"It's like a zoo in there!"That's what a lot of reporters tell me about their war rooms, where scanners, radios, TVs, computers and ringing phones compete for their attention. Well, I guess that experience must have helped Richard Molchany, a former vice president of operations at The Morning Call. After a six month national search, he's the Lehigh Valley Zoo's new President/CEO.
A lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley, Molchany replaces Stacey Johnson, who left in June to become President/CEO of The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert, California.
Molchany, 51, said the Zoo’s emphasis on “Smart Fun” resonates with him. “The Lehigh Valley Zoo should be as broad an attraction as possible,” he said. “We want to reach all the schools and play an integral part of the education process while being an appealing destination for parents, grandparents and families.”
Molchany is planning a new exhibit for an endangered species - the local reporter, which he'll keep right by the wolves. He plans on breeding a few of them and starting a newspaper.
He's a graduate of Kutztown University and active with many non-profit organizations including the Allentown Boys & Girls Club. An avid sports fan, he has coached and directed a variety of local youth sports programs.
Gregg Marzano, interim board president of the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society, said, “Molchany’s talent and experience will provide us with the expertise and skills we need to continue to grow and support the Zoo well into the future.”