Professional Development Committee
Chair
Melaina Wallace - Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Purpose
The Professional Development Committee’s Mission is to provide continual resources for professional growth through leadership and educational opportunities for all National AAZK members.
2010
The 2010 AAZK National Conference in Philadelphia was an interesting and busy time for the Professional Development Committee. The committee again hosted two continuing education workshops. The workshops presented were a Passerine Husbandry Workshop and a Rotating Exhibits Workshop.
The Passerine Husbandry Workshop was taught by Dr. Robert Webster from the Toledo Zoo and was sponsored by Marion Zoological, Mazuri, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This was a 6 hour workshop that focused on allowing keepers being able to share their own personal or their own facilities advancements in the care of these small birds. On top of that it gave a host of other talks that focused passerine bird biology, husbandry, and behavioral husbandry. PDF’s from this workshop can be found in the Member’s Only section of the website.
Dr. Robert Webster giving one of many bird husbandry talks
The Rotating Exhibit Workshop was an evening workshop that was hosted by keepers from the Denver Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Philadelphia Zoo, and Point Defiance Zoo. This type of animal exhibitry is starting to become a new direction and method of revitalizing old exhibits while staying in existing footprints and addressing the ever rising expectations of animal welfare and behavioral husbandry. This two hour workshop focused on the daily opportunities and challenges associated with this type of exhibit with emphasis on enrichment, safety, guest experience, along with the flexibility, freedom, and limitations that one might face if considering a change in this style of animal exhibitry. PDF’s from this workshop can be found in the Member’s Only section of the website
Andrew Rowan and Mike Murray talk about their rotating exhibit Predator Ridge
The Future
One of the other main focuses of the committee at this conference was to meet about the new direction of the professional development committee and their increasing role in the future of the AAZK.
2010 Professional Development Committee Members
Melaina Wallace – Chair Bob Cisneros- Liaison to Board
Disney’s Animal Kingdom San Diego Zoo
Kelly Wilson Victor Alm
Detroit Zoo Oakland Zoo
Bandy Hicks Leann Blinco
Boat Club Road Animal Hospital Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Whitetail Veterinary Services
Mike Murray Aaron Jesue
Denver Zoo North Carolina Zoo
Dawn Sohr Andrew Rowan
Brookfield Zoo Denver Zoo
Ellen Vossekuil Amanda Hall
Utah’s Hogle Zoo Zoo New England
Eunice Hui Anthony Nielsen
CuriOdyssey Lincoln Park Zoo
T’Noya Thompson Gonzales
Moody Gardens