Awards and Recipients
Financial Executives International (FEI) is the premier association for CFO’s and other
senior financial executives in the United States and Canada.
Rena Solano
Lincoln Park Zoo
Rena Solano, CPA is a seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of experience. She has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Lincoln Park Zoo since 2017. As CFO, Rena has overseen all facets of financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, investment portfolio management, debt strategy, insurance and risk oversight, procurement, contract administration, and the zoo’s information technology systems.
Rena has recently been promoted and her new role adds oversight of the Guest Services area of the zoo where she will have a pivotal role in enhancing the visitor experience while continuing to optimize internal operations. Prior to joining the zoo, worked in Plante Moran’s audit practice specializing in serving not-for-profit clients, gaining deep expertise in financial compliance and strategic advisory for mission-driven organizations.
Recognized as a collaborative and a forward-thinking leader, Rena is committed to operational efficiency and innovation to ensure that resources are maximized in support of the zoo’s mission.
Rena holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a member of the AICPA, AZA, CFE, FEI and the Illinois CPA Society.