It’s a huge year at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, with through-the-roof staff excitement for the new Giraffe Center opening in the coming months, new Zoo leadership and strategic focuses, and the Zoo’s 100th anniversary. Now, there’s even more enthusiasm in the mountain air.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo just received another accolade: the first zoo ever to earn back-to-back completely clean reports of inspection from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)!
That means, out of the intense three-day review of everything at the Zoo from elephant care management programs to staff culture, to medicine management at the veterinary hospital, and so much more, not a single concern was included in the report.
In 2021, CMZoo earned its first completely clean report, making it only the fourth organization to do so since accreditations began in 1974. This is the first time an organization has received two completely clean reports back-to-back.
“I am truly blessed and honored to be part of this incredible team,” Dave Ruhl, President & CEO at CMZoo, says. “Inspectors from some of the most respected zoos in the country spent three days looking closely at everything we do, and their feedback was filled with praise for our people, our culture, and the work happening across CMZoo. I could not be prouder of this team!”
In the zoo and aquarium profession, AZA accreditation is considered the gold standard. Approximately 10 percent of the nearly 2,150 animal exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture are AZA accredited.
During the Zoo’s last clean inspection, Dave played a leadership role as vice president of operations. Having stepped in as president & CEO in June 2026, he saw the inspection from a new seat, and gives credit to Jeff Halter, chief operating officer, Justin Weis, vice president of facility operations, and the incredible work from every department at the Zoo.
“As the Zoo’s new CEO, I recognize both the responsibility and the privilege of building on the strong foundation that brought us here,” Dave says. “My commitment is to listen to our people, bring them together around a shared vision, and make sure the expertise and passion throughout this organization continue to drive our future. CMZoo is great because our people are great, and I hope our community feels incredibly proud to call CMZoo their Zoo.”
Quotes from The AZA Accreditation Commission Inspectors
“[CMZoo’s] approach to animal wellbeing represents a thoughtful and innovative model that is helping shape the future of modern zoological management. By intentionally grounding animal care decisions in each species’ natural history and behavioral ecology, the program is influencing how enrichment, training, and habitat design are developed and evaluated.
The team’s willingness to thoughtfully test new ideas and embrace calculated risks has resulted in meaningful innovations that enhance animal welfare. Equally commendable is their culture of continuous learning, openly evaluating outcomes, acknowledging when an approach does not achieve the intended results, and adapting based on evidence. This commitment to reflection, flexibility, and scientific inquiry fosters continual improvement and serves as a model for the profession.”
“The organization’s new CEO and COO, Dave Ruhl and Jeff Halter, are to be commended for their collaborative leadership style and commitment to ensuring that every employee has a voice. Their emphasis on staff engagement, inclusion, and wellbeing has created a culture where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to the organization’s success.
Although new to the roles, their leadership has already generated a renewed sense of optimism and excitement about the future of the Zoo. The visiting team was particularly impressed by the duo’s inclusive approach to the development of the institution’s Strategic Plan and Master Plan. By actively engaging employees throughout the planning process, they will foster a sense of shared ownership and investment in the Zoo’s future. This transparent and collaborative approach has strengthened staff confidence and reinforced a culture in which employees feel they are meaningful contributors to the organization’s long-term vision.”
About the Inspection and Accreditation
To maintain accreditation with AZA organizations must apply and be inspected every five years. CMZoo has been consistently accredited since 1983. The accreditation process includes a lengthy application and a multi-day on-site inspection by the Accreditation Commission, a team of accomplished zoo and aquarium professionals. The Accreditation Commission inspected hundreds of standards during their on-site review of the Zoo.
According to AZA, “Accreditation is a process by which a program, organization, or institution is evaluated by recognized experts in the profession, and is measured against the established standards and best practices of that profession. Overseeing this process in AZA is the Accreditation Commission – a group of sixteen experienced and trained experts in operations, animal welfare and husbandry, and veterinary medicine. These experts are sworn to maintain complete impartiality in their judgments and to thoroughly examine each zoo or aquarium that applies for AZA accreditation to determine if AZA standards are being met. Only those zoos and aquariums that earn AZA accreditation can become members of AZA.”
During accreditation inspections and through continuous monitoring between inspections, AZA’s rigorous, scientifically based and publicly-available standards examine the zoo or aquarium’s entire operation, including animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education, guest services, physical facilities, safety, staffing, finance, master and strategic planning, and governing body.
In September, the report will be presented at a hearing, when the Zoo will receive the official accreditation. The Zoo plans to celebrate with the community when that milestone is achieved.
About the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 12 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.
