Board of Directors

Tom Albert is Vice President of Government Relations for Feld Entertainment, Inc., parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation a state-of-the-art breeding and conservation center in Florida, recognized and respected worldwide for their Asian elephant breeding program. Since 1992, the Ringling Bros. breeding program has celebrated the births of over 26 Asian elephants and counting.

Mr. Albert represents Feld Entertainment and the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation before Congress and various federal and state agencies, as well as at the biennial meetings of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). He is also active at international and U.S. conferences affecting Asian elephant conservation and management. With many years of experience working with the U.S. Congress, Feld Entertainment took the lead in the successful passage of the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997.

The effort, which included a coalition of conservation groups, zoos and others, authorized $5 million in federal funds to support conservation projects that benefit the Asian elephant. Mr. Albert joined Feld after 15 years in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he represented clients, including Feld, on wildlife, natural resource, public lands and conservation issues before Congress and various federal and local regulatory bodies. Mr. Albert received his Juris Doctor cum laude from The American University – Washington College of Law and has a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

Brian Aucone is the Senior Vice President for Animal Sciences at Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, United States. Brian oversees all aspects of animal care, health, nutrition, behavior, and wellness of the over 2500 animals that call Denver Zoo home. Brian has participated in a variety of field conservation programs for elephants, greater one-horned rhinos, argali sheep, bats, and reptiles around the globe. In his time at Denver Zoo, and Oklahoma City Zoo prior, there have been significant advances for elephants in human care through innovative exhibits and husbandry programs. Brian also serves as the Snake Taxon Advisory Group chair for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a Lizard Taxonomic Advisory Group (TAG) steering committee member, a member of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund, and a member of both Colorado and Southwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (COPARC & SWPARC). Brian has a passion for all species and how we can collectively work to save them across the globe.

Dr. Arne Lawrenz is the Director of Wuppertal Zoo, one of the oldest and most prestigious zoos in Germany caring for approximately 5000 animals representing nearly 500 species. He holds a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from the “Freie Universität Berlin” and cared for animals both large and small before coming to Wuppertal Zoo as the elephant curator and veterinarian in 1998.

Dr. Lawrenz is active in research and endangered species conservation, focusing on non-infectious diseases in the endangered Black-footed cat, and tuberculosis in elephants. He is Chairman of the Veterinary Committee of the European Association of Zoos & Aquaria (EAZA), President for Zoo Animal, Wildlife and Exotic Animal Medicine of Deutsche Veterinärmedizinische Gesellschaft (DVG), Past President of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV), and Veterinary Advisor for the Black-footed Cat EEP, Asian Golden Cat EEP, and Pudu EEP.

Frank Carlos Camacho is the director of Africam Safari Park, Puebla, México and President of the Mexican Zoo and Aquaria Association (AZCARM, www.azcarm.com.mx), Chairman of the Board of the Committee for the Recovery of Endangered Species (ECRES, AZCARM), President of the International Eagle Conservation Alliance (ECA, www.EagleConservationAlliance.org), Member of the Board of the Latin-American Zoo and Aquaria Association (www.ALPZA.org) and Vice-president of Watusi Watoto Safari Camp. Frank is also a Master Scuba Diver (PADI), certified Open Water Rescue Diver. (PADI), certified in High Angle Rescue, certified in Swift Water Rescue and certified in Cliff Rescue.

Martha Fischer has been with the Saint Louis Zoo for 27 years and is currently serving as its Curator of Mammals/Ungulates and Elephants. Her primary duties include the management of the Zoo’s Asian elephant breeding, research and conservation program, overseeing all aspects of the care and management of a multi-generational family herd of Asian elephants. Martha is the chair and species coordinator of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and Species Survival Plan (SSP). She also chairs the AZA Antelope and Giraffe TAG, is the SSP Coordinator for Grevy’s Zebra and Speke’s gazelle and serves on the IUCN Equid Specialist Group and the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group.

In 2004 the Saint Louis Zoo launched its WildCare Institute which takes a focused approach to helping save ecosystems around the globe. Comprised of twelve conservation centers targeting specific regions and the wildlife and habitats found in them, the WildCare Institute works towards a sustainable environmental future. As the Director of two large Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute initiatives – the Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa and the Elephant Conservation Program – Martha leads the Saint Louis Zoo’s in situ conservation efforts in these arenas.

Daryl started his zoo career in 1989 at the Buffalo Zoo. In 1993, he began working with elephants and has not looked back since. In June of 2006, Daryl became the Curator of Large Mammals at the Houston Zoo where his primary duties include the oversight of the zoo’s Asian elephant breeding and research program. The zoo’s elephant program is multi-dimensional in terms of its training and daily management. Daryl is one of the leaders in the Houston Zoo’s partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and research of the Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV). Being a part of finding a cure for EEHV is one Daryl’s passions. Daryl is currently the Executive Director of the Elephant Managers Association (EMA) and has served the EMA Board of Directors in some capacity since 2000. Under Daryl’s leadership, this organization continues to grow with increased membership and the establishment of a webpage and merchandise sales. He has been an instructor at the AZA Principles of Elephant Management School since 2002 and a member of the AZA Elephant TAG/SSP Management Group since 2007.

Gary Johnson and his wife Kari are internationally recognized experts in elephant care and training, and are widely recognized for their contributions to elephant management and husbandry. With over 45 years of elephant experience, Mr. Johnson is well respected for his involvement in animal welfare issues and has served on the boards and animal welfare committees of multiple organizations. Gary and Kari are committed to helping find ways to diagnose and treat health and husbandry issues that affect elephants and to that end have raised tens of thousands of dollars to fund research. “We are very proud of the fact that we have been able to develop a dedicated and hard-working team of people who believe as strongly as we do in the importance of preserving this endangered species. Our lives are centered on a positive cause. We are devoted to promoting the health and welfare of elephants everywhere.” Most recently, the Johnsons founded The Preserve in Fredericksburg, Texas to educate the public about elephants. At The Preserve the Johnson’s Elephant Ambassadors continue to inspire visitors to care about elephant conservation through demonstrating the human-elephant bond. Because of this work and more, the Johnsons have been honored by their peers with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Elephant Managers Association.

Dennis Schmitt, DVM, Ph.D., wears the hat of a number of different organizations. As a professor at Southwest Missouri State University, he instructs his students in advanced assisted reproduction. While serving as a consulting veterinarian, Schmitt specializes in elephant medical and reproductive management to elephant facilities worldwide. As owner of Reproductive Resources, he operates an assisted reproduction program for the domestic animal industry. Schmitt is the leading elephant reproductive physiologist in North America and serves as a Research and Reproductive Advisor for the AZA Elephant TAG/SSP Management Group. He announced the first successful conception by artificial insemination of an elephant, an Asian, in June of 1998 and was involved in the subsequent first two successful artificial inseminations of African elephants in North America in 1998. Schmitt continues to perform inseminations with over fifteen additional conceptions to date. Schmitt also conducts workshops internationally to train veterinarians and wildlife specialists in the technology of ultrasonography and semen collection.

Randy Rieches is the Curator of Mammals at the San Diego Wild Animal Park working with exotic wildlife for 30 years. Randy manages a collection of 140 species/subspecies of animals numbering over 1700 specimens. Species under Randy’s care include breeding herds African and Asian elephants. Mr. Rieches is currently involved in both in situ and ex situ conservation issues and projects affecting the long term survival of elephants. He sits on the Board of Directors for the International Rhino Foundation and is the SSP Coordinator for Indian Rhinoceros, Vice Chair for the Rhinoceros TAG and is involved in current relocation programs for Indian Rhinoceros in India. He also sits on Elephant, Antelope, Equid and Caprinae Taxon Advisory Groups.

As President and CEO, Tom Stalf leads the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club, and the Wilds with a single focus – inspire people to make a difference for wildlife and wild places. Annually, over 3 million people visit the Columbus Zoo and its other entities, making it one of the most successful zoological institutions in the country.

Tom has more than 24 years of experience in the zoo world. He began his career as a Zookeeper in 1991, and by 1995 was the Director of Illinois’ Niabi Zoo. Tom joined the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 2010 as Senior Vice President of Operations. One year later he was promoted to Chief Operations Officer, and the Board of Directors appointed him President and CEO in February 2013. Under his leadership, the Zoo opened its largest region to date, the award-winning Heart of Africa, and the Zoo, Zoombezi Bay and the Wilds have all achieved record-breaking attendance numbers.

A tireless champion for wildlife, Tom uses his gift of storytelling and love of education to help inspire people to join the Zoo’s mission of protecting animals globally and locally. He has traveled with Jack Hanna for zoo promotions and national television appearances for nearly 20 years. Tom places a high priority on animal welfare and conservation, and has visited several countries in which the Zoo supports conservation programs.

Dr. Harald Schwammer is the Vice Director at the Schoenbrunn Tiergarten (Vienna Zoo) in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Schwammer is the founder and President of the European Elephant Keeper and Manager Association (EEKMA) and the team manager of the International Elephant Management Academy. Dr. Schwammer has authored more than 50 scientific and popular publications about elephants and has organized multiple international workshops in Vienna, Europe, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan. Workshop topics ranged from training elephants to medical care, treatment and research to training programs for keepers, veterinarians, curators, mahouts and elephant owners.

Harald manages a breeding herd of African elephants and directed the Vienna Zoo’s research program that resulted in the first elephant conceived via artificial insemination outside of North America. The birth of this male calf was soon followed by the birth of a female calf produced by natural breeding.

With 30 years of background in national and international programs, Dr. Stuart Strahl is a career conservationist with deep experience in applied science, restoration ecology, public policy and not-for-profit management. He serves as President/CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates the world-famous Brookfield Zoo – the most popular paid cultural attraction in the Midwest, serving over 2.3 million guests with an annual economic impact of over $150 million. At CZS Dr. Strahl oversees a staff of 430 full-time and 1,200 part-time and seasonal employees, a volunteer corps of over 750, as well as numerous local, regional and international conservation, education and animal welfare initiatives. Under his direction over the past 10 years the Society has developed new and innovative exhibits as well as significant partnerships serving the Chicago land community, and received numerous national awards.

Prior to arriving at CZS, from 1996-2003 Stuart led the National Audubon Society into prominence as the acknowledged private-sector leader in the largest ecological restoration initiative in history, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. His prior positions include: founding President/CEO of Audubon of Florida, Vice President of the National Audubon Society, and Conservation Scientist and founding Director of Latin American Programs for the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Fluent in Spanish, Stuart is also dedicated to converting conservation into a mainstream public and economic issue. He has worked extensively to develop lasting partnerships in the U.S. and Latin America, resulting in preservation of over 30 million acres of wildlife habitat and over $15 billion in conservation funding.

Stuart received his B.A. degree in Biology from Bates College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and his Ph.D. in Biology from the State University of New York at Albany. A well respected author and distinguished lecturer, he is the principal author of numerous scientific and popular publications. He has served on adjunct faculties of the University of Florida, State University of New York, and Washington College. He has served on numerous appointed commissions, and has broad experience in bringing together diverse interests around mainstream causes. An avid outdoorsman, Stuart and his family enjoy exploring remote natural areas.