MACPA members go behind the scenes at the Maryland Zoo for a unique look at financial strategy, risk management, and the power of professional connections.

Professional learning doesn't always happen in a classroom. Sometimes, the most valuable insights come from stepping inside another organization, seeing its challenges firsthand, and connecting with the professionals navigating them every day.

That's the idea behind a different kind of MACPA learning experience, one that brings members together in unexpected places to explore real-world business challenges, exchange perspectives, and build relationships across the accounting and finance profession.

The occasion was the MACPA’s Oct. 6 “Behind the Exhibit” event at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, an innovative CPE experience that offered members a behind-the-scenes look at the financial and operational decisions involved in bringing the Zoo’s newest exhibit to life.

→ Check out more photos from the event.

Presented in collaboration with Financial Executives International’s Baltimore chapter, the event brought accounting and finance professionals together in the Zoo’s historic Mansion House for an afternoon of networking, learning, and exploration.

The centerpiece was a panel discussion featuring Maryland Zoo President and CEO J. Kirby Fowler Jr.; Deputy CFO Brina Zinter, CPA, MST; and Christie Stravino, CPA, MS, a partner with Cohen & Co. and a member of the Zoo's Board of Directors.

Together, they offered a candid look at the financial strategy behind the Zoo’s new Red Panda exhibit, exploring the budgeting, risk management, collaboration, and unexpected challenges involved in transforming an ambitious vision into reality.

The conversation offered valuable lessons that extend well beyond the Zoo’s grounds. From navigating complex capital projects to balancing financial constraints with organizational goals, the panel demonstrated how sound financial leadership, strategic thinking, and collaboration can turn big ideas into successful outcomes.

And because this wasn’t your typical CPE program, the learning didn’t end with the panel discussion. Attendees also enjoyed a special conversation with a zookeeper at the new Red Panda exhibit, offering an up-close look at the animals and their new home.

For MACPA CEO Rebekah Olson, the event represented something bigger: an opportunity to rethink what professional education can look like.

“We’re challenging ourselves to think differently about how we bring our members together to learn,” Olson said. “The most powerful learning experiences don’t always happen in a conference room. Sometimes they happen when we step outside our usual environments, explore new perspectives, and connect with people who are solving complex problems in creative ways. That’s what made this event so special. It’s a great example of how CPE can be insightful, engaging, and genuinely memorable.”

The event also reinforced the importance of community and connections in an increasingly complex profession. Members had opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, expand their professional networks, and learn from leaders whose experiences offered fresh perspectives on familiar business challenges.

Special thanks go to the Maryland Zoo for hosting, FEI Baltimore for collaborating, event sponsor Frost Law, and the panelists who shared their experiences and insights.

Help us create more experiences like this!
Some of the best learning opportunities are found in the organizations and experiences that make our professional community unique. Do you have an idea for a future behind-the-scenes event? Perhaps your organization has an interesting story to share, a unique location to showcase, or valuable insights that fellow members could learn from.

We'd love to hear from you! Share your ideas at team@macpa.org and help us create more opportunities to learn, connect, and build community together.