San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance competitors

Cheryl Dragoo is a Board Member at Bowl America Inc and President/CEO at Bowl America Inc. She has worked as Senior VP/CFO/Controller at Bowl America Inc.

David O’Neill is the Chief Conservation Officer and Senior Advisor to the CEO for the National Audubon Society. In this role, he is responsible for creating and advancing the implementation of an organization-wide conservation vision, developing conservation strategies with clearly defined outcomes and ensuring their successful delivery using science-based accountability tools. He manages the organization’s science and policy departments, working with the leaders of those teams to shape advocacy and science agendas that reinforce one another and advance Audubon’s conservation strategies. As a senior advisor, David provides CEO David Yarnold with organizational development advice and is a fundraising partner. He is also the President of the Audubon Action Fund, Audubon's 501c4 partner organization. Prior to joining Audubon, David served as the vice president for Conservation Programs at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) where he managed a national conservation team and oversaw a $100 million grant portfolio focused on a range of conservation issues including forest health, coastal resilience, estuaries and freshwater biodiversity. David worked closely with senior administrative officials from the Departments of Interior, Agriculture and EPA to shape and advance conservation strategies across the country. He raised tens of millions of dollars from foundations, individuals and corporations to support NFWF priorities. O’Neill has served in executive positions in both the private and non-profit sectors, including as a vice president for Cherokee Investment Partners, a private equity firm based in North Carolina, as the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust, where he grew the organization and its influence across the Chesapeake watershed, and as the Director of Land Use Policy for the Urban Land Institute. He is the author of many publications on the relationship between land use and environmental health and was the recipient of the prestigious Andrew White Medal from Loyola University for his contributions to the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay.

Cristián Samper (born September 25, 1965) is a Colombian-American tropical biologist specializing in conservation biology and environmental policy. Since 2012, he has served as President and CEO of WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). He was acting secretary of the Smithsonian from 2007 to 2008, the first Latin American to hold the position. From 2003 to 2012, he was the Director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, the world's largest natural history collection. In April 2015, Dr. Samper was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Nik Dehejia is responsible for the smooth running of almost every aspect of the Zoo. From raising money and managing it to marketing and education, to safety and rides, Nik’s long, varied experience at the zoo grounds his approaches to leadership and problem solving in the realities of running such an ambitious and diverse organization. This grounding has resulted in the successful completion of a number of high priority Zoo projects, such as the California Trail, a three-stage, multi-million dollar project that includes anew Veterinary Hospital (opened in 2012), a Biodiversity Center (opened in 2013), and the Gondola and California Trail (opened in 2017/2018). Prior to Oakland Zoo, Nik worked in both the public and non-profit sectors. At the World Resources Institute and World Bank he worked in international public policy, focused on corporate responsibility at Business for Social Responsibility, and worked in a more traditionally commercial role at Levi Strauss & Co. Nik holds an MBA from U.C. Berkeley and an undergraduate degree from Vassar College. A 23-year resident in the Bay Area and a father of two, Nik lives in Alameda.

Bert Vescolani is a President and CEO at Denver Zoo and is based in Greater Denver Area. He has worked as President/CEO at Saint Louis Science Center, Board Member at Forest Park South Business Association, and Board Member at Founders Brewery. Bert attended Michigan State University until 1988, North Park University, and Harvard Kennedy School.

Executive-level communications and marketing professional with proven track record as an organizational and cultural change agent. Critical experience moving the needle on pressing social issues including equality, climate change and justice. Adept in cultivating and managing strategic engagements as well as extensive experience in management, crisis, marketing and communications across all major disciplines: media relations, positioning, branding, advertising, storytelling, social media, events and partnerships.Proud to be recognized by PR News as a "PR Gamechanger" and PR Week as a "Champion of PR." Architect of groundbreaking campaigns including the red logo equality campaign-one of Facebook's most viral campaign in its history as well as numerous others for social and environmental change. Winner of the Mashie Award for Best Social Media Campaign, SXSW Digital Campaign of the Year, Best in Show and Social Media Campaign of the Year, Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, PR Week Winner Best Use of Social Media/Digital, two Shorty Social Good awards and three time awardee of the PRSA Silver Anvil Awards. Finalist for Three Social Media Icon Awards and proud to be recognized as one of PR News’ Top Women in PR. Honored to be one of Advertising Women of NY's Gamechangers and named "Digital Innovator of the Year." Featured in The New Yorker, The Guardian, The Associated Press, Mashable, The Washington Post, Advertising Age, NPR and others.

Dr. Boehm is passionate about making a difference in environmental conservation. Whether through the communities he works with, the organization he leads, the veterinary, science, and education programs he directs, or the policies and practices he influences.Jeff joined The Marine Mammal Center as its Executive Director in in 2008. He leads more than 100 staff and 1,400+ volunteers in an organization that advances ocean conservation through marine mammal patient care, innovative science, and STEM-aligned education. Work that has never been more relevant. Previously, Jeff served as the Senior Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation Science at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago where he worked for 16 years. There, he oversaw the veterinary medical program and led and coordinated the aquarium’s conservation science division, including conservation partnerships, in-house programs, and education and advocacy programs and partnerships. Jeff received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego and his veterinary medical degree from the University of California at Davis. He is a founder and diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare. Residing in Mill Valley, California, Jeff lives with his partner, two children and an ever-changing menagerie of animals.