NEW DIRECTOR -- Paul Zuros, a Weirton native, has been named director of operations at Historic Fort Steuben. On hand for today's announcement were, from left, Jerry Barilla, president of Old Fort Steuben Project; Zuros; Jody Glaub; and Judy Bratten, who is leaving the executive director's position at the end of the year. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE –The Old Fort Steuben Project has a new director of operations.

Paul Zuros was officially named to that post today during a morning news conference.

He will begin his new job Wednesday, and will be working with Executive Director Judy Bratten through the remainder of the year. Bratten, who announced in early 2018 that she planned to step down from her position, will move to a part-time role in 2020.

“Our search committee did a fine job of finding someone to take the reins at Historic Fort Steuben,” said board President Jerry Barilla. “They received numerous applications and interviewed several candidates, but we believe we have the right person who will continue to build on the work that Judy has done.”

Zuros, a Weirton resident, had been serving as the operations and communitcations manager of the West Virginia Humanities Council, the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He has a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in public relations from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in public history with a concentration on museum studies from Duquesne University. He is a member of several organizations including the American Alliance of Museums, the Daniel Boone Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and the National Council of Public History. He has had papers and articles published in Early American Life Magazine and The Upper Ohio Valley Historical Review.

“Paul has worked in small museums as well as in tourism and has visited the fort with his family many times,” Barilla said.

“He understands the variety of duties involved in the position, from writing grants to planning events. He and Judy will work together on the festivals, the exhibits and even on bookkeeping so he feels confident to proceed on his own in the future.”

Bratten said she wanted to scale back to a part-time position in order to have more time for her family. She had asked that she could shadow someone for six months to enable a smooth transition.

“I am clearing a desk in my office for Paul and getting him on our interoffice computer system so he will be able to jump right in on Wednesday,” Bratten said. “We will introduce him formally at our annual dinner on May 8. Paul is so personable and knowledgeable that I think everyone will be pleased with his selection.”

Bratten became the first executive director of the Old Fort Steuben Project in 2004. Since then, she has organized several exhibits and programs, including a Vietnam Photography Exhibit, black history exhibits, Ohio in the Civil War, Women’s History Month displays, the annual spring quilt whow, Celebrate the Constitution and Riverboats on the Ohio.

She coordinates school and group tours of the fort and First Federal Land Office, the Lewis & Clark Eastern Legacy, the annual membership dinner, Ohio Valley Frontier Days, the Summer Youth Program the Summer Concert Series, the City of Murals and the Nutcracker Village and Advent Market and maintains the website and social media sites.

Bratten was able to obtain funding and grants for various educational programs, events and capital improvements. In 2013 she took on responsibility for the Steubenville Visitor Center that oversees the Downtown Farmers’ Market, the Hometown Celebration and the Christmas parade. In that capacity, she has done marketing and advertising for events and attractions in the city and Jefferson County and has been a member of various tourism organizations, the board of the Ohio River Trails/Ohio River Scenic Byway.

“I am indebted to our president, my assistant, Mary Snyder, our many wonderful and dedicated volunteers, our board of trustees and our numerous supporters who have made Fort Steuben the success it is,” Bratten noted. “I have always said that I stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before me, specifically Elizabeth King and her late husband, Richard. I hope I have fulfilled their expectations of making Historic Fort Steuben a destination as an historic site but also a sparkplug for downtown revitalization and community pride.”