John Lenzycki

Background

About John Lenzycki

I am a professional in the field of biology with 30 years of experience working with zoological parks and aquariums. Along with the opportunity to educate and inform the public of the threats and challenges both we and our natural environments face, my goal has been to understand and create environments that enable our collections not just to survive but to thrive. As Director of Animal Husbandry I was responsible for all aspects of animal care relative to the acquisition, maintenance and exhibition of the living collection. This included establishing and maintaining animal related operating procedures in accordance with AZA standards; creation of a relevant and sustainable institutional collection plan; overseeing the hiring, training, and daily activity of the husbandry staff; supervising the maintenance of the exhibits, life support systems and water quality; establishing and executing an effective animal enrichment program; and, management of our veterinary services to provide the highest quality animal health care. The collection comprised over 250 species and 3500 specimens of fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals in exhibits ranging from 10 to gallons. I managed a staff of 18 and developed and managed a departmental budget of $1.4 million. As a member of the executive team I shared responsibility for the development of the institutional strategic plan, exhibit planning and implementation, and the establishment of institutional operating procedures.