Profession, Articles, On a Personal Note
Stacey Ludlum
Growing Small: An Alternate Definition of ...

My company is just me. And that’s by design. I do not intend to hire employees and I purposefully keep my fees and client volume low. I view it as a complete success, but given the common perception of “business success,” I often wonder if others would agree… In this article, I outline my business strategy of Growing Small as an alternate measure of success.

Growing Small: An Alternate Definition of Success
Articles, On a Personal Note, Profession
Stacey Ludlum
Tips for Working with Introverted Consultants

Believe it or not, many consultants, including yours truly, are actually introverts! Learn the best practices for working with introverts by reading Felis Consulting’s somewhat self-effacing and certainly vulnerable ‘Top Tips for Working with Introverted Consultants.’

Tips for Working with Introverted Consultants
How-Tos, Master plans, Profession
Stacey Ludlum
Master Planning 101

As a designer dedicated to the long-term planning of zoos and aquariums, I’ve had to explain the process of master planning many times, and although every zoo and aquarium is different, the best master plans (i.e. those which have been implemented) always follow a similar structure. In this post, we address the most commonly asked questions to help you understand what master planning is, when is the right time to start, and who should be involved.

Master Planning 101
Case Studies, Reviews, Travel
Stacey Ludlum
Columbian Park Zoo: Gold-Standard Small ...

The city of Lafayette, Indiana has one of the oldest—and best—small zoos in the country. Recent renovations, thoughtful and modern designs, and focusing on providing for their local guests as top priority are a few reasons they are successful.

Columbian Park Zoo: Gold-Standard Small Municipal Zoo
Profession, News
Stacey Ludlum
Addressing DEAI in Zoos and Aquariums

Zoos and aquariums have a long way to go related to being community assets that are truly reflective of their surrounding communities. Recent discussions in the AZA suggest that instead waiting for ‘best practice’ solutions, that individual organizations must start somewhere acknowledging that our strategies will evolve as we all learn the most productive ways to approach DEAI.

Addressing DEAI in Zoos and Aquariums

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St. Augustine Alligator Farm: What’s in a Name?

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St. Augustine Alligator Farm: What’s in a Name?

St. Augustine Alligator Farm, located in beautiful and historic tourism destination, St. Augustine, Florida, holds the honor of being the only zoo in the world to care for every species of crocodilian known to man. In addition to the alligators, crocodiles, gharials, and caimans, the zoo is also a showcase for native Floridian birds, especially during nesting season in spring and early summer. The nine-acre zoo itself is beautiful. It’s all old-growth live oaks, dripping in Spanish moss, but one of the greatest attributes of the Farm is its preponderance of demonstrations, shows, and keeper chats. Does the Zoo’s name hinder its success due to its reliance on often first-time visitors?

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ZooWorld: Embracing the Kitsch

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ZooWorld: Embracing the Kitsch

If you’ve ever spent time at a popular beachside destination in the U.S., you are probably well-acquainted with the kitschy, uniquely American, tourist trap vibe that often accompanies these places. Panama City Beach is no exception. Brightly colored signs dot the roads inviting guests into themed or ramshackle seafood joints. Mini-golf courses with tall waterfalls and pirate ships are squeezed between ice cream shops and places to rent scooters and slingshot cars. It is in this context that we delighted in the tourist destination of ZooWorld. To be sure, the five-acre ZooWorld is not without its problems, but overall, the experience is happy and fun with a dose of humor, and the park is clean and comfortable, if not outdated in places.

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Abilene Zoo: On the Cusp of a Growth Spurt

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Abilene Zoo: On the Cusp of a Growth Spurt

Abilene Zoo in Texas is the only zoo in its region. It experiences incredible market penetration, but is still a small, municipal parks department zoo—20 acres and 250k visitors. With potential land to grow and new adjacent attractions opening soon, the zoo is poised to grow into a large facility.

We're a surprisingly social species.