Salisbury’s New Zoo Director

Ralph Piland – Salisbury’s New Zoo Director

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to announce that Ralph Piland has accepted the City’s offer to become the new Director of the Salisbury Zoological Park. Mr. Piland brings a unique background in animal care, administrative management, and park operations. 

Starting in the late 1970’s as a Senior Keeper in Columbia South Carolina, Mr. Piland has worked in various capacities with several zoological facilities. He worked at the Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo) for over 20 years where he eventually became the Director of Operations. Since then, Mr. Piland has worked with the Arizona Zoological Society (Phoenix Zoo) where he started as the Deputy Director and later became the Vice President and Director of Operations and Capital Plan Implementation as well as the University of Phoenix where he is an Associate Faculty member teaching strategic management. He has extensive experience interacting with Boards of Trustees, as well as local, county, and state level officials. He also has spent more than 20 years working with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program where he has assisted in numerous research efforts including support for the evaluation of the impact of oil spill pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Acting Director of Public Works, Amanda Pollack, said, “We are also excited to welcome Ralph Piland to the City of Salisbury and look forward to the leadership and experience that he will bring to the Zoo. The City is very appreciative to Ann Konopik, the Zoo Curator, for serving as the Interim Zoo Director for the past few months. Ann is one of the Zoo’s best assets! ” Mr. Piland spent his first day at the Salisbury Zoo on Monday, July 29, 2013.