Cooper Coleman Joins Association of Zoos and Aquariums

CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC announced today that it has joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing excellence in animal care, conservation, education, and public engagement among accredited zoos and aquariums worldwide.

Membership in AZA reflects a shared commitment to high professional standards, collaboration, and the long-term stewardship of institutions that connect people to wildlife and the natural world. For Cooper Coleman, this milestone aligns with the firm’s growing body of work supporting zoological and conservation-focused organizations during periods of leadership transition, expansion, and organizational change.

Most recently, that work has included a partnership with the East Coast Zoological Foundation, supporting leadership development for the Brevard Zoo and Bowen Aquarium as the organization advances facility expansion, major fundraising initiatives, and long-range strategic planning.

Reflecting on the firm’s engagement in the sector, Johnny Cooper, Founder and CEO of Cooper Coleman LLC, shared, “It’s a privilege to partner with organizations that carry deep responsibility for conservation, education, and public trust. Joining AZA allows us to stay closely connected to the field and to contribute to the shared work of strengthening institutions that care for animals while serving their communities.”

Through its AZA membership, Cooper Coleman looks forward to continued engagement with zoo and aquarium leaders, boards, and peers, and to supporting leadership teams as they steward complex, mission-driven institutions through moments of change and growth.

For boards and leaders anticipating executive transition, expansion, or organizational change, Cooper Coleman partners closely to ensure leadership decisions are thoughtful, grounded, and aligned with long-term institutional stewardship. We welcome conversation when it would be genuinely useful.

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About Cooper Coleman LLC

Cooper Coleman is a retained executive search firm serving mission-driven organizations across the nonprofit and social impact sector. The firm partners with arts and cultural institutions, museums, zoos and aquariums, public health, educational and research institutions, associations, and social service organizations nationwide. A member of The Giving Institute and the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants, Cooper Coleman is ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media among the Top 250 recruiting firms and the Top 65 nonprofit executive search firms in the United States.

Founded by nonprofit leaders and executive search professionals, Cooper Coleman brings decades of firsthand sector experience to every engagement. The firm approaches executive search as stewardship, representing organizations and their missions with care, rigor, and integrity. Cooper Coleman is often selected by boards and senior leaders when the stakes are unusually high, and leadership decisions carry lasting organizational consequence.

For more information about Cooper Coleman LLC, visit www.coopercoleman.com or connect on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/coopercoleman.