Satch Krantz began his career at Riverbanks in 1973 and has served as its executive director since 1976, making him one of the longest serving zoo directors in the nation.

During his career, Krantz has served as president of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Krantz is one of only three American zoo directors that has served as president of both of these organizations. He is currently slated to once again serve as AZA president in 2008, making him the first zoo director to serve two presidential terms since WWII.

Krantz has been heavily involved in the community Riverbanks serves. He is a past president of the board of Palmetto Richland Children's Hospital and the Columbia Rotary Club. He has also served as president of the Clemson University Board of Visitors and the University of South Carolina University Associates and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the River Alliance, the Children’s Hospital and the AZA.

In 1995 he received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Regional Cooperation from the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and in 2002 he was given the International Ambassador of the Year Award by the Committee of 100. He received the Global Vision Award by the World Affairs Council in 2005.

Throughout his career, Krantz has traveled extensively, including thirteen safaris to six different African countries. In February 2002, he walked 120 miles across Tsavo National Park in Kenya, which was only the second time anyone had ever walked the Park's entire length.

Krantz is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and a graduate of Clemson University. He and his wife Becky are the proud parents of two grown sons.

The Riverbanks Park Commission, the governing authority of the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District, is proud to announce Mr. Lloyd Liles as the newly elected chair of the Commission.

Liles, a long-time supporter of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, has served as a member of the Commission since November 2004. Prior to filling a seat on the Commission, Liles served two terms as a board member for the Riverbanks Society.

During his two-year term, Liles is responsible for guiding the Commission when making decisions regarding the improvement, maintenance, staffing and operations of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Liles brings a wide-range of experience to this position. For several years Liles worked as an executive at Southern Bell in both North and South Carolina. Since leaving Southern Bell, Liles has remained active in business across several industries including automobile, hotel and real estate.

Liles has also been involved in various civic and social organizations throughout the state serving as the president of the Charleston United Fund and as president of the South Carolina Association of United Funds. In addition, he has performed as an officer and as a member of the board of directors for the Chambers of Commerce in Anderson, Charleston, Greenville and Columbia as well as the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

A native of Middlesex, North Carolina, Liles is a graduate of the University of North Carolina. In his spare time, Liles enjoys traveling internationally, visiting other zoos and playing golf.

Robert “Bob” Davidson, a retired trust banker and certified financial planner, served South Carolina for more than twenty years – working with both South Carolina National Bank and Wachovia in their wealth management divisions.

A very active member in the community, Bob has previously served as a board member of the Historic Columbia Foundation, the South Carolina State Museum Foundation, Hammond School, South Carolina Archives and History Foundation, and the University South Carolina College of Liberal Arts National Advisory Council.
 
A member of the Riverbanks Society’s board since 2005, Bob is serving his second consecutive term.

Bob holds a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also studied at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.

Bob and his wife Jane are both natives of North Carolina and have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. In his spare time, Bob enjoys assisting charities with estate planning, playing tennis, traveling and most of all spending time with his grandchildren.