Roger Williams Park Zoo Announces New Director

(PRWEB) July 3, 2002

Roger Williams Park Zoo Announces New Director

Providence, RI ---- Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. has appointed Jack Mulvena the new director of Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Mayor Cianci said, “Roger Williams Park Zoo continues to grow - in size and stature. In the past year alone the zoo has engaged the public with baby giraffes, set a new record for weekly attendance during spring vacation, announced the formation of a 50,000 acre conservation management area in Papua New Guinea, and expanded its outreach programs, reaching over 30,000 annually. We believe Jack Mulvena’s experience, accomplishments and leadership skills are consistent with the zoo’s burgeoning growth and national reputation.”

He added, “Roger Williams Park Zoo has an exceptionally strong animal care team of curators, veterinarians, lead keepers and keepers. Our Director must have the ability to forge community partnerships, build foundations for award-winning conservation programs, garner public support and confidence and raise the funds necessary to build a world-class cultural attraction. As we look to the future, Jack Mulvena has the qualities and experience we need to take the zoo to the next level.”

For the past nine years, Mulvena has served as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Zoological Society and will retain this role as Zoo Director. Founded in 1962, the Rhode Island Zoological Society is the zoo’s non-profit support organization with responsibilities for fundraising, marketing, finance, visitor services, food and retail, security, facility maintenance, grounds maintenance and horticulture. The Society employs 60% of the zoo staff and funds all education, research and conservation programs at the zoo.

“In the zoo industry, there has been a strong movement toward identifying directors and chief executive officers that have strong business backgrounds, leadership skills and sensitivity to the needs of the animal collection,” commented Tony Vecchio, a member of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association Board of Directors, Director of the Oregon Zoo and Oregon Zoo Foundation and former Director of Roger Williams Park Zoo. “Jack Mulvena is an ideal selection for Roger Williams Park Zoo because he combines accomplished skills in management, fundraising, marketing and advocacy with a true understanding of the zoo’s role in conservation, education and animal care.”

Mulvena’s accomplishments are extensive. Under his leadership, the RI Zoological Society has generated more than five million dollars for the Zoo’s capital needs and exhibitry including the three dinosaur exhibits, the Marco Polo Trail and this summer’s Itsy Bitsy Empire. Society membership has soared - from 8,000 households in 1993 to more than 18,000 today. Mulvena has also established a society-funded conservation and research department that has received international awards and acclaim.

“Roger Williams Park Zoo has established itself as the best zoo in New England and one of the top zoos in the country. We have an outstanding reputation in the industry and are an important education, conservation and economic resource for the state,” noted Mulvena. “To meet the increasing expectations of our visitors and to ensure that the zoo retains its acclaimed position we need a strong multi-year plan for the expansion of exhibits, visitor services, educational programming and our conservation efforts.”

At a late afternoon press conference attended by Nancy Derrig, Superintendent of Parks, Steve Triedman, Vice Chairman of the Providence Board of Park Commissioners, and John Palumbo, Chairman of the Rhode Island Zoological Society Board of Trustees. Derrig noted that the zoo was recently re-accredited for five years by the American Zoo & Aquarium Association after an extensive peer review process designed to ensure that it met ever-rising industry standards in collection care, conservation, education and safety. In the final report, the accreditation chair noted that “Roger Williams Park Zoo has been and continues to be a role model for the smaller institutions of the AZA.”

Mulvena will assume his new position immediately.

Roger Williams Park Zoo, the third oldest zoo in the country, has received awards and accolades from all over the country for its conservation and education efforts. The Boston Globe calls Roger Williams Park Zoo “New England’s great zoo.” Yankee Magazine called Roger Williams Park Zoo “one of the outstanding reasons to visit New England” and the New York Times says it is “one of the best zoos in the country for its conservation efforts.” Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is operated by the City of Providence, Vincent A. Cianci, Mayor and Nancy L. Derrig, Superintendent of Parks.

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