SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, the nonprofit fundraising arm that supports the zoo’s animal care, exhibits and education programs, will hold a board vote on Oct. 27 to appoint its next executive director. Nineteen board members must give a majority vote for the chosen candidate to assume the role.
Candidate profiles
Heidi L. Strong has served as the Friends’ Director of Development since 2020. Prior to that, she spent two decades managing large‑scale events at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona and the Harbor Festival in Oswego. Strong highlights a three‑fold increase in sponsorship revenue for the Friends, crediting new sponsorship programs she introduced. While at Turning Stone, she coordinated more than 750 live performances each year, featuring artists such as Reba McEntire, Hozier, Bret Michaels and Boz Scaggs. She earned her degree from SUNY Oswego in 2024.
Mark D. Irwin most recently served as Interim Executive Director and CEO of Zoo New York at Thompson Park in Watertown from 2023 to 2026. He also holds a long‑standing faculty position as Professor of Biology and Program Director for the Zoo Technology program at SUNY Jefferson Community College, a role he has filled since 2002. Irwin says he helped reopen the Watertown zoo after an indefinite closure, growing its operating budget from $700,000 to $1.1 million and expanding membership from 200 to 800, which boosted annual attendance to about 31,000 visitors. He contributed to the textbook Zookeeping: An Introduction to the Science & Technology, which covers animal welfare, conservation and workplace safety. Irwin stepped down from his interim position in August.
Board context
The Friends have been without a permanent executive director since early this year. Andrew Brazill was appointed interim director on Jan. 28 after former director Carrie Large resigned. Large now serves as President & CEO of the United Way of Central New York.
The upcoming vote will determine who will lead the organization’s fundraising and community‑engagement efforts moving forward. Both candidates bring extensive experience in development, event management and zoo operations, and the board’s decision will shape the financial health and outreach of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo for years to come.
Original reporting: CNY Central WSTM (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
