Inspectors of the Year
We owe a debt of gratitude to every volunteer Accreditation Inspector and to our member zoos and aquariums that encourage them to participate. Many thanks to all of the Accreditation Inspectors who served during the most recent accreditation cycle.
Among them are many talented individuals who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty -- our Accreditation Inspectors of the Year.
The Inspector of the Year Award
This award, first presented in 2003, originated as a means of recognizing AZA Accreditation Inspectors who, throughout their years of service, have donated their time to a large number of inspections, and/or whose work has consistently been of exceptional quality. The award is presented annually to three individuals whose selection is based on those criteria.
Serving as an accreditation inspector is a difficult task and is critically important to the integrity of the accreditation process. The enormous amount of time and effort required in preparing for and performing these inspections is astronomical. The Accreditation Commission, and AZA, are sincerely thankful for the contribution of time and expertise that all of our inspectors make to the success of our accreditation process.
Here are AZA's Inspectors of the Year for 2024:
Operations: Jeff Ettling, PhD
Jeff Ettling, PhD, President & CEO, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Jeff’s zoo career began 37 years ago as a reptile 
keeper at the Saint Louis Zoo. In 1991, he moved to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas where he served as Curator of Herpetology. Jeff returned to the Saint Louis Zoo in 1995 as Associate Curator of Herpetology and Aquatics and was promoted to Curator in March 1996, a position he held for 21 years. He has also served as Director for both the Center for Conservation in Western Asia and the Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation at the Saint Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute. From 2017-2022 Jeff served as President & CEO of the Sedgwick County Zoo. Today, he is the President & CEO of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
Jeff has traveled to Armenia annually over the past twenty years to study the spatial ecology, genetic diversity, and population structure of the Armenian mountain viper, which was the focus of his PhD dissertation. This work has helped increase existing protected areas for the species and establish new ones.
Throughout his career, Jeff has been an active participant in AZA and served as Chair of the Snake Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and the Honors and Awards Committee. Additionally, Jeff was Co-Chair of the Eastern Massasauga SSP and a member of the Wildlife Conservation Committee. He has been an accreditation inspector since 1998, participating in over twenty inspections. His strengths as an inspector include his experience and background in animal husbandry, conservation, and zoological operations.
Animal Welfare, Care and Management: Norah Fletchall
Norah Fletchall, Interim VP of Animal Care, Great Plains Zoo
Norahbegan her zoo career at the St. Louis Zoo after receiving a Bachelor’s of Science degree in AnimalSciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Grand Valley State University. She spent more than twenty years at John Ball Zoo before moving to the Indianapolis Zoo where she advanced through various positions overseeing both mission-focused and revenue-generating divisions. Her time at Indianapolis Zoo culminated in her role as Chief Operating Officer. In 2017, Norah was appointed President/CEO of the Buffalo Zoo where she led a transformation that included renovation of the historic reptile house, completion of a masterplan and strategic plan, and achievement of accreditation. Norah currently serves as Interim Vice President of Animal Care at the Great Plains Zoo, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she is leading the animal care team through organizational changes and mentoring the animal care leadership team.
Norah has been an active member of AZA since 1985 and has served on numerous committees including Government Affairs, Wildlife Conservation and Management (Vice-Chair), Ethics Board (Chair), and the Accreditation Commission (Vice-Chair). She also served on several animal management program committees and was Co-Chair of the Felid TAG and SSP Coordinator for clouded leopards. Norah has served on over twenty accreditation inspections since 1996, channeling her passion for continuous improvement and depth of knowledge across all aspects of animal management and operations. A firm believer in the accreditation process, Norah is a strong advocate of AZA-accreditation and the association’s collective mission to provide exemplary care for animals and secure a bright future for wildlife and wild places.
Veterinary Care: Scott Terrell, DVM
Scott Terrell, DVM, DACVP, Director of Animal and Science Operations, Walt Disney World Resort
Dr. Scott Terrell grew up exploring the wilds of the Everglades in Southern Florida. His passion for the Everglades led to a career focused on working with wild animals. His undergraduate studies centered on Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida. He then received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Florida in 1997. Scott completed a residency in veterinary anatomic pathology and was board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathology in 2001. Scott began his career with the Disney Company in 1999 as a zoo and aquatic animal pathologist. Since 1999, Scott has had the opportunity to lead a number of teams within the Disney Company. Currently, he serves as the Director of Animal and Science Operations for Walt Disney World Resort.
Scott is an active participant in AZA. From 2019-2021, Scott had the honor of leading AZA’s Animal Welfare Task Force which led to the creation of AZA’s Strategic Framework for the Wellbeing of Animals and subsequently the Guiding Principles for Animal Wellbeing. Scott has been an accreditation inspector since 2018 and currently serves on the Accreditation Commission.