Plan Your Visit
Mission and Leadership

The mission of the Minnesota Zoo is to connect people, animals, and the natural world. We are dedicated to inspiring guests to act on behalf of wildlife and wild lands. To accomplish this, we provide award-winning recreational, educational, and conservation programs, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Senior Management Team

Lee Ehmke, Director/CEO
Connie Braziel, Deputy Director/COO
Mary Robison, Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Willis, Director of Biological Programs
Tara R. Harris, Ph.D., Director of Conservation

Minnesota Zoo Foundation
Melissa Lindsay, Executive Director

Minnesota Zoo Board of Trustees

Julie Kunkel, Chair
Joe Swedberg, Vice Chair
Cynthia A. Arnold
Theodore "Derek" Benz
Willis E. Branning
Robert Burch
William R. Busch
Eleanor R. Crosby
Kenneth L. Cutler
Aimee D. Dayhoff
Bruce E. Hutchins
Scott Lambert
Gregory S. Lea
Lois Mack
Peter Maritz
Justin McNeilus
Mark Mortenson
Sarah Psick
Richard L. Smith
Doug Stang
Mark Utz
Richard S. Vogel
Todd A.Watchmaker
Karel M.Weigel

Minnesota Zoo Foundation Board of Trustees

Cassandra Ordway, Chair
Barbara Aiken-Ali, Vice Chair
Jim Mayer, Secretary
Ted Christianson, Treasurer
Renee Burke
Janis Clay
Bruce Cords
Andy Dahl
Chad Dayton
Tricia Dirks
John Erickson, IV
Eric Galler
Mike Happe
Susan Johnson
Joe Kalkman
Katy Marvin Kirchner
Gaetan Lambiase
Tom Lindell
Dana Lindsay
Pam Meixell
Greg Miller
Timothy Mulcahy
Samantha Capen Muldoon
Paul Reppenhagen
David Romans
Paul Runice