Fern Prairie woman enjoys ‘amazing animals’ at the Oregon Zoo

Stephanie Cameron has several things to enjoy about her new job – including opportunities to touch an elephant and feed a rhinoceros and two giraffes.

Cameron, of Fern Prairie, has been hired by the Oregon Zoo as the marketing communications manager. She succeeds Jane Hartline, who retired in June.

“The animals are amazing, and I am really enjoying learning about each of them,” Cameron said. “They fascinate me, and I could watch them for hours.

Her job includes overseeing events and design services at the zoo.

“I am responsible for the marketing and communications team, which includes graphic design, photography/videography, marketing and advertising, public relations and web/social media,” Cameron said. “There are many great events and activities to promote in addition to visiting the animals.”

Those events and activities include the zoo’s summer concert series and Zoolights. An exhibit about dinosaurs is expected to return to the zoo in the near future, and there are spaces available for private events.

“There are also many camps, classes, lectures and educational opportunities for children and adults,” Cameron said.

“The team culture is fantastic,” she added. “The employees and volunteers are passionate about what they do, and you can feel it. It is a great environment. My biggest challenge right now is getting up to speed as quickly as possible. There is so much to learn.”

Cameron is a former director of marketing at the Doubletree Hotel Portland. She has nearly 20 years of experience in sales and marketing in the hospitality and tourism industry. Cameron has a bachelor’s degree in leisure services/travel and tourism from Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

She has served on Travel Portland’s convention sales steering committee and chaired a subcommittee for short-term business initiatives for the Portland hospitality community. Cameron has also been involved with initiatives involving sustainability.

“We had a lot of great candidates for the position, but Stephanie’s experience is a perfect fit for the zoo’s vision moving forward,” said Oregon Zoo Director Kim Smith. “Her energetic and creative personality will be a great asset.”

Cameron said she applied for a job at the zoo because she wanted to be involved in meaningful work that promotes species survival and animal conservation.

“I also am thrilled to be a part of such a treasured destination, and with my tourism and hospitality background it still gives me an opportunity to continue to promote tourism for Portland,” she said.