27th Annual Greater Akron Speaks Out for Values Virtual Breakfast 

Doug holds a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University and a Master's Degree in Biology, Ecology and Evolution from Montclair State University.  He has worked in the Zoo field for over 30 years, spending the first decade of his career at the Bronx Zoo in New York, and the last 22 years at the Akron Zoo.  Doug has worked as a part of international conservation efforts in Venezuela, Brazil, and Spain focused on waterbird conservation, and has locally and nationally focused on growing awareness of sustainability and green practices as a means for everyone to participate in the conservation of wildlife and wild places.  He serves as an instructor & course administrator for the Association of Zoo and Aquariums' (AZA) professional development school and has served as an Adjunct Professor in the graduate program in zoo management through George Mason University.  He has also served as a mentor in AZA’s highly competitive Executive Leadership Development Program over the past five years.

Doug has held several executive positions at the Akron Zoo over the years, and has served other professional and community organizations including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Summit of Sustainability Committee, World Wide Marriage Encounter, ArtsNow, Shift Akron, the Center for Applied Drama and Autism, and Leadership Akron’s Parks and Environment Committee.

Doug became the second President & CEO of the Akron Zoo on January 1, 2015.