Patricia Simmons, Director & CEO
Patricia Simmons is the current Director & CEO of the North Carolina Zoo and past-President and Chief Executive Officer of the Akron Zoological Park, Akron Ohio. She was Chairwoman of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 2012. Pat has over 30 years of experience in zoological management.
Pat is nationally and internationally recognized, receiving many awards and appointments including the Women’s History Project Woman of the Year for Imagination and the first non-profit executive to receive the Chairman’s Award from the Visitor and Convention Bureau. Most recently, Pat became one of 100 hand-selected CEO’s world wide to be a Founding Fellow of the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, a program designed to tackle global challenges for non-profit organizations.
To Contact Pat Simmons:
By Phone
1.800.488.0444
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Cami Bunting, Director of Human Resources
Cami Bunting is the North Carolina Zoo’s Director of Human Resources and is centralized under the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Human Resources Office. Cami is a member of the Zoo’s senior management team and oversees all aspects of human resources including recruitment/selection, employee relations, salary administration, workers’ compensation, and benefit management. She oversees two full-time human resources technicians while administering the Zoo’s HR program to approximately 400 permanent and seasonal staff members. She is also currently serving on the Advisory Board for the Davidson County Community College Zoo and Aquarium Science Program.
Prior to becoming the Zoo’s Director of Human Resources, Cami spent 13 years working in the Human Resources section, most of those as the Staff Recruitment and Development leader, where she handled staff training, applicant screening, hiring and administering policy. Cami is a native of Asheboro and graduated with a Degree in Microcomputer Systems Technology from Randolph Community College.
To Contact Cami Bunting:
By Phone
1.800.488.0444 or 336.879.7313
By Email
Email Cami Bunting
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Diane Villa, Director of Communications & Marketing
Diane Villa is the Director of Communications and Marketing at the North Carolina Zoo. Her duties include leading a dedicated and passionate staff covering marketing, public relations, social media, website, events, graphics, park rangers, and guest services. Her team helps brand and promote the Zoo, and creates memorable guest experiences, focusing on inspiring people to make a difference for wildlife and wild places. Before this position, Diane was the Zoo’s Curator of Design from 2014 to 2017 and the Zoo’s Art Director from 1994 to 2014.
Diane is a native of North Carolina and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from East Carolina University. She is involved in the local community, serving on the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors.
At the North Carolina Zoo, Diane is on the senior staff team, serves on the editorial board for the Alive magazine (the member magazine for the N.C. Zoo Society), and works with the Zoo’s social media and Park interpretation teams. Diane also works on a variety of attraction and habitat planning teams.
To Contact Diane Villa:
By Phone
1.800.488.0444
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Jb Minter, Director of Animal Health
Dr. Jb Minter was named Director of Animal Health and director of the Hanes Veterinary Medical Center at the North Carolina Zoo in 2016. He is responsible for the overall medical and surgical management of the Zoo’s resident animals and operations of the Veterinary Medical Center.
Jb is a native of Virginia and attended Virginia Tech for his undergraduate degree in animal science. He received a master’s degree in wildlife biology from Utah State University before graduating from North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He went on to do an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at the University of Illinois before moving to Florida to work in a small animal practice. He returned to North Carolina to complete a residency in zoological medicine at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and the North Carolina Zoo. He obtained his board certification in zoological medicine 2015 and is now a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine
Jb re-joined the veterinary staff of the NC Zoo in 2014 after working as the veterinarian for the Great Plains in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is an adjunct assistant professor at the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
To Contact Jb Minter:
By Phone
1.800.488.0444
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Rich Bergl, Director of Conservation, Education & Science
Dr. Rich Bergl directs the Conservation, Education and Science Department at the North Carolina Zoo and has been involved with wildlife conservation and research in Africa for almost 20 years. Much of his work has focused on the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli), the most endangered of the four gorilla subspecies. He has worked in Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Liberia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia and Kenya on topics ranging from primate behavior, to population genetics, to protected area management. He is one of the founding members of the SMART Partnership and is currently involved with implementing SMART to improve anti-poaching efforts at sites across Africa. Dr. Bergl is a member of the Executive Committee of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and the Scientific Commission of the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership, serves on the Field Conservation and Research and Technology Committees of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is a Conservation Fellow at the Wildlife Conservation Society. He is adjunct faculty in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University.
To Contact Rich Bergl:
By Phone
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Crista McGee, Director of Facilities Operations
Crista McGee was named Director of Facilities Operations at the North Carolina Zoo in 2019. She leads an experienced and talented staff covering exhibit design, exterior and interior horticulture, arbor, mechanical/electrical/plumbing, vehicle maintenance, general maintenance/construction and, the Environmental Management System. This team is responsible for the design, planning and maintenance of the North Carolina Zoo’s animal habitats, guest spaces, land management, buildings, motor fleet and art collection that span over 550 acres at the world’s largest Zoo. Before this position, Crista was the Zoo’s Curator of Design from 2017 to 2019 and was an Exhibit Designer on the Zoo’s Exhibit Design staff from 1991 to 2017.
As a member of the Zoo’s Senior Staff, Crista is a member of many planning teams that cover the four Zoo pillars of Animal Welfare, Conservation, Education and Guest Experience. These teams include vision, strategic, sustainability, habitat, interpretive, land management, special exhibit/events, safety and financial planning.
Crista is an Asheboro native and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s School of Interior Architecture. She is involved in the local community, serving on the fundraising board for the City of Asheboro’s Sportsplex, on an advisory panel for community fundraising events and, served as a member of the NC Zoo Society’s Randolph Friends of the Zoo board for 11 years.
To Contact Crista McGee:
By Phone
1.800.488.0444 or 336.879.7450
By Email
Email Crista McGee
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Jeff Causey, Director of Business & Finance
Jeff Causey was named Director of Business & Finance at the North Carolina Zoo in 2021. He oversees several functions including purchasing, accounting, information technology, warehouse operations, the cash office, and risk management. Jeff and his team work to ensure the Zoo’s budget of approximately $25 million is used in an effective, responsible manner; purchases are made in an open, fair and effective method that encourages participation by a diverse range of suppliers; and the Zoo continues to explore and deploy new technology to improve employee efficiency and the guest experience.
Jeff grew up and has spent his life in North Carolina. He graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration degree. Prior to joining the Zoo, Jeff worked in a variety of positions in local government and with non-profit organizations throughout the state of North Carolina. Jeff is a licensed CPA.
To Contact Jeff Causey:
By Phone
1.800.488.0444 or 336.879.7301
By Email
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205
Jason Joines, Director of Safety
Jason Joines is the North Carolina Zoo’s Director of Safety and is centralized under the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Human Resources Office. Jason is a member of the Zoo’s senior management team and oversees all aspects of Employee OSHA safety, guest safety, AZA Safety drills, and Training. Jason oversees fire protection, life safety systems, radio communications and assists with Zoo security, ICS, and emergency management.
Prior to becoming the Zoo’s Director of Safety, Jason spent 25 years working at the City of Asheboro Fire Department, including firefighting, fire inspections, Fire and life safety, Public Information, and Fire investigations. Jason also has a military background in communications. Jason is a native of Asheboro and holds multiple state certifications from different fire-related agencies.
To Contact Jason Joines:
By Phone
By Mail
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, North Carolina
27205