Holly Hunt has been with International Animal Exchange (IAE) since birth. IAE is a family affair. Holly is now the President of the company founded by her father, Brian Hunt, and uncles in 1960. Her father, Brian and Holly also own a ZAA accredited Drive-Thru Safari Park near the shores of Lake Erie Ohio. This 46 year-old establishment has housed more than 400 exotic and domestic animals since its inception. Holly is the President of this facility. In her many years with IAE/African Safari Wildlife Park she has done many jobs- from file clerk, government affairs, writing permits, marketing and animal transport attendant. Holly earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Hillsdale College and MBA from the University of Detroit. As owners of IAE/African Safari she regularly consult with zoos, regulators, and scientists on improving animal regulations, welfare, nutrition, exhibitry and conservation. She has worked closely with government agencies around the US and the World to establish dialog that promotes global conservation initiatives through compromise, cooperation, and best practices. In more recent years, Holly has begun fostering interns and speaking at classes at Michigan State.

Betsey Brewer Bethel is the Vice President of Southwick’s Zoo and CEO of EARTH Ltd (Environmental Awareness of Resources and Threatened Habitats), a 501-C-3 non-profit organization located at Southwick’s Zoo. She has been an Executive at Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA for more than 30 years and founded EARTH in 1999. Dedicated to, and educated in, animal behavior and wildlife conservation, Betsey has given thousands of lectures to audiences of all age groups. She holds a B.A. degree from Wheaton College and a M.A. degree in Wildlife Conservation from Vermont College of Norwich University. She has worked with many television and radio programs, including “Growing Up Camel” for Animal Planet. Betsey has published research on hand-reared monkeys and behavior, as well as research and survey results on the use of rhino horn in Asian cultures. Being extremely passionate about rhinos, Betsey developed the “Rhino Encounters” program in 2014 for Southwick’s Zoo in support of EARTH Ltd. and rhino conservation. A Rhino Encounter is an hour-long session of facts about rhino conservation, a video clip and a hands-on experience meeting the zoo’s resident rhinos, Thelma and Louise. It is Betsey’s hope to create an awareness about these amazing creatures while encouraging a passion to save all 5-rhino species. In 2017, Betsey traveled to Southern China to help develop a similar rhino encounter experience with the Sun River Wildlife Park in Pu’er, China, where they house seven white rhinos. She feels it is invaluable to continue this important communication with the staff at Sun River, as well as make other connections with wildlife facilities located around the globe.

Kayte Hogan is an 18 year veteran in the zoological industry and has experience in both the private and public sectors. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Organismal Biology. Her career began at Busch Gardens-Tampa where she worked her way through the ranks from guest services to animal care. Continuing her career, she sought out a variety of positions at several zoos, gaining experiences that run the gamut from grounds keeper to curator. Settling in Florida, Kayte held the position of director at Gulf Breeze Zoo during its transformation period in 2010. These experiences prepared her for her current and most fulfilling endeavor as the Co-Owner/Chief Executive Officer of ZooWorld Zoological Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. Kayte and her family acquired ZooWorld in 2014 and have increased attendance by 100% each year and have just completed the first phase in a major zoo wide renovation plan. ZooWorld is a five acre park that is home to over 250 animals, specializing in interactive exhibits and experiences.

Marcia is originally from Northeast Ohio where she received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Management from Youngstown State University. Marcia was raised on a farm in Northeast Ohio where she began her love of animals. Marcia worked for a manufacturing corporation in North East Ohio as the International Marketing Director for 10 years before relocating to Montgomery Alabama. Marcia has been employed with the City of Montgomery Zoo for 24 years. Marcia has held various positions at the Montgomery Zoo and was recently promoted to Zoo Director, a career goal of hers. Marcia is a member of Zoological Association of America and has sat on the conference board and participates in animal management and conservation programs. Marcia served as President of Noon Network, A professional business organization. Marcia is also a member of Church of the Highlands. Marcia is married to Ken Woodard and they have two children and one grandchild, Lindsey who is a Nurse at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham and Chase who is a junior at UAB in Birmingham. Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and traveling during her free time.

Jim Andelin has been in the zoo business for over 33 years and is the founder and director of the Metro Richmond Zoo in Richmond, Virginia. The zoo sits on 150 acres and is home to over 2000 animals representing 190 species. Jim joined ZAA in its first year of organization and has been an active supporter since. He is currently serving on the code of conduct committee, AMP/conservation committee and as AMP species manager for African penguins. Jim and his wife Sherry have been married for 39 years and are proud of their 7 children and 16 grandchildren.

Dr. Barbara Baker is President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a role she has held for 26 years. From that position, she leads one of the nation’s major zoological parks of 77 acres with an animal collection of over 6,000 animals, and the International Conservation Center, a 950-acre facility dedicated to the breeding of African elephants and other threatened species. In the past 25 years, the Pittsburgh Zoo has excelled in all areas of its operation. The Zoo’s budget has grown from $3 million to $17 million, the Zoo is the most visited cultural attraction in Pittsburgh with over a million visitors, and education programs reach more than 300,000 students annually. The number of endangered species has increased from five to 52 species. The Zoo’s conservation efforts include internationally recognized programs in coral propagation, African elephants, Amur tigers and leopards, and a conservation fund that supports 165 projects in 78 countries and five oceans. Dr. Baker’s overriding management philosophies include: “what’s the best thing for the animal?” “what’s the best thing for the Zoo?” and “how can we help?” These guiding principles have led the Zoo to assist animal caretakers all over the world, such as the rescue of elephants from Botswana, sea turtles, an elephant seal and sea otter from the west coast, and coral from Mexico. Dr. Baker has an ideal combination of management and scientific training, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a MBA, majoring in marketing. A strong advocate for children, she and her husband are adoptive parents with seven children.

Judy Domaszek is the owner and director of Wildwood Wildlife Park in Minocqua, Wisconsin. Judy and her husband purchased the zoo in 1997, which has grown from 55 acres to 269 acres. Judy grew up on a farm in central Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, majoring in Special Education, and later pursued a masters in Wildlife Ecology. Wildwood Wildlife Park became accredited with ZAA in 2008 and reaccredited in 2013. Judy became a professional member of ZAA in 2010 and has served on the accreditation committee for the past 8 years. Judy is very active with legislative issues in Wisconsin and at the Federal level.

Mike Fouraker inadvertently began his career in 1971 in concessions at the Chilhowie Park Zoo before it became the Knoxville Zoo. In addition to working a side job transporting exotic animals (and race horses), he served in many roles at the Knoxville Zoo, including keeper, marine animal trainer, associate director, and finally interim zoo director before leaving to accept the position of animal programs director at the Fort Worth Zoo in 1993. Mike's experience with carnivores led to conservation field work in India with Asiatic lions, wolves in North America, and lions and cheetahs in Africa. Today he is still active in the field with Caribbean species and habitat conservation with a focus on head starting and reintroduction programs. Mike currently serves on the board of the International Elephant and Rhino Foundations (IEF & IRF), The Caribbean Wildlife (CWA) and Turtle Survival (TSA) Alliances, and the IUCN Iguana Specialists Group. Past appointments include the IUCN Conservation Breeding Group, the UNESCO Scientific Advisory Committee and the Aquarium and Zoo Associations board of directors, among others. Mike became the executive director of the Fort Worth Zoo in 2001, and is proud to see the zoo continually named in the top five and 10 zoos in nation by various publications, including Zagat's Family Travel Guide.

Mike Kerr is a veteran of the zoological industry, having grown up working in his family’s many endeavors. His professional career has spanned both the private and public sectors in keeper and supervisor levels. Mike is dedicated to forward-thinking animal management and is vocal about supporting the zoological industry. He is the CEO of NOVA Wild.

Having co-owned/operated a wildlife education outreach organization in DFW for 17 years prior to becoming the Director of the City of Gainesville’s, Frank Buck Zoo in 2004, Susan has had one foot firmly planted in the private sector and the other in the public sector. Susan both understands and values collaboration between private and public sector. She has overseen a major expansion of the zoo, doubling the footprint, number of staff, animal collection and taking it from a free zoo to a fee zoo. Susan has received extensive emergency management training (FEMA NIMS & HAZWOPER) and experience. She is currently serving on ZDR3’s board of directors. Susan and her staff at the Frank Buck Zoo has been instrumental in beta testing and development of AnimalCare Software’s measurements and animal welfare templates to provide a user friendly tool to enhance decision making, documentation and communication capabilities industry wide. Susan is a strong advocate for husbandry training for cooperative care and staff professional development.

Dr. Eric Trager is originally from the Greater Boston area; he was then raised in both Southern California and Dallas, Texas. Currently, Eric is a dedicated leader and successful entrepreneur who resides in New Braunfels, Texas.

Eric has had diverse business interests from specialty and general contracting, to founding and operating medical facilities. These and similar business endeavors have allowed Eric the means to make his primary interest in education and conservation in the zoological field a priority.

Eric is currently the executive director of Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo.

Prior to accepting this new position, Dr. George was an associate professor – professional practice at her alma mater, the Ohio State University, where she co-led the Center for Human–Animal Interactions Research & Education within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for five years; was a faculty member of the Department of Animal Sciences for seven years; mentored and advised student researchers; and traveled extensively to develop international colleagues in academia and the zoological community.

Dr. George is also a founding partner of the KUZO Group, a firm that provides animal-welfare, behavior and training consultation services to zoological facilities; a member of the Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council; a member of the Managerial Advisory Board for WorthWild Africa, a conservation nonprofit organization; and the chair of ZAA’s Animal Welfare Committee. She has coauthored multiple publications (with an additional three currently in peer review) and delivered numerous conference presentations since 2014.

Through her research, Dr. George has explored the human–animal relationship with a focus on welfare and behavior, specifically the application of animal-welfare principles in managed environments and the effects of human empathy, personal ethics and value orientations on decisions regarding the treatment and management of animals.