Zoo needs better marketing 
Letters to the Editor

I have a little to say about the Zoo and the way it is run. I run a consulting company at 23yrs old, and I drove by the zoo everyday for 6 months. I never knew it was such a big zoo. I would of went numerous times, but I thought it was one of the road side zoos that you pet snakes. Also, it annoys me to see the director coming out saying the community has to show support. It took him 3yrs to come out and ask for help. In 2004 he could of come out and said hey we need help hurricanes causes 100K in damage. Now he comes out in July and says they need 1 million dollars. I have been trying to help behind the scenes. I have been trying to put some stuff on the radio in Philadelphia area, and I have been working on rebuilding their site.(it is not easy to navigate). I wish they would let me take over as director. There is so much potential in that zoo, but the marketing of things is bad. One example is the sponsorship of animals. On the site it should list the person/company that sponsors the animal. Not just say "sponsored". Also the structure of corporate sponsors on the site and at the zoo should be very noticeable. Why would a company pay thousands to sponsor if they get no ad space. I even tried to come up with the money to buy the zoo out. It can be so much. 4 million people visit okaloosa county alone each year. 180,000 people don't stop by the zoo? MARKET IT MARKET IT!. If someone out there wants to sponsor me being director please do. I think I can turn that place around. I would be out all night setting up events to raise money. Asking companies to sponsor the zoo. Not just posting things in the paper.

Matt Guthrie

Mary Esther