Board of Directors welcomes new Atlanta leaders

The new members join the Zoo in a transformative era for the organization.

The Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors welcomes five new business and civic leaders with terms beginning in January 2019. New members are Shan Cooper, Executive Director, Atlanta Committee for Progress; Mike Dickerson, CEO, ClickDimensions; Lisa Laube, Executive Vice President & Chief Merchandising Officer, Floor & Decor; Michael Paul, Executive Compensation Director, UPS; and Deepak Raghavan, PhD, Co-founder and Director, Manhattan Associates, and Adjunct Professor, Georgia State University. The five were elected for three-year terms effective January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2022.

“We are honored and excited to welcome this group of leaders to the Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors at such a historic time for the Zoo,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO of Zoo Atlanta. “Their leadership, talents, energy and insights will be important assets as we look forward to an exciting next few years.”

Chaired by John Ripoll, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor, Southeast Region, Wells Fargo Private Bank, the Zoo’s 2019 Board of Directors is composed of 37 members and includes some of metro Atlanta’s most influential corporate executives, community influencers and philanthropic leaders.

Ms. Cooper, Mr. Dickerson, Ms. Laube, Mr. Paul and Mr. Raghavan join the Board of Directors in a dynamic era for Zoo Atlanta, which anticipates a summer 2019 opening of its all-new African Savanna as part of the transformative Grand New View project. Savanna Hall, the former home of the Atlanta Cyclorama, is being revitalized for a new chapter as a one-of-a-kind special events destination that will overlook the African Savanna. Savanna Hall will open for events in early 2020. Other highlights of Grand New View will include a new grand entry plaza. Learn more here.

Shan Cooper
Executive Director, Atlanta Committee for Progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Dickerson
CEO, ClickDimensions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Laube
Executive Vice President & Chief Merchandising Officer, Floor & Decor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Paul
Executive Compensation Director, UPS

 

 

 

 

Deepak Raghavan, PhD
Co-founder and Director, Manhattan Associates, and Adjunct Professor, Georgia State University

 

 

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rachel Davis
Director of Communications
rdavis@zooatlanta.org
404.624.2812 – office
404.309.2238 – cell

Gavin Johnson
Public Relations and Communications Specialist
404.624.5980 – office
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org

About Zoo Atlanta
Viewed as one of the finest zoological institutions in the U.S. and a proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Atlanta has a mission to inspire value and preservation of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family experiences. From well-known native wildlife to critically endangered species on the brink of extinction, the Zoo offers memorable close encounters with more than 1,000 animals from around the world. Zoo highlights include giant pandas, including Ya Lun and Xi Lun, a set of twins born to Lun Lun on September 3, 2016; one of North America’s largest zoological populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience, featuring more than 70 species in a 111,000 square-foot complex, is the world’s first LEED Gold-certified reptile and amphibian exhibit. The Zoo’s newest experience, Treetop Trail presented by Kaiser Permanente, opened in March 2017. Up-close-and-personal animal experiences include behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters with African elephants, African lions, Aldabra giant tortoises and giant pandas. Zoo Atlanta is open year-round with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Keeper talks, interactive wildlife presentations, education programs and special events run year-round. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.