Stacey Ludlum

Stacey Ludlum is a trailblazer in zoo design, having founded Felis Consulting six and a half years ago to tackle the specific challenges faced by small-scale zoological institutions. She focuses on zoo master planning, strategy, business development, and concept design, employing an innovative, holistic, data-driven strategy that emphasises brand experience.

She goes above and beyond for her clients, knowing they often cannot afford to hire more than a single consultant. She approaches projects with a holistic and data-driven perspective, analysing and delivering strategies that address competitive markets, audiences, business planning, fundraising, and even board and leadership strategy — far beyond what design consultants are typically hired for. As a result, Felis Consulting has become a trusted and valued partner and advocate for the smallest voices in the zoo community.

Under Ludlum's leadership, Felis has achieved consecutive years of record revenues in 2023 and 2024 by specialising in a niche within a niche. In six years of operation, Felis' client portfolio includes The Texas Zoo, Naples Zoo, Lake Superior Zoo, Flint RiverQuarium, Abilene Zoo, and 17 others, including the visioning of the world's first true net-zero zoo on Phillip Island in Australia.

Ludlum has developed her business by forming strategic partnerships with business strategists and local architects and engineers, utilising them as subject matter experts to generate additional revenue streams beyond her core services and to better support the small zoo and aquarium community, which often has limited staff and budget resources. Her business acumen has been recognised with a Small Business Excellence nomination by the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber, where she now resides.

Ludlum has long supported zoos and aquariums, sharing her insights and design updates through her well-known and long-standing blog, which has developed to feature case studies of small zoo and aquarium facilities worldwide. She is also involved with ZAA and AZA, serving on committees, speaking at conferences, and participating in continuing education seminars.