Senior Staff

Crista McGee was named Director of Facilities Operations at the North Carolina Zoo in 2019 and in 2024 was named Acting Deputy Director and Chief Facilities Operations Management Officer. She leads an experienced and talented staff covering exhibit design, exterior and interior horticulture, arbor, mechanical/electrical/plumbing, vehicle maintenance, general maintenance/construction and, the Environmental Management System. This team is responsible for the design, planning and maintenance of the North Carolina Zoo’s animal habitats, guest spaces, land management, buildings, motor fleet and art collection that span over 550 acres at the world’s largest Zoo. Before this position, Crista was the Zoo’s Curator of Design from 2017 to 2019 and was an Exhibit Designer on the Zoo’s Exhibit Design staff from 1991 to 2017.

As a member of the Zoo’s Senior Staff, Crista is a member of many planning teams that cover the four Zoo pillars of Animal Welfare, Conservation, Education and Guest Experience. These teams include vision, strategic, sustainability, habitat, interpretive, land management, special exhibit/events, safety and financial planning.

Crista is an Asheboro native and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s School of Interior Architecture. She is involved in the local community, serving on the fundraising board for the City of Asheboro’s Sportsplex, on an advisory panel for community fundraising events and, served as a member of the NC Zoo Society’s Randolph Friends of the Zoo board for 11 years.