The Akron Zoo is no longer a diamond in the rough since the leadership of Pat Simmons, who has been president and chief executive officer since 1985.Simmons started a new elected position as chairwoman of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Saturday. The nonprofit organization accredits zoos and aquariums.She won’t be leaving the Akron Zoo but will have an opportunity to represent the zoo on a national and international level. The position is said to be the pinnacle of positions in the association, which has more than 6,000 members and is run by a 13-member board.Simmons will be involved in every aspect of the national organization, including accreditation, ethics, professional development, conservation education, government affairs and wildlife conservation.It’s an executive leadership position, not a paid position.“I am beyond thrilled. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Simmons said. “And quite frankly, to have [the] little Akron Zoo recognized at this level is almost like a Cinderella story. It truly is amazing. So many of the association’s leadership have come from San Diego, New York, Chicago zoos, from really big cities, big markets and big impact places. We’re in with the big boys.”The association’s president and chief executive, Jim Maddy, said Simmons was elected because her peers recognized her as an outstanding leader in the zoo and aquarium profession. He said the association will benefit from her “extensive experience, her thoughtful approach and her deep commitment to the mission of the association.”The association has a staff of 26 people and is headquartered in Silver Spring, Md.“To have Akron being recognized as a turnaround zoo and appreciated by our members and our colleagues who elected me thrills me to no end,” Simmons said. “It means I’m doing something right for our community and I’m really happy about that.” She is now headed to Prague, the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, then will meet with the leader of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Germany, that country’s counterpart to the American association.“I will be able to not only feature our personal institution, but to highlight it in literally a global arena,” Simmons said. “It’s pretty nice I can represent the Akron Zoo and our community to people from all over the world.”There are only 225 accredited zoos and aquariums in the United States, although more than 2,000 people or companies have licenses to exhibit animals.Since only 10 percent of all licensed zoo exhibitors are accredited by the association, Simmons said, membership is very elite and difficult to achieve. “Being accredited by the association is like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval,” she said. “You know that we aren’t running a roadside zoo. You know we are not abusing our animals. You know we have good education programs and we have quality staff and well-educated staff, whereas a lot of other places may not have that, so it’s a great way for visitors to look for that seal and know that’s a very high-quality place to visit.”The Akron Zoo averages 315,000 visitors annually, said marketing director David Barnhardt, whose father, Richard, founded the zoo in 1952.He has known Simmons most of his life and has worked with her for 17 years. He called her a tenacious leader.“Her leadership has been amazing at the zoo. Even when I started working here in high school and college, when the zoo was very different, she would stand up and look at the staff and say, ‘We’re going to build a great zoo right here in Akron.’ She led by example and completely turned the zoo around.”Simmons said she is proudest of the ability to develop the zoo into something the community had requested, but will always strive to do better. “They wanted a high-quality zoo where they could see animals up close to have a good experience for them and their families. With their help and support and faith in us ,we’ve been able to turn it around to what I feel is a very high-quality boutique zoo. It is a very personal, friendly and unique experience,” Simmons said.Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.