I think it was a question of, from a historical perspective, learning as much as I could so I wouldn’t make the same mistakes. And I think that had to do with visiting as many places I could ‘cos I always brought things back and stored ’em away so I… Read More
Do you think that the euthanizing of endangered species, surplus generic issues, still pose a political problem for zoos and aquariums?… Read More
Sea lions, I really wanted to do sea lions. And yeah, just ran out time. It didn’t happen. Read More
Did you have a certain way, like this is how no one exhibits them?… Read More
I had seen a lot of exhibits. I had been looking about it. I had some thoughts. I wanted the water, the moving water. I looked at it as that would be a real challenge. I was looking for a real challenge Plus, I also knew it was one that… Read More
Even at our national convention, there’s a huge section now on the whole volunteer thing. And that’s tyign the communities in ‘cos man, if you don’t have community support and involvement, your brand is not gonna be as strong. Let’s turn back the clock. Read More
If you could go back in time, what, if anything, would you have done differently?… Read More
I have small things I can think of. I can think of an exhibit, or you can say I had one person I should have terminated earlier or something like that. But you know, I can’t think of anything that would’ve significantly been a positive thing by any specific multiplication… Read More
Are there any exhibits that you would’ve implemented during your tenure that did not happen?… Read More
How can a zoo improve their connection with kids and teenagers to heighten their zeal and awareness about the natural world?… Read More
Yeah, there’s no question that zoos need to pay close attention to the curriculum of their school districts in their community to find out where they can fit and what they can match and relationships that can be built with school districts. That’s one. Two, the one that I’ve seen… Read More
What greater place for kids, they’re getting to go out in the zoo during their time at the zoo, their morning or their afternoon. It’s like any rental facility that you do that you get people there for those extra things. I used to say Halloween, which zoos own, has… Read More
How many people are going to the zoo?… Read More
How much does it cost per animal?… Read More
And all these benchmarking things that you can figure out. And I was always amazed at the attendance figures and our goal was to hit a hundred percent of our statistical metropolitan area, and we were constantly in the 90%. We went over a hundred percent a couple times. And… Read More
First off, confidence in yourself ‘cos you won’t feel that for about five years. And I’ve told that to several people and they said yeah, at five years all of a sudden things started clicking. You know, I think it comes down to if people see your passion and if… Read More
It’s not the big, big zoos, but the medium size to the mid upper medium. Marketing can make a hell of a difference. I used to do those benchmarking surveys every year, which I’d print and send to the zoo. And you know, you look at the saturation of your… Read More
Any advice you’d give the neophyte zoo director about the importance of marketing zoos?… Read More
What would you say are the most important aspects of marketing?… Read More
Most people don’t even know who the AZA is. I mean, I think more do now. In certain communities it’s well known, but I’m hopeful that things like this show at the zoo that was done by the Conservation Society, that Discovery Channel said it was the highest rated new… Read More