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 (2023-2025)
Jennifer Wilson
Registrar
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
402-738-2068
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 (2021-2025)
Jayne Hardwick, M.Ed., CPBT-KA
Curator of Animal Data & Logistics
NASHVILLE ZOO at GRASSMERE
(615) 833-1534 x152
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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2020-2025
Donna Bear
Curator of Species Management
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
(904) 757-4463 x173
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
Jennifer Wilson, President
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
P: 402-738-2068
F: 402-738-2039
jennw@omahazoo.comMembership Chair
Vickie Edel, Chair
Audubon Nature Institute
P: 504-3212-5369
vedel@auduboninstitute.orgProfessional Development
ZRA connects, trains and empowers the community of zoo and aquarium registrars.