Leadership
ZRA Leadership
The Board of Directors is made up of seven Professional category members who are elected for two-year terms.
Board members may be elected three times before they must roll off the Board so someone new can join the team. Any Professional category member that has been in good standing for at least five years may run for office.
Please reach out to any current or former Board member if you are interested!
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President (2025-2027)
Shelly Roach
Registrar
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
614-645-3429
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Vice President (2025-2027)
Deniele Brown
Registrar
Akron Zoological Park
330-375-2550 ext 7217
The President and Vice-President work together to manage the business of ZRA. Members elect the Vice-President and that person automatically becomes the President two years later. A person in these positions is a ZRA leader for a total of four years (two as VP and then two as President).
The President is the official representative of ZRA in business relationships or professional gatherings. They run monthly Board meetings, plan the ZRA Committee Action Planning session (Z-CAP) each year, and acts as the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. The Vice-President assists the President in all of those tasks so that they are ready to take the helm the following term. They are also the Vice-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and they work with the Treasurer to make sure the annual financial review is accurate and complete.
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Secretary (2021-2025)
Ian Shelley
Registrar
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
(410) 396-7102 Ext: 3351
The Secretary maintains the official records of all business and Board meetings - which mostly means they take the minutes and shares them appropriately. The Secretary is also responsible for ZRA RIM (Records and Information Management) policies, making sure the policies are up to date, practical, and appropriate - and that ZRA members understand and adhere to the policy. They are also the Board member that ensures official ZRA documents are used properly.
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Treasurer (2025-2027)
Krista Adelhardt
Animal Management Registrar
Woodland Park Zoo
425.967.2341
The Treasurer oversees all funds received and provides proper disbursement of funds. They make sure all financial paperwork is properly submitted and filed. They provide regular financial summaries to the rest of the Board. Working with the Vice-President, they prepare the annual financial summary, which is provided to the membership at the annual conference. They also build the budget with feedback from the rest of the Board.
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2020-2026
Donna Bear
Curator of Species Management
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
(904) 757-4463 x173
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2025-2026
Anna Pelc
Curator of Animal Collections
Potawatomi Zoo
574-245-6162
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2025-2027
Lillian Moore, CRA
Zoological Manager/Registrar
Saint Louis Zoo
314-646-4824
Three Directors round out the Board. Each Director acts as a liaison between the full Board and three to four Committees. The Directors, working with the Officers, sets Association priorities, encourages member participation in Association goals, and makes decisions on behalf of ZRA. Check out the Org Chart to see which liaisons are working with each Committee or Task Force.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
- John Quincy Adams
Leadership Resources
- Standing Rules [description]
- BOD
- President
- VP
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Director
- Succession Plans [description]
- President
- VP
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Director
Resources
Contact Us
General
Shelly Roach, President
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
P: 614-645-3429
F: 614-645-3465
shelly.roach@columbuszoo.orgMembership Chair
Vickie Edel, Chair
Audubon Nature Institute
P: 504-212-5369
vedel@auduboninstitute.orgProfessional Development
ZRA connects, trains and empowers the community of zoo and aquarium registrars.
