Thomas Schmid has worked in the aquarium, zoo, museum and marine park community for more than 30 years. In 2021, he was recruited to help turn around the Columbus Zoo, one of the most iconic zoos in North America. Following a difficult few years, he was tasked with rebuilding the zoo’s credibility. He earned back its Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, which the zoo achieved in March 2023, and regained the trust of the Central Ohio community, which provides the zoo with public funding.
Since then, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and ‘The Wilds’, the zoo’s wildlife conservation centre, have announced more than $50 million in projects. The zoo is investing approximately $32.5m of the funds in a redevelopment of its North America region, while the rest of the $50m will go towards improving animal wellbeing, enhancing visitor experiences, and adding new lodging options. The updated North America region will include new habitats for the Mexican wolf, bald eagle, black bear, North American river otter and trumpeter swan.
“These projects – along with other enhancements focused on animal wellbeing – are modernizing our nearly 100-year-old zoo, providing more security for our guests, and improving the lives of our animals,” said Schmid, at the time of the announcement.
In 1999, Schmid was named CEO of the Texas State Aquarium, making him, at the time, the youngest aquarium director in the nation. During his tenure there, he grew the modest aquarium into the seventh largest in the US by 2018. Over the course of his career, he has served in leadership roles on trade associations, including eight years on the AZA board of directors (with a stint as chair of the board), six years on the World Association of Zoos and Aquarium (WAZA) council, and six years on the Texas Travel Association Board.
He has also been part of the steering committee of the International Aquarium Congress, the executive committee of the Coastal America Learning Center Network, and a board member for Animals, Inc. a for-profit start-up developed by AZA.