Rhode Island Zoological Society
Rhode Island Zoological Society (RIZS) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports and maintains Roger Williams Park Zoo. RIZS works to secure the public and private sector support that the Zoo needs to continue to develop new world-class exhibits, make significant contributions to conservation, and to serve the community as a valuable source of environmental education, recreation, and economic development.
By the mid 1960’s, like so many zoos across the country, Roger Williams Park Zoo was showing visible signs of neglect. One determined individual, Sophie Danforth, recognized that the Zoo was an extremely valuable institution in need of organized assistance. She founded The Society in 1962 to increase public awareness and support for the Zoo, and to raise funds from the private sector. All trustees are fully independent, voting members of the Board. They serve the Society’s mission with no remuneration.
BOARD MEMBERS

PATRICK T. LEBEAU
CHAIR Executive Director, Private Wealth Advisor – Morgan Stanley

NANCY J. ALLEN
VICE CHAIR Community Representative

SANDY COLETTA
VICE CHAIR Community Representative

MARGARET FERGUSON
SECRETARY Community Representative

Maribeth Q. Williamson
TREASURER
Community Representative

MARTHA BOWER
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Community Representative

DOUGLAS CANIGLIA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES CSI DCI Construction, Inc.

CLAIRE CARRABBA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Associate Attorney, Day Pitney LLC

CHERYL COHEN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SARAH DENBY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Community Representative

CINDY ERICKSON
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PAMELA W. HEFFERNAN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LIZ ROLLINS MAURAN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Community Representative

DAMARIS MESSINA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Director of Sales, Aloft Providence Downtown

JOHN IGLIOZZI, ESQ.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

HOWARD MERTEN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Managing Partner Partridge, Snow & Hahn

JOHN J. PALUMBO
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Owner, President & Publisher, RI Monthly Communications, Inc.

STEVEN M. PARENTE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Senior V.P., Director of Retail Banking, Bank RI

DR. KAREN E. SILVA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Department Chairperson of Graduate Business Programs, Johnson & Wales University
Chairman Emeritus
Sophie F. Danforth*
Trustees Emeritus
- Margaret E. Curran, Esq.
- Thomas P. Dimeo
- Jocelin Hamblett
- James S. Harper III, VMD*
- Bradford B. Kopp
- Arthur D. Little
- Nancy G.R. Moger
- Richard Nadeau
- Jane S. Nelson
- Cate M. Roberts
- Philip A. Segal, Jr.*
- Robert F. Stoico
Ex-Officio
- Wendy Nilsson, Superintendent of Parks
Management
- Stacey Johnson, Executive Director, RI Zoological Society and Roger Williams Park Zoo
- Ron Patalano, Deputy Director of Operations
- Dave Pertuso, Chief Administrative Officer
- Danielle Mosteller, Director of Visitor Services
- Amy Roberts, Director of Animal Programs
- Sheri Avery, Director of Human Resources
- Shareen Knowlton, Director of Education
- Tempie Thompson, Director of Development
- Vicki Scharfberg, Director of Marketing & PR
- Lou Perrotti, Director of Conservation Programs