Houston Zoo Zoo Announces Next Director

Houston just hit the jackpot.

Maybe he can create the world's first otter shrew exhibit for Houston's African Forest exhibit. I'd suggest African forest elephants too, but that seems unlikely in today's captive elephant environment.
 
DavidBrown said:
Houston just hit the jackpot.

Maybe he can create the world's first otter shrew exhibit for Houston's African Forest exhibit. I'd suggest African forest elephants too, but that seems unlikely in today's captive elephant environment.
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The zoo already has Asian elephants, so I doubt they'd get African ones based on that unless they wanted to trade out.

Anyway, this is interesting. I went to Minnesota Zoo quite a bit as a kid and I remember it being probably the best zoo I've ever been to. (though I haven't been to as many zoos as the hardcore ZooChatters, ha ha) I go to Houston Zoo more regularly, my parents live nearby so I go a few times a year. I wonder what this new director will mean for Houston?
 
Zooplantman said:
This article suggest why Houston was interested specifically in Lee Ehmke.
Minnesota Zoo director Lee Ehmke leaving for Houston Zoo - StarTribune.com
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Exciting times ahead for this already progressing Zoo. If the money that has been spent in recent years is available to him, he will increase visitation and conservation. This Zoo seems to be climbing in attendance year after year. More parking and this Med-Large Zoo can handle parking woes. He likes to tie things together geographically. This can only aid this Zoo. I'd be curious, to see if he sorts Africa more. This is also the first time since Bronx Zoo, that Elephants are in the collection. A succesful Elephant program too. I think Houston will be great for him. Smallest of the Zoos he's worked at in recent years. I really want to see a Hippo exhibit come from his design. He has the talent we all know via the great exhibits at Bronx and Minnesota. Best wishes, Lee. May you succeed in education, conservation and species survival in the wild and captivity. Cheers!
 
Houston has an interesting leadership platform that I know a few other big zoos have too. They have a separate CEO and zoo director. Contrary to the title of this thread, Lee Ehmke is NOT the new zoo director. That will continue to be (as far as I know) Rick Barongi (formerly of Disney Animal Kingdom). Ehmke is the new president and CEO, replacing Deborah Cannon. I am sure they will make a great team, but as an outsider with little knowledge of the business world, I am not entirely sure what the different roles of a director and CEO are. I am also not sure why some zoos feel the need for both while others are fine with just a single director. Any thoughts?
 
Arizona Docent said:
Houston has an interesting leadership platform that I know a few other big zoos have too. They have a separate CEO and zoo director. Contrary to the title of this thread, Lee Ehmke is NOT the new zoo director. That will continue to be (as far as I know) Rick Barongi (formerly of Disney Animal Kingdom). Ehmke is the new president and CEO, replacing Deborah Cannon. I am sure they will make a great team, but as an outsider with little knowledge of the business world, I am not entirely sure what the different roles of a director and CEO are. I am also not sure why some zoos feel the need for both while others are fine with just a single director. Any thoughts?
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Rick switched from director to VP-Conservation quite some time ago, and has recently himself retired. It is unclear whether the separate CEO and Director structure will continue.

WCS has had a similar arrangement since Dr. William Conway stepped down as both President and Director of the Bronx Zoo. Ever since those have been held by two individuals
 
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