Canopy is proud to be sponsoring the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ 2025 Ted A. Beattie Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP).
The Executive Leadership Development Program is a unique, year-long cohort program designed to develop executive talent and leadership for individuals who demonstrate the ability and interest to advance to the role of Director within an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium in the next 5 years. The program is designed to provide structure, accountability, and resources to accelerate each individual’s development needs through executive coaching, leadership conversations, action learning teams, and mentorship.
We connected with current and former program participants to hear about their leadership journeys, including what drives them as leaders, the most valuable lessons they’ve learned, and what they envision for the future of the Z&A field.
Courtney Janney (2025 ELDP)
Chief Zoological Officer, Memphis Zoo
What made you want to be part of the 2025 ELDP? I wanted to be a part of ELDP to strengthen my executive leadership skills and learn how I might make a greater impact on my organization and industry.
What is the best leadership advice you’ve received? One of the best leadership lessons I’ve learned comes from Dr. Janssen’s book, Upside Down Leadership. He emphasizes the importance of being a servant leader—someone who leads with humility and integrity while leveraging experience and expertise. These four principles have resonated with me deeply and continue to shape the way I approach leadership.
What drives you as a leader? What drives me as a leader is developing others. I thrive on helping people find their niche and work style, empowering them to grow as teammates, and cultivating their leadership potential.
Where do you see the field going? I’m excited to see the growing focus on enhancing workplace culture, leveraging technology to better anticipate guest needs, and designing habitats that prioritize animal well-being from concept through construction. Moving forward, I see successful institutions emphasizing transparency, prioritizing an increasing number of local conservation and sustainability initiatives and actively fostering a workforce that better reflects the communities we serve.
Dr. Erin Meyer (2025 ELDP)
Immediate Past Chair, Aquarium Conservation Partnership
Member, ReShark Council
Co-Chair, StAR Project Steering Committee
What made you want to be part of the 2025 ELDP? I learned about AZA’s ELDP several years ago through people people sharing their transformational stories. I was inspired to keep the program in mind as a future goal. My last leadership program was over 10 years ago, at a very different stage in my career, while working in a different industry. By the time I applied for the program last year, I had been in the zoo and aquarium field for over six years. The Seattle Aquarium was undergoing significant changes, including a major expansion, and I had been in my C-level role for almost a year. I was reflecting on what it would be like to be a CEO at an aquarium, compared to being a CEO at an environmental NGO. This program offered the chance to not only better understand the leader I am today but also to gain deeper insight into the operations and business side of the industry. The ELDP has renewed my passion for the zoo and aquarium community. There is so much potential for zoos and aquariums to co-create and catalyze positive change for communities and the planet. Being in this program with people in different roles at their organizations—mostly from zoos—has opened up a side of the industry I had limited exposure to before. The program has expanded my thinking, opening my eyes to future leadership roles in both aquariums and zoos.
What is an important piece of leadership advice that you’d pass along to the next generation? The first thing that comes to mind is something I found harder to do earlier in my career. My advice to the next generation of leaders is to set up a mentorship network—not just one mentor. Find the people who can guide and challenge you, and keep in mind that they don’t have to stay the same throughout your career. Your mentors don’t have to be senior to you, nor do they all need to be from the same industry. I’ve found great value in having mentors both within and outside the zoo and aquarium industry, being able to gain perspectives and opportunities I wouldn’t otherwise. I also have a peer mentor I’ve met with regularly for five years, which has been incredibly beneficial, and I’m part of a women in leadership group: a loose mentorship circle where everyone else is earlier in their career than I am. I’ve learned a lot from this group over the years! This broad mentor network helps me stay on top of industry trends, regularly checks my privilege, opens my mind to blind spots, and inspires me to reconnect with my passion.
Where have you seen evolution in the Z&A field? It’s important to find a balance between the mission delivery and the business operations of the organization. When there’s a healthy tension between these sides—that’s where innovation happens. It’s where people bring their entrepreneurial spirit to the table through productive conversations and collaboration. Over the last seven years in the industry, I’ve reflected on how CEOs are increasingly integrating mission into operations. There are opportunities for revenue generation through mission delivery, and mission delivery opportunities through business operations. It’s exciting to be in the ELDP at a time when the industry is uncovering the value of integration and deep partnerships, in contrast to the silos of the past.
Stacia Pieroni (2025 ELDP)
Director of Conservation and Education, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
What made you want to be part of the 2025 ELDP? I was excited to participate in the Executive Leadership Development Program because of my strong commitment to growing as a leader and contributing significantly to my organization’s future success. This program offers a unique opportunity to refine my leadership skills, particularly in inspiring and developing high-performing teams, while simultaneously expanding my expertise in critical areas such as fundraising and government affairs. I was particularly enthusiastic about the mentorship and cohort components of the program. My past experiences have demonstrated the profound influence of strong professional relationships, and I am confident that these connections will be instrumental in my continued development.
Who (managers, mentors) or what (networks, opportunities) have made the biggest impact on your career? Throughout my time at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, I have benefited from consistent support, encouragement, and opportunities for professional growth. A significant turning point occurred in 2016, during the Green Summit at the AZA mid-year conference, when I connected with Liz Larson (Vice President of Programs, Hogle Zoo.) Her influence on my career and personal development has been substantial. She recognized potential within me that I hadn’t fully acknowledged, and she challenged me to expand my horizons and embrace new challenges. For nearly a decade, she’s served as a valuable mentor and trusted friend. This experience underscores the powerful impact a strong mentor can have on one’s professional journey. I am confident the Executive Leadership Development Program will provide a similar transformative experience, enabling me to build enduring relationships that have been invaluable throughout my career.
What leadership/career advice would you give to your younger self? Surround yourself with individuals who challenge you and elevate your thinking. Don’t hesitate to contribute your perspective and opinions in these spaces; your insights are valuable. Cultivate a mindset that embraces challenging conventional thinking. Most importantly, hold onto the magic of working at a zoo and aquarium, your childhood dream come true. This unique experience is certain to be more than you could have ever imagined.
Steven Ross (2025 ELDP)
Chief Development & External Relations Officer, The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
What made you want to be part of the ELDP? Having dedicated the past 15 years of my career to conservation—including the last five with the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo—I’ve been driven by a deep commitment to advancing meaningful change for wildlife and wild places. As I continue to grow in my role, I’ve been seeking opportunities to strengthen my executive leadership capabilities and integrate them with my experience in fundraising, government relations, and cause marketing. The AZA Executive Leadership Development Program stands out as the premier training opportunity in our field, and I was excited to join a cohort of peers equally passionate about leading with purpose and driving impact across our sector.
What is one of the greatest leadership lessons you’ve learned in your career? One of the greatest leadership lessons I’ve learned is the transformative power of collaboration. Whether working alongside team members, peers, partner organizations, governments, or supporters, I’ve seen firsthand how collective effort drives meaningful progress. In conservation, no single entity can succeed alone—our impact is amplified when we align around shared goals. I’ve also learned that effective collaboration doesn’t happen by chance; it requires intentionality, trust-building, and thoughtful management. Navigating different perspectives and priorities can be challenging, but when done well, collaboration becomes a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and lasting change.
As a leader, what changes do you want to make in the field? I want to help position zoos and aquariums as dynamic platforms for social mobilization in support of conservation. Our institutions play a vital role in connecting people to wildlife and inspiring care and action—but I believe we can do even more to harness this potential. I’m passionate about strengthening our collective voice across the sector to tell our story more effectively, engage broader audiences, and deepen partnerships with the private sector and government. In the next stage of my career, I hope to expand my contributions beyond my organization to help elevate the influence and impact of the entire zoo and aquarium community.
Pat McTigue (2024 ELDP)
Interim Senior Vice President & Executive Director, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA)
What was your greatest learning or takeaway from the 2024 ELDP? When I applied and was accepted into ELDP, I initially expected the program to enhance my understanding of functional areas I had yet to explore. However, as the program unfolded, I quickly realized that this journey would be far more personal. As a leader, my focus has always been on putting the team first. Through ELDP, I learned the profound impact of sharing my beliefs, experiences, and even vulnerabilities. This level of authenticity not only strengthens leadership but also fosters deeper connections and drives greater organizational impact.
What drives you in your career/leadership journey? Early in my career, I was fortunate to have leaders who saw potential in me and believed in me, often more than I believed in myself. Their support and mentorship instilled in me a deep passion for serving and developing others—a commitment that has shaped my leadership journey. I firmly believe that when we invest in, support, and care for our team members, they, in turn, become deeply engaged in our mission. This not only strengthens our impact on wildlife and nature but also enhances our ability to connect meaningfully with our audiences. Empowered teams drive meaningful change, and that is what motivates me every day.
Where do you see the field going, and what influence do you want to have? Our field is embracing a more holistic approach to conservation by fostering deeper connections with local communities and recognizing the vital role people play in coexisting with nature. At the same time, we are strengthening our commitment to supporting and empowering the dedicated teams who bring our mission to life every day. This is an incredible opportunity to lead by example. By prioritizing the well-being and growth of our teams, we can enhance our collective impact—within our organizations, across the profession, and out into communities. Through collaboration and investment in people, we can create a stronger, more engaged community that drives meaningful conservation efforts and deepens our connection with the world around us.
Laurette Pitts (2024 ELDP)
Chief Financial Officer, The Philadelphia Zoo
What was your greatest learning or takeaway from the 2024 ELDP? Leadership is about understanding how your team responds to your actions and adapting to provide motivation and leadership that matches their motivations. But, it also means having an awareness of your executive presence and knowing when to listen rather than lead.
What is the best leadership advice you’ve gotten that you would pass along to the next generation? Every person is motivated by different factors. Knowing how various individuals are motivated is very important. The leaders of today are working to lead various generations and the members of those different generations are motivated by different factors, so be aware of who you interact with and have skills in your toolbox that allow you to be resilient.
Who/what inspired you to pursue your executive leadership journey? My parents inspired me to pursue my leadership journey. They are hardworking and loving people who, despite not going to college, had successful careers by treating people with dignity and respect consistently.
Ari Robinson (2024 ELDP)
Senior Vice President of Operations, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
What was your greatest learning or takeaway from the ELDP? The ELDP helped me understand that executive leadership is not about having all the answers—it’s about creating the environment where others can thrive, and learning to lead with both clarity and compassion. One of my biggest takeaways was learning to lead with heart while staying grounded in accountability and results. I began embracing my authentic self as a leader, letting go of self-doubt and stepping into greater confidence and presence. The program challenged me to adopt a “big footprint” view of my role, expand my influence beyond functional expertise, and see leadership as a platform for enabling others and amplifying impact across departments.
What is the best leadership advice you’ve gotten that you would pass along to the next generation? Show up as your best self, and lead with integrity. Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about connection, courage, and consistency. The most powerful leaders I’ve known do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons, even when it’s hard. Be intentional. Know your values. Lead with heart, but don’t shy away from accountability. Create space for others to grow, and find satisfaction in enabling your team’s success. Embrace storytelling as a leadership tool—it’s one of the most powerful ways to align teams and reinforce culture. And never underestimate the power of creative thinking when tackling complex problems. When you align authenticity, awareness, and action, you’ll lead with purpose—and make a meaningful impact.
Who/what inspired you to pursue your executive leadership journey? I’ve always been inspired by the potential to shape something bigger than myself—to create systems where people flourish, where values drive decisions, and where culture and strategy align. My curiosity and drive to learn drew me into leadership, but it’s the opportunity to make a positive difference that keeps me here. The ELDP—and the mentors and peers I’ve encountered through it—helped me realize that executive leadership is not just a role, it’s a responsibility. It challenged me to embrace not only the strategic and tactical dimensions of leadership, but also the emotional and relational ones. That balance—head and heart—is what continues to guide me.
Christie Vondrak (2024 ELDP)
Chief Administrative Officer, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, SC
What was your greatest learning or takeaway from the 2024 ELDP? One of the most valuable takeaways from my experience in the AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program was the emphasis on intentionality in learning and development, particularly as you step into executive roles. There’s a common misconception that once you’re in an executive position, you should already know everything about being a great leader. However, leadership is not static—it evolves over time. The program reinforced the idea that we must all remain lifelong learners. As leaders, it’s crucial to continuously adapt and refine our leadership philosophy in response to the changing needs of our teams and the evolving business landscape. This ongoing commitment to growth and self-awareness is what enables us to lead effectively in dynamic environments, and it’s something I carry forward in my approach to leadership.
What is the best leadership advice you’ve gotten that you would pass along to the next generation? One piece of advice I would offer to future leaders is to continuously invest in your own personal growth and understanding of your own internal operating system. It’s essential to recognize that you can only control yourself in any situation. By developing a deeper understanding of your emotional intelligence and leadership competencies, you’ll be better equipped to navigate complex challenges and lead with intention. This self-awareness allows you to interact with your teams in a more thoughtful, empathetic, and inspiring way. Ultimately, the better you understand yourself as a leader, the more effectively you can guide and support others.
What drives you as a leader? I am driven by the team dynamics in zoos and aquariums. Whether it’s working with animal care staff, educators, or guest services, our teams are a constant source of inspiration. Being able to support and guide passionate, like-minded individuals in achieving our shared goals motivates me to continuously improve as a leader. I believe that great leadership in this field is about empowering others, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship, and creating a lasting impact on both people and the planet.
