ROYAL OAK, Mich., October 22, 2009 – The Detroit Zoological Society has appointed Margaret (Peg) Tallet to the new position of Chief External Relations Officer to lead the development, marketing, communications and community/government relations departments.

Tallet joins the Society with over 30 years of experience in development for nonprofit and cultural institutions.  Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Institutional Advancement at The Henry Ford and, prior to that, owned her own strategic consulting firm.  She has also held positions as President of the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Vice President at Anthony M. Franco Public Relations and Associate Director of Development for the Detroit Institute of Arts.

“Peg is accomplished, dynamic and incredibly creative and a terrific addition to an already great team,” said Ron Kagan, Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director/CEO.

Tallet graduated magna cum laude with a master’s degree in business and a concentration in arts administration from State University of New York at Binghamton.  She also has a bachelor’s degree in community organization from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind.

Tallet participates on boards and committees for many community organizations, including the Southeast Michigan Cultural Coalition, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Detroit Athletic Club, Karmanos Cancer Center, AIDS Partnership Michigan, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan and Belle Isle Women’s Committee.

A native of Binghamton, N.Y., Tallet lives in Pleasant Ridge with her husband, Peter.

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. through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August).  Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; 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. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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