[Columbia, SC] - In elections that were held last month, Riverbanks Executive Director Satch Krantz was named vice president of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA), a position that indicates Krantz will be president in 2007-08. When that happens, Krantz will become the first person to hold the presidential office twice since the AZA was established as an independent organization.

"We feel very strongly that zoos have a commitment not only to animal care, education and conserving nature in our own backyards, but also to contributing to a greater national awareness of issues pertaining to animal welfare, conservation and research. The AZA is an enormous asset to zoos nationwide, and we're thrilled to be able to lend one of Riverbanks' biggest assets, our executive director, to help in its mission," said Ed Diebold, director of animal collections at Riverbanks.

Krantz has been at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden for 32 years, 29 of which he has served as executive director. During his tenure, Krantz has served on the AZA board two other times. One of those terms led to his becoming AZA president in 1988-89. The AZA's board structure includes a three-year term as a board member, at which time a member can be nominated to run for the office of vice president. Accepting the vice presidency is an additional four-year commitment as the incoming vice president then moves on to become the president-elect followed by president and then past-president.

The AZA is the accrediting body for zoos and aquariums across the United States and has established the professional standards that zoos like Riverbanks maintain year after year. Two hundred-eleven zoos and aquariums in the United States are members of the AZA with only 78 being larger metropolitan institutions like Riverbanks Zoo & Garden.

Krantz will serve with other leaders in the field including Beth Stevens with Disney's Animal Kingdom, Mary Healy with the Sacramento Zoo, Jackson Andrews with the Tennessee Aquarium, Craig Dinsmore with Utah's Hogle Zoo and Kathleen Wagner with the Philadelphia Zoo.

Krantz is a graduate of Clemson University and currently serves on the board of directors for the River Alliance and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.