Cooper Coleman Places Chief Financial Officer at East Coast Zoological Foundation

CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC, a nationally recognized executive search firm partnering exclusively with nonprofit and social impact organizations, is pleased to announce that David Lamadrid has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) following a national search led by Johnny Cooper, Founder + CEO of Cooper Coleman.

This is the third chief-level executive the firm has placed at ECZF this year following successful searches for the Chief Philanthropy Officer and the Chief Operating Officer. Lamadrid brings more than 25 years of experience leading financial strategy and operations for organizations navigating growth and change. He has held senior financial leadership roles across multiple sectors and currently serves as a Board Member and Finance Committee Chair for a nonprofit supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs.

As CFO, Lamadrid will guide financial strategy and planning across ECZF’s current and future campuses, including Brevard Zoo and the forthcoming Bowen Aquarium and Conservation Center in Port Canaveral. His leadership will play a key role in supporting ECZF’s continued evolution as a dual-campus organization dedicated to conservation, education, and community engagement.

“David is a thoughtful, values-driven leader who understands how to build strong financial systems that support organizational stability and progress,” said Johnny Cooper, Founder + CEO at Cooper Coleman. “His experience and approach are well aligned with where ECZF is headed, and it has been a privilege to partner with him and the organization on this placement.”

Lamadrid will oversee enterprise-wide financial management, including budgeting and forecasting, capital planning for campus expansion, financial operations, compliance, and organizational resourcing in support of ECZF’s mission of sharing the joy of nature and helping wildlife and people thrive.

About East Coast Zoological Foundation

Since 1986, ECZF has been dedicated to sharing the joy of nature to help wildlife and people thrive. Operating the beloved Brevard Zoo and spearheading the development of a new Aquarium campus, ECZF is a leader in conservation, education, and community engagement, welcoming over 500,000 guests each year. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Brevard Zoo has continuously been voted as a top zoo in the nation by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards.

To learn more, visit www.brevardzoo.org or www.ourlegacycampaign.org .

About Cooper Coleman LLC

Cooper Coleman LLC is a full-service retained executive search and consulting firm partnering exclusively with nonprofit organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions to drive meaningful growth. With headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, and Chicago, IL, its team moves organizations forward by placing the right leaders in the right roles at the right time and helps to strengthen their management and fundraising capacity to amplify their mission and impact.

Cooper Coleman's diverse client portfolio spans a wide range of social impact areas, reflecting its commitment to serving the entire spectrum of the social impact sector. Its clients are focused on a variety of causes, such as civil rights, health equity, the performing arts, adoption and foster care, LGBTQ+ advocacy, tech for good, and more.

Founded by CEO Johnny Cooper, who has over 16 years of leadership experience in the social sector, Cooper Coleman prioritizes making essential executive search services accessible to organizations across the social impact sector. With a team of experienced consultants and a commitment to providing first-in-class search services to its clients, the firm has established itself as a leader in the field and is ranked among the Top 65 Nonprofit Executive Search Firms by Hunt Scanlon and among the TOP 250 Executive Search Firms nationally. Cooper Coleman is also proud to have co-founder William B. Coleman, Jr., a veteran executive search consultant with over 25 years of experience in the field, as part of its leadership team. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table and are dedicated to helping nonprofits and other social impact organizations achieve their goals.