New director leads Zoo
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

Danyelle Lantz is bringing her extensive financial experience to help lead the Zoo into its next phase.

What started as a financial audit is turning into a whole new career for Danyelle Lantz.

"They stole my heart," Lantz said, describing the dedicated staff members at the Zoo, who have been struggling to do their regular jobs in addition to raising funds to keep the attraction afloat.

Lantz, 36, is a Mississippi native who came to Pensacola in 1998. She worked as an auditor for O'Sullivan Creel, then rose through the ranks at Network Telephone to become the Chief Financial Officer. After a couple of other jobs, she landed at McMahon- Hadder Insurance, a position she planned to keep until her heartstrings pulled her toward The Zoo of Northwest Florida. She will assume the Executive Director job previously occu- pied by Doug Kemper.

"Doug did an amazing job developing the master plan," Lantz said, and he will remain involved with the Zoo, using his strengths to help the Zoo draw more visitors.

For now, though, the major push is seeing the fundraising campaign through to fruition. In July, Zoo chairman of the board Chuck Emling went public with a plea to help get the Zoo back on financial footing after devastating losses from Hurricane Ivan. Just two weeks prior to the storm, the Zoo embarked on a new direction, converting to a non-profit organization with a plan to maximize the 50-acre plot for animal exhibits, bazaartype marketplaces and more.

Kemper

But the storm and the resulting financial storm were almost too much for the Zoo to overcome. The community stepped up to raise funds, and zoo officials are hoping for a $250,000 settlement from its insurance company. This will put the Zoo close to the $1 million goal set for year's end.

Fundraisers such as the Feast with the Beast, the Poker Safari, Zoo calendar sales, Zoo Boo and the upcoming Zoo Lights are helping to add to the coffers, too.

Lantz said the Zoo definitely will make the goal and remain open. "I would not be here if it wasn't," she said.

Her primary focus will be to coordinate communication between management, volunteers and community. Her earlier audit of Zoo finances showed that all monies are being handled appropriately, and she plans to leave the overall system in place, tweaking as necessary.

While Lantz has the financial background, she admits that she's deferring to the animal specialists, Dr. Gus Mueller, Zoo veterinarian, and Diane Norris, director of animal husbandry.

"They are an amazing team," Lantz said. Recently, officials from the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa came, on Zoo founder Pat Quinn's request, to survey animal care procedures at the Zoo. They reported that animal care is strong and that the Zoo should focus on fundraising.

The Lowery Park Zoo was about the same size and scope of the Zoo of Northwest Florida 17 years ago. Since then, they have fully developed their 50 acres and earn about $17 million in revenue. It is the number one family rated zoo in America. It is home to Ellie, the elephant who was once at the Zoo of Northwest Florida.

The Zoo of Northwest Florida will "rationalize" animal inventory, trading animals it has plenty of with zoos that have a deficit. The Zoo already trades animals on a regular basis.