Updates
More Updates
August 14, 2026
2026 Draft Program

2026 ZRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM – DRAFT
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Friday, October 2nd |
ICRM Exam Prep Workshop – Virtual |
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12:00pm – 4:00 pm |
ZRA Hosted ICRM Exam Prep Workshop – Virtual Pre Conference Event, ICRM Parts 2, 3, and 4 for Certified Records Analyst (CRA) Credential |
*The 2026 ZRA Annual Conference Program will be submitted to the ICRM for preapproval of maintenance points (CMPs). If you hold an ICRM credential, contact PDC leadership for pre-approval code and amount.
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Sunday, October 11th |
Pre Conference Trip – National Aviary and The International Conservation Center |
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8:30am |
Bus departs for National Aviary (Begin loading at 8:15am) |
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9:00am – 10:30am |
National Aviary Tour |
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10:45am – 12:45pm |
Bus transfer to The International Conservation Center (Begin loading at 10:30am) |
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1:00pm – 2:00pm |
Lunch at The International Conservation Center |
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2:00pm - 4:00pm |
The International Conservation Center |
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4:30pm |
Bus leaves for hotel (Begin loading at 4:15pm) |
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6:30pm |
Arrival at hotel |
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3:00pm – 5:00pm |
Conference Registration Open |
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Monday, October 12th |
All Sessions/Workshops held at Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square |
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7:30am – 3:00pm |
Conference Registration Open |
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8:30am - 9:00am |
Welcome |
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9:00am – 10:15am |
Applied Skills Workshop- A hands-on approach! |
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9:00am- 9:45am |
Preparing A Large Institution For An AZA Accreditation Cycle – Alex Lovern, Georgia Aquarium |
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9:45am – 10:30am |
Creation Of Automated Processes For Transaction And/Or Other Paperwork Using Microsoft Options- Leslie Silva, John Ball Zoo |
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10:30am – 10:45am |
Break |
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10:45am – 11:30am |
From Point A To Zoo To B: The Internal Transaction Process For Milwaukee County Zoo- Faith Benassi, Milwaukee County Zoo |
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11:30am – 12:15pm |
From X to Aquarium to Y: Managing Animal Transaction Processes at Seattle Aquarium- Amie Bialo, Seattle Aquarium |
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12:15pm – 1:15pm |
Lunch |
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1:15pm - 3:30pm |
Software Workshops- Dive right in! |
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1:15pm - 3:30pm |
Tracks Workshop – Tony Niemann, Tracks Data Solutions |
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1:15pm - 3:30pm |
ZIMS Workshop - Species360 |
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1:15pm - 3:30pm |
AnimalCare® Software Workshop – Ian Ford, AnimalCare® Software |
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3:30pm – 3:45pm |
Break |
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3:45pm – 5:15pm |
Registrar 101 |
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3:45pm – 5:15pm |
Committee Working Sessions (Concurrent with Registrar 101) |
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5:45pm |
Walk to boat dock from hotel |
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6:00pm – 9:00pm |
Icebreaker on the Gateway Clipper |
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9:15pm |
Walk back to hotel |
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Tuesday, October 13th |
All Sessions held at Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square ️ |
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7:30am – 10:00am |
Conference Registration Open |
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8:15am – 8:45am |
Welcome & Opening Remarks/Introductions |
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8:45am – 9:00am |
State of the Association |
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9:00am – 9:45am |
Keynote Speaker |
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9:45am – 10:00am |
Exhibitor introductions |
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10:00am – 10:15am |
Exhibitor Spotlight: Tracks Data Solutions |
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10:15am – 10:30am |
Break |
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10:30am – 11:15am |
Becoming A Cultural Connector; How Zoological Registrars Can Help Bridge Gaps Across Organizational Divides- Nico Ishak, National Aquarium |
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11:15am – 12:00pm |
Beyond the Exhibit: Advancing Preservation & Research through Zoo-Museum Partnerships- Jessica Grote, Denver Zoo |
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12:00pm – 1:00pm |
Lunch |
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1:00pm – 1:45pm |
Beyond the Health Certificate: Veterinary Risk Mitigation in Zoo Animal Transport Planning- Dr. Nelva Bryant, DVM Transportation Consultants LLC |
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1:45pm – 2:30pm |
Discussion Of Feeder Animal Record Management and Wellbeing Assessment Tools at Lincoln Park- Adrienne Horrigan, Lincoln Park Zoo |
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2:30pm – 3:15pm |
Managing International Elephant Moves- Heather Terrell, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium |
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3:15pm – 3:30pm |
Break |
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3:30pm – 4:00pm |
Reimagining Animal Transport at the Saint Louis Zoo: Animal Management Services (AMS) Animal Transport Team - Lillian Moore and Shannon Richard, Saint Louis Zoo |
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4:00pm – 4:45pm |
Keeper's-Eye View of Where Records Are Lost Before They Ever Reach Your System -Ian Ford, Animalcare Software© |
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5:00pm – 7:00pm |
ZRA Member Flamingle, Silent Auction, and Exhibitor Showcase |
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7:00pm – 9:00pm |
ZRA Executive Board Meeting |
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Wednesday, October 14th |
All Sessions held at Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square |
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8:30am – 8:45am |
Announcements/Sponsor Recognition |
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8:45am – 9:30am |
Managing Confiscations From A Registrar Role -Mandy Fisher, AZA, Wildlife Trafficking Alliance |
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9:30am –10:15am |
NOAA/NMFS Updates - Jennifer Skidmore, National Inventory of Marine Mammals (NIMM) NOAA Fisheries Service |
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10:15am – 10:30am |
Break |
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10:30am – 11:15am |
USDA Avian Regulations- Kelly Helmich, DVM, MS, DACZM, USDA APHIS |
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11:15am – 12:00pm |
Importation of Non- Human Primates- Sara Taetzsch, Veterinary Medical Officer at CDC |
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12:00pm – 1:00pm |
Lunch |
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1:00pm – 1:45pm |
Change Is Inevitable; Chaos Is Optional: The Registrar’s Guide to Managing Staff Transitions in Animal Care – Amie Bialo, Seattle Aquarium |
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1:45pm – 2:30pm |
Animal Management Service's Collaboration with Reproductive Sciences: Advancing Records Management for Gamete Banking and Designing Integrations that Address Emerging Requirements for Births via Artificial Insemination (AI)-Rae Lynn Haliday and Lillian Moore, Saint Louis Zoo |
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2:30pm – 3:15pm |
Built to Share: Moving Animal Data Across Platforms Without Losing Control- Tony Niemann |
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3:15pm – 3:30pm |
Break |
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3:30pm – 4:15pm |
Records Management Processes Applicable to The Registrar Position- Sara Foote, Potter Park Zoo |
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4:15pm – 5:00pm |
AZA Government Affairs and GAC- Aislinn Bates, Association of Zoos and Aquariums |
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5:00pm |
Choose your own adventure! Dinner on your own- Be on the lookout for local suggestions and recommendations |
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Thursday, October 15th |
Zoo Day – Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium |
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8:00am – 9:30am |
Z-CAP |
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9:30am – 9:45am |
Annual Business Meeting Check-In |
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9:45am – 11:00am |
Annual Business Meeting & Recognition Ceremony |
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11:30am |
Depart hotel for Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (Begin loading at 11:15am) |
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12:00pm -1:00pm |
Lunch at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium |
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1:00pm – 4:40 pm |
Zoo Day/Behind the Scenes tours |
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4:30pm – 6:30pm |
Open bar |
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5:00pm – 6:30pm |
Dinner |
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6:30pm – 7:30pm |
Jack O’ Lantern Extravaganza |
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7:30pm |
Buses depart for hotel (Begin loading at 7:15pm) |
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8:00pm |
Arrival at Hotel |
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Friday, October 16th |
Post Conference Trip – Molly’s Trolleys Tour, Phipps Conservatory, The Strip District |
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9:00am |
Trolley departs hotel (Begin loading at 8:45am) |
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9:00am – 10:00am |
Molly’s Trolley’s Tour of Pittsburgh |
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10:00am – 12:00pm |
Phipps Conservatory |
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12:15pm |
Trolley departs for The Strip District (Begin loading at 12:00pm) |
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12:30pm - 1:30pm |
Lunch on your own at The Strip District |
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1:30pm -3:30pm |
Free time at The Strip District |
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3:30pm |
Trolley departs for hotel (Begin loading at 3:15pm) |
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4:00pm |
Arrive at hotel |
June 11, 2026
Zoological Registrar Association Scholarship and Subsidy
The Zoological Registrar Association is proud to announce the availability of one scholarship and one subsidy to attend the ZRA Annual Conference hosted by Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Anyone interested in applying should use the link below.
First-Time Presenter Scholarship
All applications will be accepted from June 1-June 30, 2026. The recipients will be notified of the award by July 15, 2026. If you plan to attend the conference, regardless of whether you receive a scholarship or subsidy, please make sure to register for the conference by September 18, 2026.
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
Rae Lynn Haliday, MBA, CRM/CIGO, FAI, Chair
Saint Louis Zoo
P: 314-646-4572
F: 314-647-7969
haliday@stlzoo.orgZRA connects, trains and empowers the community of zoo and aquarium registrars.
