Bob Lamb
Bob is Executive Director of Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), the non-profit partner of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for 58 years. FONZ is a nonprofit organization overseen by a 23-member Board of Directors. As the Zoo’s support organization, FONZ exists to advance the zoo and its work. It does so both financially and programmatically. It is the only non-profit partnership of its kind within the Smithsonian.
FONZ operates or oversees all visitor-oriented operations at the zoo: concessions (retail, parking, guest services, and food), education programs, membership, special events, and volunteer training and management. FONZ supports the zoo, in both of its locations, at Connecticut Avenue and at the Zoo’s research facility, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, in Front Royal, Virginia.
As Executive Director, Bob guides and directs the operations of a fulltime salaried staff of 55, and a part time seasonal staff of 200, assisting more than 2 million guests annually.
Bob previously served in a variety of senior management positions at the U.S. Department of the Interior, chiefly as the Interior Department’s Budget Officer during both Republican and Democratic Administrations. He was awarded five Presidential awards for senior level, career achievements, and received the Department’s Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service awards.
Bob holds a BA degree from the University of Dayton, a Master’s from Johns Hopkins University, and a MBA from George Washington University.
Bob is married to Amy Lamb, and has two grown children, Rob and Katherine, and four grandchildren.
Bob and a group of Girl Scouts wearing panda party hats enjoy the Smithsonian National Zoo’s first birthday celebration for Bao-Bao, the Zoo's world famous panda cub.
Just an update (August 5, 2015). I’m stepping down soon from my work with the nonprofit support organization at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. I have been the Executive Director of the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) for the last nine years. Our pandas are known around the world, and working with the only nonprofit aligned with any of the museums in the Smithsonian has been great. We were organized almost 60 years ago from neighbors who found the condition of the zoo to be in deplorable condition. They got organized, pitched in, and received Congressional and Smithsonian permission to have a nonprofit at the zoo…one of the first nonprofits in Washington, DC.
As I phase out of my current job, here’s a better email address to use: [email protected] in CL communications.
As I phase out of my current job, here’s a better email address to use: [email protected] in CL communications.
On June 9, 2017, Bob sent this note with information about his joining the Marianists after graduating from Latin.
When I joined the SM, the first year was a year of solitude at a SM NOVITIATE property in upper New York State, with work, study and prayer. Mail from family members only was held back and occasionally dispensed. Family was able to visit once during the year. There we took our first vows of poverty, chastity, obedience. We then went to another less cloistered facility in Dayton for a year, then allowed on campus at the University of Dayton to complete our degrees. I reentered "the world" as a teaching Brother at Chaminade High School in Dayton. I was in the order for 9 years... I received a great education, worked with some tremendous faculty, students, and families.
On the downside, it effectively cut off my Cleveland and CL roots. When I left the Order in 1971, I headed to Washington and a long and fulfilling career in government and nonprofit leadership.
I think I would have loved Maldoon's! I'm glad the class of 62 has hung together so well and I enjoy hearing of everyone's exploits!
Best regards to you and all,
Bob
1/12/2018
Bob Writes -
I"m so sorry I can’t join you in Cleveland for the 55th year reunion! Can we really be that old?
I figured out the the other day that I’ve worked (like you) for over 50 years. Mine has been in a variety of areas: education (Marianist Teacher at Chaminade High School, Dayton), a Federal Government management career at Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and the Department of the Interior, and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization with the Smithsonian Institution. My health’s been good….just a recent battle with prostate cancer, the treatment of which is due to end soon and hopefully successfully. My wife Amy is in good health and our two children are both married and each have two children, one family here in Bethesda, Md. and the other in Los Angeles.
I just wanted to wish you all a great 55th celebration….we all have so much to be thankful for! Have a great time!
Best wishes and kind regards,
Bob Lamb
When I joined the SM, the first year was a year of solitude at a SM NOVITIATE property in upper New York State, with work, study and prayer. Mail from family members only was held back and occasionally dispensed. Family was able to visit once during the year. There we took our first vows of poverty, chastity, obedience. We then went to another less cloistered facility in Dayton for a year, then allowed on campus at the University of Dayton to complete our degrees. I reentered "the world" as a teaching Brother at Chaminade High School in Dayton. I was in the order for 9 years... I received a great education, worked with some tremendous faculty, students, and families.
On the downside, it effectively cut off my Cleveland and CL roots. When I left the Order in 1971, I headed to Washington and a long and fulfilling career in government and nonprofit leadership.
I think I would have loved Maldoon's! I'm glad the class of 62 has hung together so well and I enjoy hearing of everyone's exploits!
Best regards to you and all,
Bob
1/12/2018
Bob Writes -
I"m so sorry I can’t join you in Cleveland for the 55th year reunion! Can we really be that old?
I figured out the the other day that I’ve worked (like you) for over 50 years. Mine has been in a variety of areas: education (Marianist Teacher at Chaminade High School, Dayton), a Federal Government management career at Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and the Department of the Interior, and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization with the Smithsonian Institution. My health’s been good….just a recent battle with prostate cancer, the treatment of which is due to end soon and hopefully successfully. My wife Amy is in good health and our two children are both married and each have two children, one family here in Bethesda, Md. and the other in Los Angeles.
I just wanted to wish you all a great 55th celebration….we all have so much to be thankful for! Have a great time!
Best wishes and kind regards,
Bob Lamb