<h3><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1132" title="pdc_color_logo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/pdc_color_logo-155x300.jpg" alt="pdc_color_logo" width="155" height="300" /></h3>
<h3>Chair</h3>
<img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1260" title="melaina" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/melaina-150x150.jpg" alt="melaina" width="150" height="150" /> Melaina Wallace - <em>Disney's Animal Kingdom</em>
<h3>Purpose</h3>
The Professional Development Committee's Mission is to provide continual resources for professional growth through leadership  and educational opportunities for all National AAZK members.

<strong>2010</strong>
The 2010 AAZK National Conference in Philadelphia was an interesting and busy time for the Professional Development Committee.   The committee again hosted two continuing education workshops.   The workshops presented were a Passerine Husbandry Workshop and a Rotating Exhibits Workshop.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1814" title="pass_workshop" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/pass_workshop-225x300.jpg" alt="pass_workshop" width="225" height="300" />

The Passerine Husbandry Workshop was taught by Dr. Robert Webster from the Toledo Zoo and was sponsored by Marion Zoological, Mazuri, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.   This was a 6 hour workshop that focused on allowing keepers being able to share their own personal or their own facilities advancements in the care of these small birds.   On top of that it gave a host of other talks that focused passerine bird biology, husbandry, and behavioral husbandry. PDF's from this workshop can be found in the <a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/members/login.php">Member's Only</a> section of the website.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1815" title="robert_webster" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/robert_webster-300x225.jpg" alt="robert_webster" width="300" height="225" />

<em>Dr. Robert Webster giving one of many bird husbandry talks</em>

The Rotating Exhibit Workshop was an evening workshop that was hosted by keepers from the Denver Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Philadelphia Zoo, and Point Defiance Zoo.   This type of animal exhibitry is starting to become a new direction and method of revitalizing old exhibits while staying in existing footprints and addressing the ever rising expectations of animal welfare and behavioral husbandry.  This two hour workshop focused on the daily opportunities and challenges associated with this type of exhibit with emphasis on enrichment, safety, guest experience, along with the flexibility, freedom, and limitations that one might face if considering a change in this style of animal exhibitry.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1816" title="predator_ridge" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/predator_ridge-300x225.jpg" alt="predator_ridge" width="300" height="225" />

<em>Andrew Rowan and Mike Murray talk about their rotating exhibit Predator Ridge</em>

<strong>The Future</strong>

One of the other main focuses of the committee at this conference was to meet about the new direction of the professional development committee and their increasing role in the future of the AAZK.

<em><strong>2010 Professional Development Committee Members</strong></em>
Melaina Wallace – Chair                                  Bob Cisneros- Liaison to Board
Disney’s Animal Kingdom                                   San Diego Zoo

Kelly Wilson                                                  Victor Alm
Detroit Zoo                                                  Oakland Zoo

Bandy Hicks                                                                                            Leann Blinco
Boat Club Road Animal Hospital                          Disney's Animal Kingdom
Whitetail Veterinary Services

Mike Murray                                                Aaron Jesue
Denver Zoo                                                                                              North Carolina Zoo

Dawn Sohr                                                                              Andrew Rowan
Brookfield Zoo                                                                       Denver Zoo

Ellen Vossekuil                                             Amanda Hall
Utah’s Hogle Zoo                                       Zoo New England

Eunice Hui                                                                              Anthony Nielsen
Coyote Point Museum                             Lincoln Park Zoo

T’Noya Thompson Gonzales
Moody Gardens
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