National zoo consultant based in St. Pete adds three clients

Felis Consulting, a St. Petersburg company that specializes in working with small zoos and aquariums, says it brought in record revenue in 2023 and will have three new clients in 2024.

Headed by zoo designer Stacey Ludlum, Felis Consulting says it offers master planning, strategy, business planning and concept design.

Courtesy image

Ludlum says that Felis Consulting's revenues grew in 2023 even though Felis Consulting's success "is defined by mission achievement rather than by earned revenues." The firm experienced more than 120% growth in revenue since 2019, says Ludlum, who did not disclose dollar amounts.

"I keep hearing that I should grow," says Ludlum in a news release. "Add employees. Take on more projects. But doing that means losing what makes Felis special. I have very low overhead, so I can keep my fees low."

Ludlum says being "a single-woman shop means I can only take on a limited number of clients at any time." That ensures the highest quality of consulting possible, says Ludlum.

Ludlum says she has worked with zoos for more than 20 years, including large clients and multibillion-dollar projects, prior to founding Felis Consulting. Ludlum says she blends an understanding of animal behavior with the artistry of landscape architecture.

Felis Consulting's says previous and ongoing clients include three Florida institutions: the Naples Zoo, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, and Pinecrest Gardens in the Miami area. The three new clients joining Felis Consulting's book of business are the Texas Zoo in Victoria, Texas; Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis, New Mexico; and Tilden Environmental Education Center in Berkeley, California.

The consulting firm says it is also celebrating its five-year anniversary.