Leadership

“Trey” Ernest Elfer is a lifelong New Orleanian, and Director of Facilities at The Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. After working in trades and facilities for several years, I found my true calling working in ‘zoological facilities’ at the Audubon Aquarium. For over 17 years – 7 of these as Director of Facilities – this unique work experience has enabled him to utilize his passion for education, support of the trades, and to experience unique problem-solving opportunities while assuring the safety and wellbeing of the precious animals in our care. He was fortunate to have been informed about the AZFA 4 years ago and ever since has been so grateful to get to know the individuals that make up this amazing group of dedicated professionals. He is constantly inspired by the talents, resourcefulness, and abilities of these fine folks that he is proud to call colleagues and friends.

Tony James has been with the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden since 1999 where he made his start as a seasonal employee in the Horticulture program. In his ten years on the Horticulture team, Tony worked his way up to the role of Project Manager. Looking to grow within the Zoo, Tony accepted a position in the Facilities Department in 2011 as the Facilities Project Manager. In this role, Tony supervised all new construction projects. In 2015, Tony was promoted to Facilities Manager and was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the Maintenance team while still staying involved with construction projects. Tony was promoted most recently in January of 2017 to Director of Facilities, allowing him to take on a more visionary role while still managing the day-to-day activities of the team and construction projects. Throughout Tony’s career one of his passions has become workforce development. He has played an integral role in the Zoo’s first ever high school internship program for the Maintenance department. He has a vision to grow this program to make workforce development a top priority at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Outside of the Zoo, Tony enjoys spending time with his family whether it’s watching his kids play sports or hanging out at his family’s farm.

John Borgmeyer has been with the Woodland Park Zoo full time since 2007, working in a variety of roles including Exhibit Technician, WildLights Installation Coordinator, and Exhibits Manager. He currently holds the position of Sr. Manager of Exhibits & Maintenance (interim). John and his team focus on providing exceptional animal welfare in naturalistic exhibits by mimicking natural habitats whenever possible, combining the increasing use of data and keeper collaboration with specialized materials and artistic expertise to result in sustainable and enriching experiences. John holds certificates in both Project Management and Facilities Management from the University of Washington as well as the Facility Management Professional credential from IFMA. Outside of work, John enjoys chasing his nine-year old Black Labrador up mountains, having National Park adventures with his wife, and rooting for his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, keep him on his toes.

Earle Blomberg is the Facilities Maintenance Lead at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, a division of Metro Parks Tacoma. He has worked at Trek for over 38 years, starting as a seasonal employee while he was in high school. Over the years he has been responsible for all aspects of maintenance and mechanical work throughout the park and is the certified operator for the park's water system. He has designed and overseen the construction of multiple animal holding areas. Earle is a native to the Washington area and has enjoyed running, camping, and hiking in these cascade mountains. Outside of work, Earle spends most of his time with his wife, dogs Yui and Lumen and with his growing granddaughter, 5-year-old Lily.  Earle has been active in AZFA since his first conference in 2006, serving on several committees and as current Treasurer.