Zoo Boise Director Steve Burns
Sworn-In as Chair of the Board at Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Silver Spring, Maryland (October 6, 2015) –The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is announcing the swearing-in of Steve Burns, Director of Zoo Boise, as the new Chair of the AZA Board of Directors.
“Steve’s leadership skills, extensive experience and tremendous passion for wildlife conservation will undoubtedly make him a strong asset to AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos as he leads the AZA Board of Directors and encourages all of us to continue working hard to make a positive impact on the world’s wildlife species,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy.
As Chair of the Board, Burns, along with three other executive officers and nine Board members, will be involved in every aspect of the national organization, including accreditation, ethics, animal welfare, and conservation. Each year, AZA’s 230 accredited facilities collectively contribute $160 million to field conservation projects that help to protect species across the world, serve more than 183 million visitors, welcome more than 12 million students on educational field trips, contribute $17.4 billion to the U.S. economy and support 176,000 jobs.
Steve has been the Executive Director of the Friends of Zoo Boise since 1997 and the Zoo Director since 2001. Before that he worked at The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, Virginia.
“I am honored to serve as the Chair of the AZA Board of Directors. I look forward to working with all AZA members to help save species from extinction,” said Burns.
About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and seven other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.
Contact: Rob Vernon, AZA, 301.244-3352; rvernon@aza.org