BW
MBA
graduate
Alan
Sironen
'86
faces
unconventional
business
challenges
in
his
changing
workplace
every
day
such
as
how
to
transport
a
giraffe
or
what
type
of
environment
is
most
suitable
for
an
elephant.
Sironen,
the
owner
of
Zoo
Consultants
International,
brings
a
dedicated
passion
for
wildlife
and
over
35
years
of
experience
in
the
zookeeping
field
to
his
worldwide
business.
Making
it
in
the
monkey
business
Proving
that
a
business
degree
is
versatile,
Sironen's
consulting
work
incorporates
BW
MBA
concepts
every
day
as
he
confronts
land
use,
master
planning,
exhibit
design,
review
and
critique
of
blueprints,
construction
and
shop
drawings
for
owners
and
architects,
and
animal
transportation.
Sironen
said,
"The
international
focus
of
my
MBA
program
[at
Baldwin
Wallace]
highlighted
the
critical
importance
of
researching
and
being
sensitive
to
cultural
differences
and
their
impact
in
international
business.
One
of
Zoo
Consultants
International
LLC's
guiding
principles
is
respecting
the
culture,
communities
and
local
environments
that
we
work
in."
Extensive
experience
In
three-and-a-half
decades
with
the
Cleveland
Metroparks
Zoo,
Sironen
served
as
zookeeper,
head
zookeeper,
assistant
general
curator,
curator
of
mammals,
curator
of
mammalogy,
and
curator
of
large
mammals
and
carnivores.
"The
MBA
from
Baldwin
Wallace
was
very
important
in
my
job
as
curator
of
mammals
at
Cleveland
Metroparks
Zoo,"
he
explained.
"The
project
management
course
prepared
me
for
construction
projects
at
Cleveland
Metroparks
Zoo
and
still
helps
me
today
when
assisting
zoos
and
safari
parks
in
their
construction
and
renovation
projects."
Additional
'koala-fications'
Sironen
serves
on
the
board
of
Global
Conservation
Connection
and
is
a
member
of
the
Zoological
Association
of
America
and
the
Association
of
Zoos
and
Aquariums.
Considered
a
leading
expert
in
his
field,
Sironen
recently
partnered
with
USA
Today
to
judge
nominees
for
their
10
Best
Reader's
Choice
Awards
in
Best
Zoo,
Best
Zoo
Exhibit,
Best
Safari
Park
and
Best
Aquarium.
