AMZAP NETWORK- MIDWEST

Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Our AMZAP Professional members are listed below. Click on the highlighted green names to view a member's biography, photo, and LinkedIn page, if included. Head back to the Network page to learn about members from other states.

Looking to contact a member and learn more about what they do? Send us an email and we'll put you in touch! Learn more about our mentorship program as well.

Are you a current professional in an accredited facility? Learn more about joining the AMZAP network.

Shae Miller with a hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Illinois

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Brookfield Zoo	Veterinarian	Sathya Chinnadurai	South Asian (Indian-American)
Brookfield Zoo	Environmental Quality Manager	John Kanzia	Caucasian
Brookfield Zoo	Interpretive Programs Coordinator	Yvette Mendez	Latina, Mexican-American
Brookfield Zoo	Seasonal Animal Ambassador/Wild Encounters Keeper	Julio Mendez	Hispanic
Brookfield Zoo	Administrative Associate- Animal Hospital	Bethany Micheletti	Biracial (Native American- Ojibwa/ White)
Brookfield Zoo	Animal Keeper, Senior	Adalina Ocon	Hispanic
Brookfield Zoo	Manager of High School and College Programs	Sandra Ortiz-Ortega	Hispanic
Lincoln Park Zoo	One Health Research Coordinator	Jacqueline Buckley	Hispanic American
Lincoln Park Zoo	Population Management Center Program Assistant	Dani Figueroa	Latino
Lincoln Park Zoo	Vice President, Learning and Community Engagement	Dana Murphy	White
Lincoln Park Zoo	Vice President of Conservation & Science	Sunny Nelson	African American
Lincoln Park Zoo	Copy & Content Writer	Helen Lee Reid	Chinese
Lincoln Park Zoo	Nutrition Center Technician	Karen Zhou	Chinese
Lincoln park Zoo	Director of Human Resources	Genevieve Gonnigan	African American
Niabi Zoo	Assistant Director	Tammy Schmidt	Caucasian
Scovill Zoo	Education and Volunteer Coordinator	Lizzie Van Ert	White
Shedd Aquarium	Senior Aquarist	Eve Barrs	White
Shedd Aquarium	Trainer	Lauren Beltran	Latina
Shedd Aquarium	Fishes Manager	Keoki Burton	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Shedd Aquarium	Director of Exhibit Services	Kristen Neria	Latinx
Shedd Aquarium	Veterinarian	Karisa Tang	Biracial (Chinese/ Caucasian)

Indiana

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Indianapolis Zoo	Recruitment Specialist	Kristie Barsic	White/ American Indian (Cherokee Tribe)
Indianapolis Zoo	Area Manager Marine Mammals	Tom Granberry	African American
Indianapolis Zoo	Birds and Encounters Keeper	Marie Hickman	Hispanic
Potawatomi Zoo	Director of Education	Jeremy Gill	Cuban-American

Kansas

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Rolling Hills Zoo	Animal Keeper- Cats	Diana Vincent	Chinese
Topeka Zoo	Guest Services Shift Supervisor & Education Group Leader	Elena Blum	Latina
Topeka Zoo	Education Specialist	Cassondra Sapata-Smith	Multiracial (Black/ Hispanic/ White)

Michigan

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Binder Park Zoo	Animal Keeper	Amanda Miranda	Hispanic
Detroit Zoo	Director of Diversity and Community Engagement	De'Andrea Matthews	African American
Detroit Zoological Society	Animal Welfare Programs Manager	Jennifer Hamilton	White
Detroit Zoological Society	Director of Education	Claire Lannoye-Hall	White
John Ball Zoo	Animal Care Supervisor	Laura Boelema	White
John Ball Zoo	Human Resources Manager	Meegan Fritsma	Caucasian
John Ball Zoo	Animal Care Supervisor	Jaime Racalla	Caucasian
John Ball Zoo	Licensed Veterinary Technician	Sovanny Rivera	Asian - Cambodian
John Ball Zoo	Curator	Tim Sampson	Caucasian

Minnesota

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Minnesota Zoo	Director of Sales, Box Office and Membership	Michelle Clabaugh	African American
Minnesota Zoo	Animal Keeper	Pujita Klink	South-Asian (Indian-American)
Minnesota Zoo	State Program Admin Supervisor/ Assistant Supervisor of Birds, Tropics and Minnesota Trails	John Rex Mitchell	Black

Missouri

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Endangered Wolf Center	Animal Keeper	Coralie-Michele Francois	Black
Endangered Wolf Center	Animal Curator	Sarah Holaday	Asian
Kansas City Zoo	Animal Keeper	Jocelyn Krim	Asian American
Kansas City Zoo	Chief People Officer	Charlisa Shelly	Black
Saint Louis Zoo	Director of Membership	Lucia Clifton	African American
Saint Louis Zoo	Staff Veterinarian	Rachel Ferris	Biracial (Hispanic/White)
Saint Louis Zoo	Zoological Manager- Invertebrates	Kayla Garcia	Biracial (Hispanic/ White)
Saint Louis Zoo	Zoo Education Interpreter	Cory Harris	Black/African American
Saint Louis Zoo	Curator of Primates	Heidi Hellmuth	White
Saint Louis Zoo	Manager, Workforce Development	Dionne Hollins	African American
Saint Louis Zoo	Program Scientist (AZA Reproductive Management Center)	Monica McDonald	Caucasian
Saint Louis Zoo	Vice President, Animal Collections	Luis Padilla	Hispanic (Puerto Rican)
Saint Louis Zoo	Chief Financial Officer and DEAI Lead	Cassandra Ray	Black
Saint Louis Zoo	Antelope Keeper	Taylor Woods	Black
Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park	Director	Jo-Elle Mogerman	African American

Nebraska

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Lincoln Children's Zoo	Animal Keeper	Stephanie Mosby	Black
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium	Director of Human Resources, Safety and Security	Craig Jacobs	African American

North Dakota

Facility	Job title	Name	Ethnicity
Red River Zoo	Director of Business Operations	Jeremiah Gard	Caucasian
Red River Zoo	Director of Education	Heather Harelson Nutick	White
Red River Zoo	Education Specialist	Jess Ryans	Biracial (Black/ Caucasian)

Ohio

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
African Safari Wildlife Park	President	Holly Hunt	None given
Akron Zoo	Food and Beverage Assistant Supervisor	Alana Cleaver	Multiracial
Akron Zoo	Talent Acquisition Specialist	Randy Thomas	Caucasian
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery	Director of Education	Chad Fifer	White
Cincinnati Zoo	Animal Keeper	Samantha Halili- Felse	British-Filipina
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden	Cat Ambassador Program, Lead Trainer	Linda Castañeda	Mexican American
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden	Manager of Wild Encounters	Shae Miller	Korean American
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens	Animal Lab Manager	Caitlin Consago	Hispanic
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens	Animal Keeper, Primates	Faith Hall	Biracial (Japanese/ American)
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens	Head Animal Keeper, Birds	Rickey Kinley	Black
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens	Animal Excellence Research Coordinator of Behavior & Welfare	Angelica Reed	Black
Cleveland Metropark Zoo	Education Specialist	Kevin James	African American
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo	Animal Keeper/ Show Assistant	Adriana De Los Santos	Mexican American/ Latina
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo	Education Manager	Christine Korhnak	White
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo	Education Specialist	Tessaliz Quiles Delgado	Hispanic/Puerto Rican
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium	Senior Veterinarian	Priya Bapodra-Villaverde	Indian (British-Indian)
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium	Aquatic Programs Keeper & Dive Safety Officer	Ramon Villaverde	Biracial (Filipino/ Irish)
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium	Educator	Eli deNijs	Biracial (Indonesian/ White)
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium	Schools Educator	Cristina Albright	Dominican
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium	Animal Keeper, Large Mammals	Raven Alford	Black

Wisconsin

Facility	Job Title	Name	Ethnicity
Milwaukee County Zoo	Director	Amos Morris	African American
Zoological Society of Milwaukee	Programs Operation Manager	Ana Dixon	Biracial (Filipino/White)