Updates

October 07, 2026

2026 ZRA Conference Program
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August 14, 2026

2026 Draft Program

 

 

2026 ZRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM – DRAFT

 

Friday, October 2nd

ICRM Exam Prep Workshop – Virtual

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.

 

Sunday, October 11th

Pre Conference Trip – National Aviary and The International Conservation Center

8:30am

Bus departs for National Aviary (Begin loading at 8:15am)

9:00am – 10:30am

National Aviary Tour

10:45am – 12:45pm

Bus transfer to The International Conservation Center (Begin loading at 10:30am)

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Lunch at The International Conservation Center

2:00pm - 4:00pm

The International Conservation Center

4:30pm

Bus leaves for hotel (Begin loading at 4:15pm)

6:30pm

Arrival at hotel

3:00pm – 5:00pm

Conference Registration Open

 

Monday, October 12th

All Sessions/Workshops held at Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square

7:30am – 3:00pm

Conference Registration Open

8:30am - 9:00am

Welcome

9:00am – 10:15am

Applied Skills Workshop- A hands-on approach!

9:00am- 9:45am

Preparing A Large Institution For An AZA Accreditation Cycle – Alex Lovern, Georgia Aquarium

9:45am – 10:30am

Creation Of Automated Processes For Transaction And/Or Other Paperwork Using Microsoft Options- Leslie Silva, John Ball Zoo

10:30am – 10:45am

Break

10:45am – 11:30am

From Point A To Zoo To B: The Internal Transaction Process For Milwaukee County Zoo- Faith Benassi, Milwaukee County Zoo

11:30am – 12:15pm

From X to Aquarium to Y: Managing Animal Transaction Processes at Seattle Aquarium- Amie Bialo, Seattle Aquarium

12:15pm – 1:15pm

Lunch

1:15pm - 3:30pm

Software Workshops- Dive right in!

1:15pm - 3:30pm

Tracks Workshop – Tony Niemann, Tracks Data Solutions

1:15pm - 3:30pm

ZIMS Workshop - Species360

1:15pm - 3:30pm

AnimalCare® Software Workshop – Ian Ford, AnimalCare® Software

3:30pm – 3:45pm

Break

3:45pm – 5:15pm

Registrar 101

3:45pm – 5:15pm

Committee Working Sessions (Concurrent with Registrar 101)

5:45pm

Walk to boat dock from hotel

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Icebreaker on the Gateway Clipper

9:15pm

Walk back to hotel

 

Tuesday, October 13th

All Sessions held at Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square ️

7:30am – 10:00am

Conference Registration Open

8:15am – 8:45am

Welcome & Opening Remarks/Introductions

8:45am – 9:00am

State of the Association

9:00am – 9:45am

Keynote Speaker

9:45am – 10:00am

Exhibitor introductions

10:00am – 10:15am

Exhibitor Spotlight: Tracks Data Solutions

10:15am – 10:30am

Break

10:30am – 11:15am

Becoming A Cultural Connector; How Zoological Registrars Can Help Bridge Gaps Across Organizational Divides- Nico Ishak, National Aquarium

11:15am – 12:00pm

Beyond the Exhibit: Advancing Preservation & Research through Zoo-Museum Partnerships- Jessica Grote, Denver Zoo

12:00pm – 1:00pm

Lunch

1:00pm – 1:45pm

Beyond the Health Certificate: Veterinary Risk Mitigation in Zoo Animal Transport Planning- Dr. Nelva Bryant, DVM Transportation Consultants LLC

1:45pm – 2:30pm

Discussion Of Feeder Animal Record Management and Wellbeing Assessment Tools at Lincoln Park- Adrienne Horrigan, Lincoln Park Zoo

2:30pm – 3:15pm

Managing International Elephant Moves- Heather Terrell, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

3:15pm – 3:30pm

Break

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

4:00pm – 4:45pm

Keeper's-Eye View of Where Records Are Lost Before They Ever Reach Your System -Ian Ford, Animalcare Software©

5:00pm – 7:00pm

ZRA Member Flamingle, Silent Auction, and Exhibitor Showcase

7:00pm – 9:00pm

ZRA Executive Board Meeting

 

 

Wednesday,

October 14th

All Sessions held at Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square

8:30am – 8:45am

Announcements/Sponsor Recognition

8:45am – 9:30am

Managing Confiscations From A Registrar Role -Mandy Fisher, AZA, Wildlife Trafficking Alliance

9:30am –10:15am

NOAA/NMFS Updates - Jennifer Skidmore, National Inventory of Marine Mammals (NIMM) NOAA Fisheries Service

10:15am – 10:30am

Break

10:30am – 11:15am

USDA Avian Regulations- Kelly Helmich, DVM, MS, DACZM, USDA APHIS

11:15am – 12:00pm

Importation of Non- Human Primates- Sara Taetzsch, Veterinary Medical Officer at CDC

12:00pm – 1:00pm

Lunch

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

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

2:30pm – 3:15pm

Built to Share: Moving Animal Data Across Platforms Without Losing Control- Tony Niemann

3:15pm – 3:30pm

Break

3:30pm – 4:15pm

Records Management Processes Applicable to The Registrar Position- Sara Foote, Potter Park Zoo

4:15pm – 5:00pm

AZA Government Affairs and GAC- Aislinn Bates, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

5:00pm

Choose your own adventure! Dinner on your own- Be on the lookout for local suggestions and recommendations

 

Thursday, October 15th

Zoo Day – Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

8:00am – 9:30am

Z-CAP

9:30am – 9:45am

Annual Business Meeting Check-In

9:45am – 11:00am

Annual Business Meeting & Recognition Ceremony

11:30am

Depart hotel for Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (Begin loading at 11:15am)

12:00pm -1:00pm

Lunch at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

1:00pm – 4:40 pm

Zoo Day/Behind the Scenes tours

4:30pm – 6:30pm

Open bar

5:00pm – 6:30pm

Dinner

6:30pm – 7:30pm

Jack O’ Lantern Extravaganza

7:30pm

Buses depart for hotel (Begin loading at 7:15pm)

8:00pm

Arrival at Hotel

 

Friday, October 16th

Post Conference Trip – Molly’s Trolleys Tour, Phipps Conservatory, The Strip District

9:00am

Trolley departs hotel (Begin loading at 8:45am)

9:00am – 10:00am

Molly’s Trolley’s Tour of Pittsburgh

10:00am – 12:00pm

Phipps Conservatory

12:15pm

Trolley departs for The Strip District (Begin loading at 12:00pm)

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Lunch on your own at The Strip District

1:30pm -3:30pm

Free time at The Strip District

3:30pm

Trolley departs for hotel (Begin loading at 3:15pm)

4:00pm

Arrive at hotel

 

 

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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

Conference Subsidy

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.

 

 

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Contact Us

General

Shelly Roach, President

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

P: 614-645-3429

F: 614-645-3465

shelly.roach@columbuszoo.org
Membership Chair

Vickie Edel, Chair

Audubon Nature Institute

P: 504-212-5369

vedel@auduboninstitute.org
Professional Development

Rae Lynn Haliday, MBA, CRM/CIGO, FAI, Chair

Saint Louis Zoo

P: 314-646-4572

F: 314-647-7969

haliday@stlzoo.org

Amie Bialo, Vice Chair

Seattle Aquarium

P: 206 693-6151

a.bialo@seattleaquarium.org
Web Site Manager

Sherie Bradley

Houston Zoo

P: 713-533-6627

sbradley@houstonzoo.org

ZRA connects, trains and empowers the community of zoo and aquarium registrars.

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