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
Peggy Adelmann, Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Willis, Director of Biological Programs
Ronald Tilson, Ph.D., Director of Conservation
Lars Erdahl, Director of Education

Minnesota Zoo Foundation
Melissa Lindsay, Executive Director

Minnesota Zoo Board of Trustees

William R. Busch, Chair
Kenneth L. Cutler, Vice Chair
Theodore “Derek” Benz
Willis E. Branning
Eleanor R. Crosby
Edward N. Dayton
Michael J. Doyle
Jenny Engh
Jan Erickson
N. Jean Fountain
Bill Guidera
Harry J. Haynsworth
Bruce E. Hutchins
Steve Kirchner
Julie Kunkel
Scott Lambert
David Leckey
Craig Levinsohn
Lois Mack
Mac McCullough
Lisa McGinn
Debra Mitts-Smith
Sarah Psick
Richard L. Smith
Joe Swedberg
Jon Tremmel
Todd A.Watchmaker
Karel M.Weigel

Minnesota Zoo Foundation Board of Trustees

Michael M. Parish, Chair
Stacy Bogart, Vice Chair
Theodore J, Christianson, Secretary
Susan Morisato, Treasurer
Barbara Aiken-Ali
Rick Brimacomb
Kathleen Buchanan
Renee Burke
Susan Slattery Burke
Bruce Cords
Kevin Crudden
Tricia Dirks
John Erickson, IV
Gary C. Fink
Eric Galler
John A. Gappa
Thomas Hedlund
Susan Johnson
Charlene Jundt
Joe Kalkman
Ross Kramer
Dana Lindsay
Peter E. Maritz
Jim Mayer, Sr.
Greg Miller
Leni Moore
Cassandra Ordway
Susan Grant Palombo
Jeffrey D. Pflaum
John Rowe
Diane Schmidt
Michele Sit