ALMetro360 July 2018

riginally from Ohio and a graduate of Youngstown State University, Woodard has held various roles that have led her to her current position. She worked six years as the International Marketing Director for Flam- beau Products and also spent time working as a server during high school and college — a building block that helped her assume the role with the zoo. Woodard came to the zoo twenty-plus years ago as the Market- ing and Public Relations Manager and subsequently moved on to different roles before taking on the role as Zoo Director in April of this year. She participates in the Montgomery Chamber of Com- merce Tourism Committee and has served as chairman of the Trustees Board at Saint James United Methodist Church. ALMetro360 was lucky that Woodard found the time to take us deeper into the world of animals at the zoo in her role as zoo di- rector. Find out more about her and her duties below. ALMetro360: Tell me a little about yourself ? Where from? Back- ground. Education. What led you to Montgomery and to the Zoo? How many years at the zoo and how many positions held? Woodard: I am originally from Northeast Ohio. I moved to Montgomery in 1992 when I married my husband. So I am a transplant but I do consider Montgomery my home now and a true southern girl. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Manage- ment from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. I came to Montgomery because this is where my husband was living when we got married. I began working for The Montgomery Zoo in October of 1994 as the Marketing and Public Relations Man- ager. In 1998, I was promoted to the Assistant Zoo Director, Ad- ministration, in 2001 I was promoted to the Deputy Zoo Director position and then in April of this year I was named the Director of the Montgomery Zoo. ALMetro 360: Was becoming zoo director a vision or a happy accident? Woodard: Once I began working at The Montgomery Zoo I quickly fell in love with working at a Zoologically Facility. I knew at that point that one day I would love to become a Zoo Director. Every day I come to work loving what I do! It is a pleasure to work doing something you love! Also, having a great team of employees is a plus. ALMetro360: Since the director’s retirement what is (was) first on your agenda? Woodard: I have been working on improving communications with our staff and zoo visitors. I am passionate about delivering excellent customer service to the public. Recently, I enrolled 14 staff members to go through Montgomery Hospitality Academy that is a three-step training track held at the Troy Montgomery Campus. Everyone that works at the Zoo is in customer service/hospitality and going through training sessions should im- prove the skills of our staff members. ALMetro360: Any new construction projects/displays lined up this year or next? Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter JULY 2018 71 O “E VERY DAY I COME TO WORK LOVING WHAT I DO ! I T IS A PLEASURE TO WORK DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE !”