ZOO ATLANTA welcomes new leaders to board of directors and leadership council

ATLANTA – February 17, 2026 – Zoo Atlanta is excited to welcome new corporate and philanthropic leaders to its Board of Directors and Leadership Council with new terms effective January 1, 2026.   

New Board of Directors members are Eddy Benoit, President & CEO at The Benoit Group; Ashley Carson, Atlanta Division President at SouthState Bank; Sean Drinan, Managing Director at PNC Bank;Tracy Daniels, VP of Data, Analytics, and AI at Teva Pharmaceuticals; Melvin Roland, Senior Vice President, Transmission at Georgia Power; and Arthur Mills IV, SVP, Institutional Asset Management and Director, Nonprofit Strategy and Solutions Group at PNC Bank. The six were elected for three-year terms effective through December 31, 2028.  

Chaired by Lisa Laube, President (Retired) at Floor and Décor, the Zoo’s 2026 Board of Directors is comprised of 33 members and includes some of metro Atlanta’s most influential corporate executives, community influencers, and philanthropic leaders.  

The Zoo Atlanta Leadership Council is a community-based, volunteer leadership group designed to support the mission and needs of Zoo Atlanta. Leadership Council members serve as ambassadors for the Zoo in their corporate, civic, and social circles. New members are Jon Adler, Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Operations at Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena; Sara Bass, Partner at Pierson Ferdinand; Heather Fortner, CEO at Signature FD; Dior George, Vice President, Marketing at Truist; Russell Jacobs, CFO/COO (Retired) at Zoo Atlanta; Cleo Meyer, CEO at Cleo Meyer Agency; and Anne Taetle, Community Leader.  

“Zoo Atlanta is honored to welcome such a select group of leaders to roles with invaluable contributions to the Zoo’s mission,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Their leadership, talents, and insights will help guide an extremely dynamic and exciting next several years for the Zoo.”  

Learn more about Zoo Atlanta’s mission and programs at zooatlanta.org.  

MEDIA CONTACT:  
Rachel Davis
Director of Communications
rdavis@zooatlanta.org  
404.624.2812 

Gavin Johnson
Public Relations Manager
404.624.5980
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org  

ABOUT: About Zoo Atlanta 
A proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for animal care and welfare, Zoo Atlanta has a mission to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The Zoo is home to hundreds of animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them endangered or critically endangered. Highlights include a transformed African Savanna featuring expanded habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostrich, warthogs, meerkats, and rhinos; one of North America’s largest populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Recent transformations include a newly updated African lion complex, opened in April 2025, and the state-of-the-art Rollins Animal Health Center, completed in 2024. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.