News and Stories

 CINCINNATI (May 19, 2021) – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Ambassador Council has selected its latest class. The Ambassador Council was formed in 2009 to engage young professionals throughout Greater Cincinnati to support its mission, vision, and values.

This year’s class starts their six-year term on July 1, 2021:

Danielle Donelan	84.51
Andrew Kiley	PickMe! Consulting
Samantha Rittgers	Graydon
Thomas Xanders	Terrex
Alana Tucker	Government Strategies Group

 

The current Ambassador Council members deserve special recognition for stepping up when the Zoo was down!

 

Complete Council List (2020-2021):

Ambassador Council Chair:

Brittany Konen

 

Steven Bishop

Kelly Bonnell

Paul Booth

Brian Butt

Sara Cooperrider

Kristy Davis

Ryan English

Aleicia Ennis

David Habel

Melissa Herman

Erin Hinson

Molly Hoeweler

Dominic Iacobucci

Phil Johnson

Meera Kotagal

Andy Kwiatkowski

Anna Miller

Christina Misali

George Musekamp

Emily Rotella

Jacob Samad

David Snopkowski

Marcus Thompson

Katie Tranter

Michael Young

“I’ve never worked with a more engaged and energetic group of people,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of annual giving, Amy Fecker.  “They take their role to ensure the Zoo is here for generations to come very seriously but have tons of fun in the process! We really needed that infusion of energy when one of our biggest fundraising events went from in-person to drive-thru last year.”

Over the past eleven years, the Ambassador Council has:

• Hosted Zoo La La, an annual fundraising event that supports the Zoo’s Education Department, including the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, providing free field trips to schools in need. In ten years, over $1.3 million dollars has been raised through this event.
• Worked with local schools to recycle cell phones which contain coltan, a metallic ore that is mined in endangered habitats in Africa, which causes gorillas to be displaced or poached due to the destruction of their homes.
• Conducted donor club membership drives to engage new Zoo donors
• Contributed to new Zoo habitats and habitat enhancements

“The Ambassador Council has made an enormous impact on the Zoo over the last decade,” said Fecker. “I can’t wait to see what they will do in the next 10 years!”