Cooper Coleman Recruits CFO for East Coast Zoological Foundation
December 15, 2025 – Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has recruited David Lamadrid as the new CFO of East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF), home of the Brevard Zoo and the upcoming Bowen Aquarium. This follows a national search led by Johnny Cooper, founder and CEO of Cooper Coleman. “David is a thoughtful, values-driven leader who understands how to build strong financial systems that support organizational stability and progress,” said Mr. Cooper. “His experience and approach are well aligned with where ECZF is headed, and it has been a privilege to partner with him and the organization on this placement.”
Mr. Lamadrid brings more than 25 years of experience leading financial strategy and operations for organizations navigating growth and change. He has held senior financial leadership roles across multiple sectors and currently serves as a board member and finance committee chair for a non-profit supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs.
Mr. Lamadrid has held senior financial leadership roles including CFO at Profound Research, Accel Research Sites, Tandem Genetics, ARRI Rental, and CytoSorbents Corporation, as well as president and CFO at CLS Holdings, Inc. He has also served as chief executive officer and co-founder of Pure Harvest Group, and began his career as a financial analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Across these positions, he has worked within high-growth clinical research, genetic services, public-company operations, high-end equipment rental, and critical-care medical device settings.
“Throughout my career, I have been drawn to organizations whose products or services improve the lives of people,” Mr. Lamadrid said. “That same value underpins my admiration for the role zoological institutions play in protecting biodiversity and fostering public engagement with the natural world. I have enjoyed a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the environment, which deepens my excitement for this opportunity to serve the ECZF.”
Established in 1986, the East Coast Zoological Foundation operates Brevard Zoo and will soon open the new Aquarium at Port Canaveral, a world-class facility focused on marine conservation. The organization is committed to connecting people with nature and promoting biodiversity through innovative programs, partnerships, and immersive educational experiences.
Chief Philanthropy Officer and COO Searches
This is the third chief-level executive Cooper Coleman has placed at ECZF this year. The firm also helped to recruit Anthony Rivera as chief operating officer of East Coast Zoological Foundation. “Anthony’s wealth of experience in leading world-class attractions, combined with his strategic and operational expertise, makes him the perfect fit to guide ECZF through its next phase of growth,” said Keith Winston, CEO. “As we prepare for the building and operations of our new Aquarium and continue expanding our conservation and education initiatives, his leadership will be essential in strengthening our operations and enhancing the experiences we offer to guests and the community.”
Mr. Rivera, a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in operational strategy, guest experience, and revenue generation, most recently served as COO at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where he developed and implemented a long-term master plan for expansion, revenue growth, and guest engagement.
Cooper Coleman also recently placed Robyn Ducharme as the chief philanthropy officer of ECZF. The search was also led by Mr. Cooper. “Robyn’s track record of scaling development programs and leading high-performing teams makes her the perfect fit to help ECZF achieve its ambitious expansion goals,” said Mr. Cooper. “Her thoughtful approach to philanthropy and deep understanding of mission-driven organizations will be instrumental as ECZF advances its campaign and deepens its impact on conservation education, animal care, and species survival. The commitment donors and community stakeholders have made to this organization over three decades deserves to be matched with only the best stewardship of their resources. Robyn and her team are poised to deliver on that.”
Related: Cooper Coleman Recruits Chief Development Officer for Rainforest Flow
Founded in 2020, Cooper Coleman is a full-service executive search and consulting firm partnering exclusively with non-profit organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions to drive meaningful growth. Its team moves organizations forward by placing “the right leaders in the right roles at the right time” and helps to strengthen their management and fundraising capacity to amplify their mission and impact.
Bill Coleman is principal and co-founder of Cooper Coleman. He has more than 16 years of leadership experience throughout the social sector. He partnered with his father-in-law, William B. Coleman, to establish Cooper Coleman as a firm that “prioritizes making the essential services of executive search accessible to organizations across the social sector, knowing the transformational impact having the right leaders in the right roles can have on an organization and its mission,” the firm said. Mr. Coleman has more than 25 years’ experience in retained executive search, including leading his own firm, Coleman Search Consulting LLC, for more than 10 years until its sale in 2018.
Mr. Cooper has worked with publicly and privately held corporations in the recruitment of C-level operating, finance, human resources, sales/marketing, supply chain, and technology executives. Prior to Cooper Coleman, he founded and led Coleman Search Consulting LLC, for more than 10 years before selling the firm.
Related: Cooper Coleman Recruits CEO for Family Equality
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
