New Directors of Wildlife, Marketing & Operations
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has recently brought on Jim Nemet as Director of Wildlife, Christine Coolick as Director of Marketing, and Jerry Cope as Director of Operations.
Jim Nemet began as Director of Wildlife in January 2021, bringing a wealth of animal-training and programming experience to the Museum. For more than 20 years, Nemet served in the Education Department at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, most recently as Education Manager. While at the zoo, he developed a variety of public programming, oversaw animal training, managed the ambassador animal collection, and supervised the staff who cared for the animals. Previously, he worked at Sea Life Park in Honolulu, Hawaii, and SeaWorld Cleveland. Nemet holds a Business Administration degree from Tiffin University.
Nemet was selected for his enthusiasm and passion for wildlife and years of working with animals in human care, which align with the Museum’s efforts to provide public education while caring for and rehabilitating animals in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank.
Also joining the Museum in January is Christine Coolick, who was hired as Director of Marketing. Coolick’s 20 years of communications experience include serving for seven years as Director of Marketing and Communications at the Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Previously, she oversaw editorial services in the central communications office at the university, and worked as a managing editor at Cleveland Clinic. Coolick has also coordinated comprehensive marketing campaigns as a consultant for nonprofits, startups, and organizations across the region. Her work has won multiple national awards for publications and events. Coolick graduated with a degree in Speech Communication from Miami University. She will oversee all aspects of the Museum’s strategic marketing efforts, including its exhibit and events promotions, creative services, website, social media, video production, advertising, and media relations.
Earlier in 2020, the Museum brought on Jerry Cope as Director of Operations. For more than three decades, Cope worked as a distribution and operations specialist, providing management coordination for companies including Cleveland Clinic, GM, Disney, Kroger Foods, Clorox, JoAnn Fabrics, Pepsi, and Little Tykes. Cope is a graduate of Mount Union College. At the Museum, Cope provides daily operational management for Exploration: A Zack Bruell Restaurant and the areas of protection services, facilities, and housekeeping. Cope also oversees the maintenance of programming and operations while the Museum undergoes its planned phases of renovation and expansion.
Nemet, Coolick, and Cope will be key members of the Museum’s team as it continues its ongoing Transformation Project. This project seeks not only to transform the Museum’s physical campus on Wade Oval but also to reimagine the visitor experience.