept the turtle, who would later be named Junebug, safe in the shallows.
The wildlife officers immediately coordinated with Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach to transport the injured turtle. The initial prognosis was concerning. Junebug had tumors that severely impacted her vision, the fishing line had created deep wounds around her neck and radiographs showed she was suffering from osteomyelitis—a bone infection.
Seven days later, an update brought overwhelming relief.
"We called back and found out she was doing well," Balay says. "They had removed the tumors to restore her vision, treated the wounds around her neck and her infection and she was in an intensive care tank to heal. When we visited her, she was unrecognizable—no growths, no fishing line. She looked completely healthy and happy."
For years, NextEra Energy’s information technology data scientists have partnered with Loggerhead Marinelife Center to analyze data and uncover valuable insights about hatchling success rates, predator trends and the impact of moon phases on sea turtle behavior. Another team at the company even developed a mobile application that replaced the center's manual paper surveys with real-time data collection.
Balay has contributed directly to this partnership through his work in the Ignite program, cleaning and importing nearly two decades of sea turtle nesting data into the center's research database.
"It was such a relief to save Junebug's life," Balay says. "It feels like all my previous work for Loggerhead paid off in an even bigger way. It felt more impactful, more meaningful."
For both men, the rescue perfectly illustrated NextEra Energy's commitment in action.
"Our company is here to help the environment and enrich the lives of those around us," Balay explains. "We do the right thing – it's a core NextEra Energy value."
Capiendo's advice for others who might encounter wildlife in distress: "Keep safety top of mind, but if you see an animal in distress, don't be afraid to jump in to help."
On Sept. 4, 2025, Junebug was successfully released back into the wild—a milestone that delighted her rescuers, bringing their extraordinary conservation story full circle.
