By 1808Delaware
After audits revealed that incorrect expenditures and questionable business practices cost the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium more than $630,000, a former chief executive officer has agreed to refund the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Last week, the zoo’s board of directors approved a $400,000 settlement with former CEO Thomas Stalf, which a 2021 forensic audit found he received improperly.
Stalf’s attorney, Rex Elliott, told the Columbus Dispatch that his client agreed to repay the money so that he could move on with his life — but that the zoo was well aware of Stalf’s actions and that officials had made his client a scapegoat.
Elliott’s shared, “Tom Stalf agreed to resolve this matter after the zoo made clear the goal was to pursue every means possible to destroy him. As the zoo’s leader for years, Mr. Stalf’s tireless efforts drastically improved the zoo’s profile nationally and increased revenues by tens of millions of dollars. The zoo made Mr. Stalf a scapegoat even though they knew about and audited every expenditure it now claims was improper. The expenditures at issue passed annual, former audits. Mr. Stalf only agreed to settle this now and pay money he doesn’t owe out of concern for his family and move forward with his life. While it is a high price to pay and completely without merit, it prevents Mr. Stalf from incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and spending years of his life in a legal battle with the zoo. Mr. Stalf hopes to now put this nightmare and all the good he did for the zoo as far into the rear-view mirror as he possibly can.”
The Zoo made agreements with two other former top administrators in January.
