South Carolina Aquarium competitors

Vikki Spruill is a President/CEO at New England Aquarium and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked as Co-founder and President at The Foundation Works, Director of Client Service and Partner at Williams Whittle Advertising, and President/CEO at Council on Foundations Inc. Vikki works or has worked at Seaweb. She attended Woodham High School between 1970 and 1975, University of West Florida, and Loyola University New Orleans between 1977 and 1980.

As President and CEO, I lead the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club and the Wilds conservation center with a focus on inspiring people to make a difference for wildlife and wild places. Annually more than 2.8 million people visit the Columbus Zoo and its other entities making it one of the most successful zoological institutions in the country and a significant economic engine in central Ohio. I have more than 30 years experience gained by first working as zookeeper and then advancing through every aspect of zoo management - from animal care to exhibit design to financial management to strategic visioning. I became the youngest zoo director in the country when tapped to manage Niabi Zoo in Illinois in 1995 and guided that zoo to gain national accreditation for the first time. I strive to use storytelling and my love of education to help inspire people to join the Zoo’s mission to protecting animals globally and locally. I have traveled with Jack Hanna for education programs, zoo promotions and national television appearances for more than 20 years, and do regular speaking engagements and television appearances, as well as speaking on behalf of state and federal legislation that affects wildlife. I place a high priority on animal welfare and conservation, and have had the opportunity to travel to several countries where the Zoo supports programs that help people help protect wildlife including a program helping save mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Africa. Globally, the Zoo has more than 100 conservation projects in 46 countries that are supported by $4 million raised through public donations and fundraisers each year.

Experienced zoological industry executive leader and advocate for the crucial role zoos play in science education, in regional, national and international wildlife species survival and in serving as a community resource.

Kevin Bell is a Chief Executive Officer at Lincoln Park Zoo.

John J. Menelly is the current Chief Executive Officer of The Doseum. He previously worked at Rochester Museum & Science Center as a Chief Science Officer and then President. John J. Menelly attended Wesleyan University.