REFLECTING ON ECHO24
We had the right people in the right place at the right time for the right conversations. We came together as individuals and embraced the diversity of thought and experiences of one another, sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring new ideas for the future. We left with more questions than answers.
Sounds like all the key elements of another successful ECHO, to me!
At ECHO24, we questioned our purpose and our approaches. We dared to ask if we overthink how we do what we do? We explored what it could look like if we took our work seriously but didn’t take ourselves too seriously. We acknowledged that as a professional community, we have not been keeping up. Our entrenched practices have been holding us back. While we share a common vision of a thriving planet for people and wildlife, we have been failing to keep pace with the changing circumstances and needs of wildlife and of human communities.
PLANNING
Disruption and transformation are now required…it is time to make some trouble! These pages highlight the stories of the inspiring trouble-makers we were fortunate to share time and conversation with in Columbia. To a person, they consistently asked “why” and “what if,” challenging assumptions and the status quo. They pushed for change when the outcome or the path forward was uncertain. If you are reading this you, yourself, have the opportunity to be (and perhaps already are) a rabble-rouser, an instigator, a disruptor.
Where do you/we go from here? When we next see one another…at a conference, doing our shared work, or online, what stories will you share of how you dared to do the exact opposite of “normal”? Of how you created safe spaces and opportunities for those around you to lend their voices to challenging the status quo? Of how you experimented with doing for one what you wish you could do for all?
Let’s come together as curious risk-takers. Let’s catalyze meaningful change through our shared commitment to creating a better, more equitable world. You are the right people to inspire the right trouble at the right time. That time is now!
Stephanie
STEPHANIE STOWELL DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND
ECHO24 -AT-A-GLANCE
FANS FIRST EXPERIENCE: HOW TO LISTEN CAREFULLY AND RESPOND CREATIVELY
Jared Orton, President, Savannah Bananas
Darren Ross, CEO and President, Service Freak
Written By Allyson Zahm, Guest Experience Manager, ABQ Bio Park
CONVERSATIONS THAT SHAPE TOMORROW: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DIALOGUE
Ryan Tate, Founder and President, Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW)
Written By Jess Kohring, Curator of Community Inclusion, Los Angeles Zoo
"UNTIL THE LIONS HAVE THEIR OWN STORYTELLERS, TALES OF THE HUNT WILL ALWAYS GLORIFY THE HUNTER" (African Proverb) | Excursions to Decolonize Interpretations at Zoos and Aquariums
Hermina Glass-Hill, MHP, Historian & Eco-Womanist
Written By Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo
LEGAL LEVERS: INFLUENCING AT SCALE
Bill Stangler, Congaree Riverkeeper
Written By Tammy Burnett, CHRO, SHRM-SCP, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
PARALLEL DIMENSIONS: CHARTING A FUTURE WITH PURPOSE
Mike Clifford, Strategy Director, Reverse the Red
Written By Aaron Marshall, Chief Operating Officer, Santa Barbara Zoo
FANS FIRST EXPERIENCE: HOW TO LISTEN
CAREFULLY AND RESPOND CREATIVELY
JARED ORTON PRESIDENT
SAVANNAH BANANAS DARREN ROSS CEO AND PRESIDENT SERVICE FREAK
What would it be like to
ALLYSON ZAHM GUEST EXPERIENCE MANAGER ABQ BIOPARK
have millions of passionate, raving fans? What would they say about your organization? What would inspire them to gush about your work?
In their Fans First workshop, Jared Orton, President of the Savannah Bananas. Darren Ross, CEO and President of Service Freak and owner of the Magic Castle Hotel, shared their successful experience cultivating passionate, raving fans.
By obsessing over the people they serve and by creating amazing experiences, they have built stratospheric levels of devotion among their legions of fans.
For the Savannah Bananas, this has resulted in sell out games since 2016 and a world tour, playing at some of the most hallowed baseball stadiums, with millions clambering for tickets. By committing to a vision of fans telling all who will listen it’s the most fun they’ve ever had at a baseball game, the Bananas make dramatic - not normal! - decisions to achieve dramatic results. They are literal game changers, making new rules for America’s 200-year-old pastime.
Ross’ humble hotel without an elevator or a spa is one of the highest rated hotels in Los Angeles. He’s achieved this by focusing on
creating extraordinary moments for guests.
Most famously, the Popsicle Hotline at the hotel’s pool promises free popsicles, delivered on a silver tray by white-gloved staff. Guests are also treated to free laundry service, VIP tours of the candy stockroom and are welcomed with a glass of champagne and a sincere “I would just like to take a moment to tell you what a pleasure it is to have you with us.”
Orton warns it’s dangerous to be one of many because eventually success will flat-line. As AZA organizations, we have strength in moving forward together, but there is good reason to break from the norm and try new things. There are untapped opportunities to create fans that are ours to find. Trust your gut to anticipate your guests’ needs, and then consistently deliver.
Orton also reminds us that
it’s okay to do for one what we wish we could do for everyone because the story is scalable. When the stories are retold, their experiences build experience capital for all fans. Fans are created one at a time, and how we respond and manage perceptions matters. They challenged us to imagine what a focus on fans could do for our organizations.
PARTNERSHIP WITH:
If we love WHO we serve more than what we serve we could shift our trajectory and our credibility. With a reminder that we also have internal fans to cultivateour staff – they offered tips like:
† In hiring, determine culture fit based on “VCE”vision, challenges, expectations.
† Ask applicants and staff to create a future resume to understand ambition.
† Incentivize staff to seek out and create stories with guests.
† Cultivate creativity; ideas are everything, and it’s okay if they’re not 100% perfect at first.
Ross says with a smile that we are all in the industry of fun. (Just ignore that nagging inner voice that says you’re in the industry of conservation for a moment.)
Ross insists every organization has a Popsicle Hotline.
What’s yours?
Our work is serious. There’s a lot at stake when trying to save the planet. But, like Orton and Ross, we can take our work seriously without taking ourselves seriously. By listening carefully and responding creatively to put our fans first, we just might be able to change the game.
Do for one what you wish you could DO for everyone
CONVERSATIONS THAT SHAPE
TOMORROW: THE TRANSFORMATIVE
POWER OF DIALOGUE
RYAN TATE FOUNDER + PRESIDENT VETPAW
JESS KOHRING CURATOR OF COMMUNITY INCLUSION
LOS ANGELES ZOO
“Bring an unconventional approach to a conventional world.”
That’s the advice given by Ryan Tate, Founder and President of VETPAW (Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife) during his ECHO24 session, “Conversations that Shape Tomorrow: The Transformative Power of Dialogue.” And that’s exactly what VETPAW has been doing since 2014 with its unconventional and communitydriven approach to conservation. The organization has deployed over 150 veterans to Africa in the past 10 years as part of its multi-purpose mission: helping wildlife, helping veterans, and empowering communities.
At ECHO24, Ryan spoke about the importance of finding commonality between people of using dialogue as a tool for finding shared solutions. After an invite from the President of Tanzania, VETPAW brought a team of veterans to train, advise, and assist local rangers when necessary in counter-poaching operations. Their unconventional approach, which trains the local rangers in areas like intelligence gathering and dialogue (areas of specialty for the veterans) has led to huge conservation wins, including the take-down of a criminal network responsible for poaching 18,000 elephants in a single year.
We often use the term co-creation in program development or diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion work, but what does that really mean? How do we cultivate spaces and make time for those stories to be shared? How do we value those stories and allow space for them to influence or shape the work that we do in zoos and aquariums?
Central to VETPAW’s work is the idea that conservation must find solutions for people if we’re going to find solutions for animals. Conservation has a fraught history based in colonialism and, while the past decade has seen a big shift toward community-based conservation, systemic change is hard and requires an investment from all parties to do things unconventionally. VETPAW’s approach is to empower local communities to be stewards of their own heritage. As Ryan says, it is
“putting tools in the toolbox so they can improve their own lives if they choose to do so.”
So, what do these tools look like in the communities where VETPAW works now? They are women’s co-ops, health classes for villages, and the one that Ryan is most proud of: VETPAW’s sponsorship of youth soccer teams who won the whole Eastern Cape this year.
People can spend their entire lives searching for their purpose. That mystical intersection of what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what fills or heals your soul.
Ryan saw a need for the skills he possessed as a veteran; identified a need in the protection of local communities, rangers, and wildlife; and produced an organization focused on healing, not just himself but other veterans as well. VETPAW is now a full-fledged conservation organization working on its small slice of the conservation pie. What other slices could be made with the unique skills of our teams and communities?
I left the session with my mind swirling around that term “unconventional.” How many times have we heard “that’s just how it’s always been done” in response to “why”? But what if we challenged ourselves and our teams to only think of things we’ve never done when tackling a problem? What solutions lie within that unconventional realm that we haven’t even considered? And how can we empower our organizations and our communities to explore it? Because, as Ryan said,
“the world is evolving and if you don’t take that unconventional approach to your strategies and your mission, you’ll get left behind.”
We
NEEd UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTIONs TO CONVENTIONAL PROBLEMS.
“UNTIL THE LIONS HAVE THEIR OWN
STORYTELLERS, TALES OF THE HUNT WILL ALWAYS GLORIFY THE HUNTER”
(AFRICAN
PROVERB): EXCURSIONS
TO DECOLONIZE INTERPRETATIONS AT ZOOS & AQUARIUMS
Leading zoos and aquariums celebrate their ability to change and evolve. Our journey over the past few decades from collections of animals that attract guests to community conservation organizations has been an impressive one! This change is happening just in time, as the challenges of human-driven climate change and biodiversity loss escalate.
Hermina Glass-Hill’s session at ECHO24 highlighted an area where we continue to have considerable opportunity. While she was generous and kind in reflecting on the positive impact of our profession and efforts, I believe we still have considerable work to do. Most are blind to our North American centric and colonial approaches to storytelling and how we portray human and animal lives from other parts of the world. While most of the time there is no ill intent in the narratives, they frequently perpetuate negative perceptions and hinder, rather than help turning our spaces into inclusive sites where all feel they belong.
Nearly every one of our facilities has legacy infrastructure, interpretation and art which likely was built on pan-African or other regional stereotypes. This results in sites that look and feel like people think they should, rather than reflecting the realities and complexities of communities across the world. Our work serving communities needs to be rooted in the simple concepts of caring and “nothing about us without us.” Through meaningful consultation and connection, we can more effectively represent all involved with better material that engages guests to effect meaningful change.
So, what does this all mean?
We must pause and take a deep look at our sites and how we share others’ stories.
I will bet there is regional imagery across your site based on the views and beliefs of individuals and cultures around the world. Are we using those images and ideas appropriately, with permission, and recognizing those with whom the idea originated?
We also need to reflect on our motives. I would start with the question of who are you serving when you use others’ imagery and styles at your site? Is it to meet your guest’s expectations, or to reflect true cultural realities? Are you working with regional partners or community groups representing regional interests in your design and writing process to accurately represent people? Would you be willing to stop and restart if a group said they were not comfortable with how they were portrayed?
Until we really dig into these areas, we continue to be exploiting these communities and perpetuating classing colonial storytelling and conservation narratives.
Thank you, Hermina, for sharing your passion and perspectives with us and to TESSERE for getting this conversation moving forward. We still have significant work to do, and years of past practice to correct. Grateful to all who are willing to face that uncomfortable reality and get started.
InCLUSION IS JUST AN ACTION. WE MUST MOVE TOWARDS CULTIVATING THE FEELING OF BELONGING.
DOLF DEJONG
LEGAL LEVERS: INFLUENCING AT SCALE
BILL STANGLER
CONGAREE
RIVERKEEPER
TAMMY BURNETT
SHRM-SCP, CHRO
OKLAHOMA CITY
ZOO &
BOTANICAL GARDEN
David and Goliath stories have a way of capturing the heart of an audience. People love to root for the underdog, cheering them on as they take down giant corporations. In real life, environmentalists and, specifically, riverkeepers are often those underdogs. Bill Stangler, Congaree Riverkeeper, is no exception. He is a modern example of what the “little guy” can accomplish, and he tells a great story.
Riverkeepers are a network of non-governmental organizations that fight for clean water. But being a riverkeeper is about more than just monitoring water quality. Riverkeepers are charged with protecting and improving water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreation on the waterways.
The Congaree Riverkeeper organization arose from a crisis. A devastating sewage spill poisoned the rivers and sickened residents. This environmental injustice fueled a call to action. The Congaree Riverkeeper was the answer to that call, and Bill took up the charge in 2011.
The stories of how Bill has fulfilled his riverkeeper role are incredibly entertaining.
He isn’t afraid to be the little guy claiming a victory over giant corporate polluters.
These victories unfolded like real-life environmental thrillers, complete with good guys, bad guys, and possible explosions. That’s no exaggeration. Actual World War II ordinances were found in the river during a coal tar cleanup and had to be professionally disarmed and disposed!
But Bill’s fight isn’t a one-man show. He champions citizen lawsuits and fosters collaboration with unlikely allies – the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state and local governments – to tackle large-scale cleanups, like the removal of sewage and, later, coal tar from the Congaree River. Unlike in the movies where bad guys are often eliminated, in Bill’s stories, more often than not, they’re forced to join the good guys in solving the problem. In this work, he’s saving the waterway and everything it supports. In fact, at the end of every one of Bill’s battles, there was a happy ending: a cleaner, healthier river.
Bill’s story is about more than just collaboration and big wins. It’s about how he wins. He could have simply voiced his concerns and left the problem to others. But Bill is the embodiment of solution-oriented action. Through his perseverance and strategic partnerships, Bill became a powerful voice for the voiceless – the river itself, the wildlife it sustains, and those who cherish it. He has relentlessly pursued knowledge and solutions, ultimately achieving remarkable results.
Bill’s dedication is truly inspiring. His passion is contagious, a constant reminder that even daunting environmental challenges can be overcome through individual action. Bill models tenacity and he exemplifies the power of collaboration. His success stories are a master class in building alliances and playing the long game. In the ongoing quest for a sustainable future, Bill Stangler’s real-life example serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that persistence and cooperation are the keys to achieving ambitious environmental wins.
Sometimes you have to pick the big fights to make real change.
EACH PRESENTATION I FOUND MYSELF NOTING IDEAS FOR COACHING LEADERS ON MY TEAM, CONCEPTS TO TRY IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND NUMEROUS SERVICE CONCEPTS THAT I HAVEN’T TRIED IN A LONG TIME OR EVER.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEEP-DIVE INTO HIGH-CONCEPT IDEAS WITH COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE INDUSTRY IS RARE, AND ECHO PROVIDES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED.
PARALLEL DIMENSIONS: CHARTING A
FUTURE WITH PURPOSE
MIKE CLIFFORD
STRATEGY DIRECTOR
REVERSE THE RED
AARON
MARSHALL
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
SANTA BARBARA ZOO
At ECHO24, Mike Clifford of Reverse the Red led a thought-provoking exercise. Participants, given a simple purpose statement and three parameters—having a physical location, being open to the public, and caring for live animals—imagined and pitched unique, mission-centric organizations.
Reflecting on this exercise, I wonder, “What if modern AZA institutions are beautiful, healthy caterpillars?” Sure, we’ve made progress with habitat design, animal wellbeing, conservation, and education, but what if a more dramatic transformation still lies ahead – one that will fundamentally shift our nature? Are we ready to enter the chrysalis? If so, how will we emerge?
Mike’s session and subsequent discussions have suggested a few insights instrumental in guiding this potential metamorphosis:
† There is no one future for zoos and aquariums; there are futures: This pluralistic approach invites us to consider multiple potential paths, each shaped by our unique contexts.
† Backwards design for impact: Designing for purpose ensures our initiatives align with our core mission.
† Removing biases and assumptions: Freeing ourselves from historical constraints allows us to think in new, innovative ways.
† The value of imaginative thinking: Though starting from scratch isn’t realistic, this kind of imaginative thinking can daylight why we do what we do and create space to innovate.
If these insights hold, how might AZA organizations prepare for pseudometamorphosis?
1. We must deliver on animal welfare and conservation impacts. Excellence in animal welfare and conservation must remain at the heart of our mission. Transparency about this work builds trust and appreciation among our guests and stakeholders. Further, animal wellbeing and conservation science outcomes need not be pursued parallel-to, or over-and-against our hospitality operations.
2. We must house sticky memories grounded in healthy environmental stewardship. Future appetite for AZA institutions depends on the experiences children have in our facilities today. Engaging, hands-on activities that mimic or support the work of staff—such as simulated animal care stations or mock field research projects—can transform passive visitors into active participants. These programs educate and build emotional connections with guests.
3. We must share power through sustained relationships and co-created programs Sustained relationships and deep community connections are essential for long-term relevance and impact. AZA institutions must integrate with community groups, co-creating programs that address specific audience needs and interests in ways that link our work with the social good of our neighborhoods. Collaborating with schools, community groups,
and underserved populations to co-create programs promotes inclusivity and relevance. Engaging the community in meaningful ways ensures that we serve the community honestly and become an essential part of the local social fabric.
By embracing these elements and values-driven future-dreaming, we can co-imagine a series of possible futures that are innovative and deeply connected to our mission. Imagine the butterfly that emerges when an organization with a physical space, serving guests, and caring for live animals, also:
† Delivers on animal welfare and conservation impacts.
† Forms sticky memories grounded in healthy environmental stewardship.
† Shares power through sustained relationships and co-created programs.
This, I think, prepares us for the chrysalis – a painful transformation into something new and beautiful. We’ve been working on the first two for years, improving incrementally. How do we leap further faster? The third requires heavy lifting. We must embrace the challenge of transforming our organizations and this transformation requires a willingness to engage in deep collaboration both internally and with external partners.
I don’t think we fully imagine our institutions as butterflies prior to our chrysalis phase, but we can prepare ourselves for the process – strengthening what we do best, inviting others into our work, and sharing power in ways that deepen our ties to place and neighbor.
As we do, our outer layer will thicken, and in turn we wiggle free – toward a new and beautiful future.
Begin with the end purpose in mind. then chart the course.
MIKE CLIFFORD
Director of Special Projects
COOPER DAHMS
Project Manager + Architect
CAM WU
STEPHAINE STOWELL Director of Innovation and Planning
CRAIG RHODES Director of Zoo + Aquarium Projects
LORI GUTHRIDGE Senior Landscape Architect JAMIE OHRT
JEN CHARETTE Zoo Community Impact Manager
JESSE DANIEL
Project Coordinatorn
Associate Architect DALE STAFFORD Landscape Architect JAMESON JONES
Project Architect ALAN MONTUFAR Project Architect REED NOLTE Associate Architect
KATE SALSBURY Landscape Architect
Associate Architect
TRISHA CROWE Project Director
MEET THE WILDER SIDE OF TESSERE
Transforming Zoos & Aquariums: Our Unique Approach
We are pioneers in redefining zoo experiences. With a track record of completing over 120 projects at more than 60 AZA-accredited organizations, our team brings unparalleled expertise and passion.
Our Spirit of Curiosity and Courage
We challenge norms with curiosity and courage, exploring innovative solutions and tackling complex challenges in zoological design.
A Mission to Inspire and Engage
Dedicated to transforming the way zoos and aquariums inspire, engage, and educate, our mission is to create lifelong stewards of the natural world through impactful experiences.
Motivated by Transformation
Driven to enhance animal and human experiences, we bring clients’ visions to life, reflecting the unique goals in every project.
At the Forefront of Immersive Design
Specializing in cutting-edge immersive design, our projects enhance animal well-being, boost staff engagement, and elevate guest experiences.
Promoting Conservation Efforts
Recognizing zoo and aquariums’ unique role in conservation, we strive to make conservation efforts tangible and accessible in every project.
A Unique and Experienced Team
Our team is a blend of seasoned designers and planners, with decades of experience. We also bring direct experience from serving in AZA-accredited organizations as directors, educators, interpretive designers, and zookeepers. This unique combination ensures a holistic approach to every project.
Join us in transforming zoos and aquariums, creating experiences that inspire, educate, and engage, fostering a deeper connection to the natural world.
THIS CONFERENCE IS STILL BY FAR THE BEST CONFERENCE I HAVE ATTENDED. I APPRECIATE THE REBELLIOUS NATURE OF THIS CONFERENCE - HOW WE ARE CHALLENGED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT AVENUES IN FINDING SOLUTIONS WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY AS WELL AS MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. THIS CONFERENCE IS THOUGHT PROVOKING AND DEFINITELY IS SHIFTING THE WAY WE AS ZOO AND AQUARIUM PROFESSIONALS THINK.
THE EXTERNAL INDUSTRY LEADERS ARE THE CORE REASON THAT ECHO IS SO VALUABLE, BOTH DIGITALLY AND IN PERSON.
I LIKE THE VARIETY OF THE EXPERIENCES AT ECHO, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I HEAR SO MANY SAY THAT IT IS THEIR FAVORITE CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL PARTICIPANTS
FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE FUTURE OF ZOOS + AQUARIUMS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
THANK YOU TO OUR HOSTS
Thank you to our 2024 hosts, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden! Your attention to detail, curiosity, and curation of unique experiences for attendees truly set this event apart. Your collaborative and creative team is an inspiration.
Special thanks to Tommy Stringfellow, Lochlan Wooten, Christie Vondrak, Rachael Bashor, Greg Peccie, Michael Collins, Amanda Sciora, and the rest of Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s passionate and talented team.
THIS TEAM’S DEDICATION TO THE ZOO AND THE ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE WAS EVIDENT IN THE ENTHUSIASM WITH WHICH THEY PRESENTED. THEY WERE ALL INCREDIBLY HOSPITABLE, TOO.
I APPRECIATED HOW THE RIVERBANKS ZOO TEAM TRULY WERE LOOKING AT WAYS TO PROVIDE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS BY THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND TRYING SOMETHING NEW THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE TRIED BEFORE.
Driving Disruptive Conservation:
At Colossal, we are pioneering a new era of conservation through de-extinction. By reintroducing species—both endangered and extinct—into their natural habitats, we aim to restore Earth’s biodiversity and tackle dwindling population numbers.
Our mission mirrors NASA’s Apollo mission, where each innovation builds on the other. From genetics and software engineering to embryology and animal husbandry, Colossal is leading the way with groundbreaking conservation technologies.
ZOO SCIENCE
