By Colleen Westberg, Blacktie Staff

“A zoo is a magical place that provides a unique experience for kids of all ages! And there’s no other place in Kansas City where you can see lions or tigers or other unusual animals except at our zoo.  Everyone has childhood memories of the zoo, and especially today there are not many places that we’ll have a memory of, certainly not the mall or of video games. Families can spend quality time with each other at the zoo, and kids can be inquisitive and learn things while getting exercise and fresh air!” So emphasizes Randy Wisthoff, the Executive Director of Kansas City Zoo.

The Kansas City Zoo consists of 202 acres with more than 1,000 animals, and has been voted the best kids’ attraction by the Kansa City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the best family outing venue by Ingram’s Magazine, both in the past year.

The  Zoo opened to the public on December 13, 1909. The facility started out with a single building, called the Bird and Carnivore House, with big cats, primates, hippos and Asian elephants. Since then, many exhibits have been added, including  popular attractions such as Australia, Tiger Trail and African Plain. The most recent additions have been the Orangutan Primadome in 2002, the Discovery Barn and Peek-A-Boo Tree in 2006, and the Endangered Species Carousel in 2007.

Many special activities are held regularly at the zoo including animal shows, hand-feeding parrots, elephant demonstrations, keeper talks, educational programs, overnights and birthday parties. The Kansas City Zoo also participates and supports almost twenty different conservation projects, encompassing reintroduction, monitoring, and breeding of endangered species.

Over four years ago the Kansas City Zoo turned to one of the nation’s most respected zoos, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., to find its new leader, Randy Wisthoff. He was chosen after an extensive nationwide search. Wisthoff had been at the highly regarded Henry Doorly Zoo since 1977, and was associate director there since 1987. He assumed his new post as CEO, president and director of the Kansas City Zoo in November 2003.  “I am most proud of what we’re doing at the Kansas City Zoo, because we are growing the zoo, developing many new experiences and exhibits. We are back on the road to progress and development!”

Fast Facts

Mission Statement: The mission of the Kansas City Zoo is to conserve and provide access to wildlife to entertain and educate our visitors in order to instill a sustained respect for nature.  We will accomplish this by:   

             Offering outstanding, year-round, affordable, high-quality guest experiences;

             Demonstrating the diversity of wildlife;

             Enhancing the care and survival of wildlife through research, education and conservation;

              Operating a financially sound zoological park;

             Offering our employees a fun, rewarding work environment;

              Contributing to the cultural life of the Kansas City community and region; and

              Achieving full community support.

Address :          Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO  64132

Phone Number :816- 513-5800

   Fax Number  816- 513-5850

   E-mail address  :fnamelname@fotzkc.org

  Website – www.kansascityzoo.org

  Number of employees : 128 fulltime, 29 part-time, 125 seasonal

Number of volunteers :approx 350 plus 150 on JAZZOO, the Zoo’s biggest fundraiser

   Major Fundraisers :   Jazzoo, Friday, June 6, 2008

   Executive Committee

          Chairman....................... Jim Calcara

          Treasurer....................... Michael Falk

          Secretary....................... Ford Nelson, Jr.

          Park Board Director....... Mark McHenry (ex officio)

          Committee Member........ Carol Hallquist

          Committee Member........ Andy Fromm

          Committee Member........ Jonathan Thomas

          Committee Member........ Gayle Krigel

   Directors :

          Randy Wisthoff – Zoo Director

          Gene Howe – Director of HR & Finance

          Julie Neemeyer – Director of Marketing & Membership

          Liz Harmon – General Curator

          Laura Berger – Director of Development

          Mike Stuckey – Director of Facilities

          Kirk Suedmeyer – Director of Animal Health

          Debra Ryder – Director of Education

          Kathy Jarboe – Director of Guest Services

   Board Members Steve Bernstein, Mark Bryant, Jim Calcara,

          Bill Crandall, Nancy Dillingham, Karen Dixon, Mike Falk, Janis Francis

          Andy Fromm, Patty Garney, J. Scott Gregory, Carol Hallquist, Lenny Hershman. Ro Jacobson, Gayle Krigel, Bob Lewellen,    Jeanne Lillig-Patterson, Kelly Lockton, John Marshall,          Joe Monello,          Ford Nelson, Jr., Greg Orman, Joab Ortiz,      Jeanette Prenger,

          Kathy Smith, Jonathan Thomas, Jean Wagner.

Advisory Board: Raymond Davis,   Jackie Johnson, John Latshaw,

          John Marvin, Al Mauro, Kevin Pistilli, James Stowers, III, Don Wagner

          Dale Wittenborn.

Supplemental Board:   Wayne Cauthen, Deb Hermann, Mark McHenry

          Aggie Stackhaus.

Associated Guilds: accredited member of the AZA ,American Zoo & Aquarium Association.

   Founded : 1909

  Community served :           Metropolitan Kansas City

   Ongoing projects: Launched a $50M capital campaign;

New Front Entry Plaza and Zoo Learning Center will open May 2008; Tropic will open in the original 1909 building in 2008; Polar Bears will open in 2009

             Accomplishments

         Opened new front gate with river otter and swan exhibit

         Attendance was up 10% last year

         Budget has been balanced for four years

         New animals and exhibits have been added

         Animal viewing has improved

         Educational programs have been enhanced to meet state’s science nature curriculum standards