We’re pleased to announce that Elise Bernardoni has joined Canopy Strategic Partners as Director of Engagement. Elise had been consulting with Canopy for the past six months and had previously spent fifteen years with the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) education team in roles ranging from unpaid intern to education programs department director. She was a founding member of Conservation Nation, where she developed youth leadership programs.
Canopy is excited for our team and clients to continue to experience Elise’s passion for helping organizations find their “why” through collaboration, consensus building, and uplifting diverse voices. As Director of Engagement, Elise will continue to support Canopy’s clients with strategic, education, engagement, and organizational culture planning. She will also play a leading role in championing Canopy’s Women in Leadership initiatives. Elise is part of the teams engaged in several strategic planning projects, including those for Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, The Maritime Aquarium, and Riverbanks Zoo & Garden.
“We’re excited to add to our depth of consulting expertise by welcoming Elise’s talents in skilled facilitation and her extensive knowledge of the conservation, education, and engagement landscape. These skills will prove invaluable to our clients as Canopy continues to help mission-based organizations reach new heights,” said President and Chief Advisor David Walsh.
“I’m thrilled to join Canopy as the Director of Engagement. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that values diverse inputs and community engagement as essential to a successful strategic planning process,” said Elise.
Elise is a long-time instructor in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Learning professional development courses; an Education Co-Advisor for the Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group; and has served as president of the National Capital chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). She is also an Industry Advisory Board member for the Washington, D.C., Public School System.
Elise holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Arts in Teaching; Museum Education from The George Washington University.
