Articles Archives - Page 2 of 59 - Canopy Strategic Partners

Two Seats at the Table: Navigating the CEO-Board Relationship in Zoos and Aquariums

Oct 14, 2025

What is the key to establishing and sustaining a strong board relationship? That’s what we’ve been asking CEOs and board members from zoos and aquariums across the country over the past six months. Through dedicated focus groups — capped by a live panel discussion at the AZA Annual Conference — we’ve been exploring what it takes to build partnerships rooted in trust, clarity, and shared purpose. Read on for some of the best advice that has emerged.

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra

Oct 9, 2025

Meet Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra: Zoo and aquarium leader, Conservation Coordinator at the Indianapolis Zoo, and one of Canopy’s sponsored participants in the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Dr. Sheila Poo

Sep 5, 2025

Meet Sheila Poo: Z&A leader, Curator of Research at the Memphis Zoo, and a cohort member of the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Stephanie Gonzalez

Sep 5, 2025

Meet Stephanie Gonzalez: Z&A leader, School Partnerships Supervisor at the Houston Zoo, and a cohort member of the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.

Thoughtful Succession Planning in Nonprofits: Five Lessons I Have Learned

Sep 2, 2025

Succession planning doesn’t have to be cumbersome if you approach the process with foresight, preparedness, and collaboration. Dr. Jackie Ogden shares five lessons to help leaders navigate the responsibility of succession planning with clarity and ease.

ELDP Spotlight: Meet Duane Hills

Aug 28, 2025

Duane Hills is the Deputy Director at Cameron Park Zoo and a cohort member of AZA’s 2025 Executive Leadership Development Program. We chatted with Duane about his experience in the program thus far, his career journey and leadership goals, and his perspectives on the future of our field.

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Chris Conner

Aug 20, 2025

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.

Z&A Leader Spotlights: Meet AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program Participants

Aug 13, 2025

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

Jul 30, 2025

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

Jul 23, 2025

Canopy’s mid-year retrospective: What themes, trends, and talent gaps are we seeing in executive search and leadership?

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Beyond the Numbers: Canopy’s Economic Analysis and Financial Modeling for Cultural Organizations

Feb 3, 2026

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

Dec 15, 2025

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

Dec 11, 2025

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

Nov 18, 2025

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.

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Articles

Two Seats at the Table: Navigating the CEO-Board Relationship in Zoos and Aquariums

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Dr. Sheila Poo

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Stephanie Gonzalez

Thoughtful Succession Planning in Nonprofits: Five Lessons I Have Learned

ELDP Spotlight: Meet Duane Hills

AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Chris Conner

Z&A Leader Spotlights: Meet AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program Participants

Beyond the Plan: 5 Insights from APGA’s Strategic Planning Process

Executive Search Insights: What Today’s Trends Reveal About Leadership in Cultural Institutions

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Beyond the Numbers: Canopy’s Economic Analysis and Financial Modeling for Cultural Organizations

Client Spotlight: Kentucky Science Center

10 Best Practices for CEO and Board Transitions in Cultural Organizations

2025 AMLAZ Program Update: Cohort Highlights and Final Projects

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Dr. Frederick Lahodny