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History Owned and operated by two generations of the Ward family, WTC (established in 1991 as an operating arm of Gerry Ward & Associates) has more than three decades experience creating, developing, managing and improving the results and operations of cultural attraction retail shops. Prior to WTC, Gerry Ward was a visitor services consultant to some of the most preeminent, and largest zoos and aquariums in North America including: the St. Louis Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Park, National Aquarium in Baltimore and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. As an indication of both WTC and the Ward family's commitment to excellence, environmental responsibility and the goals of wildlife conservation, WTC has been an active member of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums*) five times longer than any of our competitors and three times as long as all of our competitors combined. *Founded in 1924, the AZA is America's leading accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums. The AZA accredits only those institutions that have achieved rigorous standards for animal care, education, wildlife conservation and science. The AZA is a nonprofit organization.