Case Studies

The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens new CEO desired to conduct an integrated planning process to build on the organization’s 100 year history of success.

The Chicago Botanic Garden existed as a free admission facility but was interested in determining the financial opportunity and upside that could be gained by implementing a per-person admission fee.

With a new President and CEO, the Indianapolis Zoo leadership team knew the timing was right for a bold update to their strategic plan. At the same time, the Zoo needed to make a strong case for its new master plan, and to understand how that investment in the organization would pay dividends in the community.

After her appointment as CEO and Director of the Los Angeles Zoo in July 2019, Denise Verret quickly appointed the Zoo’s first Director of Conservation, Dr. Jake Owens. Only months later, Ms. Verret engaged Zoo Advisors to guide the development of the Zoo’s first Conservation Strategic Plan.

Soon after his selection as CEO of the Toronto Zoo in August 2018, Dolf DeJong knew operations needed to change. He needed a plan. Dolf’s challenge to our team: “How do we make the hidden zoo go extinct?”

Doug Piekarz, President and CEO of the Akron Zoo, demonstrated the foundational importance of the Zoo in the community via an economic impact study, leading the Zoo to $5 million in new public support via a tax levy.

Our clients are located beyond the United States: our team is global. We’ve assisted the development and growth of organizations around the world from South America to the Middle East.

After its growth from a small research center into the popular Aquarium of Niagara of today, there was still work to be done, so Executive Director Gary Siddall embarked on a strategic planning process.

The Maria Mitchell Association (Nantucket, MA) has engaged Zoo Advisors for a number of separate engagements in recent years. As it prepares to make a bold leap forward, Zoo Advisors has become an indispensable partner.

All investments carry risk. The key to sustained success is identifying which risks are worth taking. Magnetic Hill Zoo requested a feasibility study as they considered a major investment in a significant expansion to its footprint.

When Sedgwick County Zoo hired Jeff Ettling as their new Executive Director, he desired a strategic plan to shape the Zoo’s vision, mission, and goals.

Potawatomi Zoo contacted long-term partner Zoo Advisors to conduct two economic impact studies to quantify activity attributable to its development and operations. Each study had a distinct purpose.

When Potawatomi Zoo embarked on an ambitious Master Plan update, they needed the support of the South Bend community. They turned to Zoo Advisors to help them make a case demonstrating the positive impact the plan would have on the region.

Keith Winsten, Zoo Director at Florida’s Brevard Zoo, contacted Zoo Advisors based on a long-standing relationship to discuss testing the feasibility of a new facility concept: The Aquarium at Port Canaveral.

In the Summer of 2014, Zoo Advisors Was Engaged by the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo to Conduct a Full Assessment of Their Education Programming and Staffing in an Effort to Maximize an Already Strong Program.

When Lisa New became Executive Director at Knoxville Zoo, it was clear she had big plans. Zoo Advisors was engaged to create a strategic plan that would guide the Zoo through the upcoming years to make those plans a reality.

The North Carolina Aquarium team presented Zoo Advisors with a challenge–could we design a strategic planning process that would involve their entire staff across four aquariums and complete it in a short period of time?