Meet Chris Conner: Z&A leader, PhD candidate, and one of Canopy’s sponsored participants in the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.
AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Chris Conner
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Insights
New horizons, fresh perspectives, diverse voices: Explore actionable insights, in-depth analysis, updates, expertise, and more.
Z&A Leader Spotlights: Meet AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program Participants
Canopy is proud to be sponsoring the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ 2025 Ted A. Beattie Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) and supporting the advancement of leaders in our field. 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.
Beyond the Plan: 5 Insights from APGA’s Strategic Planning Process
After an inclusive strategic planning process that incorporated 1,000 stakeholder touchpoints, Canopy officially launched the American Public Gardens Associations’ Strategic Plan 2030 at the Annual Conference in June. Anna Musun-Miller, who helmed the process, shares five valuable observations from the process that are applicable to all types of cultural institutions.
Executive Search Insights: What Today’s Trends Reveal About Leadership in Cultural Institutions
Canopy’s mid-year retrospective: What themes, trends, and talent gaps are we seeing in executive search and leadership?
Planning Through Uncertainty: What’s Shaping Cultural Attractions in 2025
Canopy’s mid-year retrospective: What themes and trends are we seeing in our work with cultural attractions across the U.S. this year?
A Story of Pride, Joy, and Hope: Pride Month Reflections by David Walsh
As Pride Month comes to a close, I must admit that here at Canopy, we have struggled to find the right words this month. Given all that’s been happening, our team — like many of you — has been caught up in a real sense of gloom and worry about our current state of...
The Power of Cross-Pollination Between Cultural Organizations
With a client base that spans a range of cultural institutions, we see the benefits of cross-pollination in action every day. This ongoing exchange of ideas and best practices across different sectors isn’t just beneficial — it’s essential for relevance, sustainability, and advancement in today’s interconnected cultural landscape. Read on for resources + tips to help you incorporate more cross-pollination into your strategy.
AMLAZ Program Update: Meet Canopy’s 2025 Sponsored Participants
As the Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program (AMLAZ) enters its second year, Canopy is proud to continue our sponsorship of this vital leadership development opportunity. Learn more about Chris Conner and Yetta Robinson, two of our sponsored...
Navigating Economic Uncertainty: Tips for Cultural Attractions and Nonprofits
What’s the economic outlook for 2025 and beyond, and how will it impact cultural institutions? Read on for six takeaways from our recent webinar on building resiliency in the face of uncertainty.
Lessons I Have Learned: Advice for Emerging Leaders
“Learn from my mistakes!” Jackie Ogden reflects on her leadership journey and shares five invaluable lessons for emerging leaders.
Beyond the Numbers: Canopy’s Economic Analysis and Financial Modeling for Cultural Organizations
Canopy’s Business Analytics Manager, Lauren Haskins, shares an inside look into our process of economic analysis and financial modeling — and the value of using extensive data to drive strategic goals and decisions.
Client Spotlight: Kentucky Science Center
Several years ago, the Kentucky Science Center was just a sole location in Louisville, working to serve the whole state and neighboring regions. We interviewed Mike Norman, CEO, to hear his perspective on how Canopy’s market-driven feasibility study led to the Science Center’s expansion — creating sustainable growth, broader community impact, and vital education access.
10 Best Practices for CEO and Board Transitions in Cultural Organizations
Based on conversations with CEOs and board members, as well as our executive search work, we’ve gathered 10 best practices for navigating leadership transitions and succession planning in zoos, aquariums, and other cultural institutions.
2025 AMLAZ Program Update: Cohort Highlights and Final Projects
Congratulations to the 2025 cohort of MIAZS’ Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program! We caught up with several participants to capture their highlights from the program, as well as an overview of the impactful final projects they completed for their respective organizations.
