Get to Know The Oregon Zoo's Sara Hottman

PORTLAND, OR — We spoke with Sara Hottman, who handles strategic communications for the Oregon Zoo. She's previously worked for the Gresham Outlook, The Oregonian and the office of Charlie Hales, the Mayor of Portland. She talked to us about her favorite part of fall in Portland and her favorite animal at the Oregon Zoo, among other topics.

Patch: You work in strategic communications for the Oregon Zoo. Do you focus more on the long-term goals of the zoo?

Sara Hottman: Mine is a new position in the zoo’s communications and marketing division. I’ll work to focus the zoo’s communications efforts making the public and peers aware of its animal welfare efforts and groundbreaking research (e.g. polar bear research that’s helping field scientists learn how climate change will affect bears in the wild); its conservation efforts (e.g. rehabilitating the western pond turtle population); and its efforts to mobilize collective conservation action (e.g. encouraging people to join the zoo’s palm oil campaign). Everyone knows the zoo is fun, but it’s also taking concerted conservation and wildlife rehabilitation action — Oregon-style.

Patch: You previously worked for the mayor of Portland. What's the transition been like for you moving from the mayor's office to the Oregon Zoo?

Sara Hottman: I feel very at home in the lion’s den.

Just kidding! My expertise is political communication, but I’ve found that the need for strategically using available tools and resources to let people know about important agenda items translates to the zoo. Fortunately, Mayor Hales’ agenda was heavily focused on conservation and climate action, so the zoo’s agenda isn’t a huge stretch.

Patch: The mayor of Portland is named Charlie Hales and the owner of Patch is named Charlie Hale. That's not really a question, I just thought that was fun.

Sara Hottman: No way! There’s a writer for a Canadian blog, EcoReport, named Roy Hales. Put them all together and you’ve got something.

Patch: What's your favorite animal at the Oregon Zoo?

Sara Hottman: That’s a tough one. Nora, the polar bear cub, is totally adorable. But the rhino, Zuri, likes me (I give a mean ear rub). So I may have to go with rhinos — for the time being.

Patch: How long have you lived in Portland?

Sara Hottman: Five years. In that time, I’ve worked for the Gresham Outlook, The Oregonian, the mayor’s office, and now the zoo.

Patch: What's your favorite thing about Portland in the fall?

Sara Hottman: The sunny-but-chilly weather paired with changing leaves. The scenery is stunning whether you’re on a sidewalk or hiking trail, and we get to bust out our Oregonian uniform: fleece.

Follow Sara Hottman on Twitter and check out The Oregon Zoo's Facebook page, where super cute animal videos appear on a regular basis.

Photo via Sara Hottman on Twitter