Executive Director

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Executive Director	Mr. Rick Schwartz
E-mail	rschwartz@nashvillezoo.org
Term Start	November 1989
Rick's Experience: Rick Schwartz has been heavily involved in the world of conservation for more than thirty years. He is known internationally for his expertise in big cats and for his personal devotion to the preservation of the highly endangered clouded leopard. Since 1989 he has been the director and primary architect of Nashville Zoo. He is a leader in conservation both in Tennessee and around the world. Mr. Schwartz's relationships with animal experts around the globe have allowed Nashville Zoo to successfully import some of the rarest species in the world, creating new genetic pools for the United States captive population. As a leading expert in zoo design, development and maintenance, Mr. Schwartz's utilization of current resources and creativity are an asset to the organization. His knowledge of animal care and husbandry, landscape and horticulture, building materials and contracting has kept the Zoo from incurring the expense of hiring outside contractors and consultants.

Senior Staff

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Name	Title
Mr. Andy Tillman	Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Kim Pridgen	Chief Financial Officer
Mr. David Oehler	Vice President
Ms. Jami Geselle	Chief Human Resources Officer

Staff

Full Time Staff	238
Part Time Staff	85
Volunteers	321
Contractors	0
Retention Rate	65%

Plans & Policies

Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan?	Yes
Does your organization have a Strategic Plan?	Yes
Years Strategic Plan Considers	N/A
When was the Strategic Plan adopted?	March 2023
Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan?	No
Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan?	Yes
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy?	Yes
Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy?	Yes
Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy?	Yes

Evaluation

Is there a formal evaluation for...		Frequency (if applicable)
CEO/Executive Director	Yes	Annually
Senior Management	Yes	Annually
Non-Management	Yes	Annually

Affiliations

Affiliation	Year
Center for Nonprofit Management Excellence Network	2007
Hospitality TN	2023
Intermuseum Council of Nashville	2004
Music City Concierge Association	2013
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce	2001
Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation	2012
Williamson County Chamber of Commerce	2009
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums	2013

External Assessments and Accreditations

Assessment/Accreditation	Year
Association of Zoos and Aquariums	2019
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency	2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture	2023

Awards

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Award / Recognition	Organization	Year
10Best Reader's Choice Awards- Top 5 Best Exhibits for Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear	USA Today	2019
America's Best Restroom for the cotton-topped tamarin exhibit in one of the women's restrooms	Cintas	2019
Salute to Excellence CEO of the Year Award Finalist - Rick Schwartz	Center for NonProfit Management	2012
Certificate of Merit - Grassmere Historic Home & Farm	Tennessee Historical Commission	2015
Commissioners' Award - Grassmere Historic Home & Farm	Metro Historical Commission	2015
Excellence in Construction Award for Entry Village	Greater TN Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors	2016
Excellence in Construction Award for the HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center	Greater TN Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors	2019
Innovation in Education for the Croft Middle Design Center Partnership	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2019
Top Honors International Conservation Award - Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2016
Most Admired CEO Award Finalist - Rick Schwartz	Nashville Business Journal	2012
Perfect 100% for Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency	Charity Navigator	2016
Top Honors Exhibit Award - Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2019
Perfect 100% for Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency	Charity Navigator	2019
Excellence in Construction Award for Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear	Greater TN Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors	2018
LEED Silver Award for the HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center	U.S. Green Building Council	2019
Significant Achievement International Conservation Award - Okapi Conservation Project	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2018
Significant Achievement International Conservation Award - Lowland Tapir Conservative Initiative Brazil	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2018
State Wildlife Action Partnership Award for the Tennessee Hellbender Recovery Partnership	Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency	2013
Salute to Excellence Leadership Award Finalist	Center for Nonprofit Management	2012
Award of Commendation - Cemetery Dedication Ceremony at Grassmere Historic Farm	Tennessee Association of Museums	2015
Top Honors Exhibit Award - Tiger Crossroads	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2020
Edward H. Bean Award - Clouded Leopard Conservation	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2020
Award of Excellence - Nashville To Miami To Havana: Cuba, Castro and the Croft Family	American Association for State and Local History	2020
Award of Excellence - Educational Programming "Nashville to Miami to Cuba" Public Program Series	Tennessee Association of Museums	2020
Award of Excellence - Grassmere Historic Farm New Interpretive Graphics	Tennessee Association of Museums	2020
Perfect 100% for Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency	Charity Navigator	2020
Award of Excellence - Morton Family Exhibit	Tennessee Association of Museums	2022
Leadership in History Award of Excellence - Morton Family Exhibit	American Association for State and Local History	2022
Top Honors Angela Peterson Excellence in Diversity Award - Morton Family Exhibit	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2022
Top Honors Facility Award - HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center	Association of Zoos & Aquariums	2023
Excellence in Construction Award - Komodo Dragon Exhibit	Associated Builders and Contractors - Greater Tennessee Chapter	2023