ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 7, 2007 – Rosemary Watkins of Commerce Township has been named Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Zoological Society, replacing the Society’s longtime CFO Cheri Byers who retired in December.  She is responsible for directing the financial management, planning, budgeting, procurement and investment activities of the Society.

Watkins joins the Society from YMCA of Metro Detroit where she served as Controller for four years.  Prior to that, she worked as a controller and firm administrator for HJ Umbaugh & Associates in Indianapolis.  Watkins also served in the United States Army from 1983 to 1990, where she held the positions of transportation/security officer, battalion administration and human resources manager, company executive officer and platoon leader, and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

“We’re very happy to welcome Rosemary to our executive leadership team,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan.  “Her experience in the nonprofit and military sectors and will prove invaluable to us as she assumes the important role of directing the fiscal functions of the Society.”

A native of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Watkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a minor in business management from the University of South Alabama in Mobile.  She also attended Indiana University in Indianapolis where she completed graduate coursework in accounting required to take the CPA exam.  She is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, the American Society of Women Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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