Oklahoma's tourism department is getting a new interim leader

Oklahoma's tourism department has a new temporary guide after Sterling Zearley was appointed its interim executive director Thursday.

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the move in a news statement and thanked Zearley for taking the lead of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. “He has a long track record of service to Oklahoma, and I’m grateful for the work he’s done to make our parks a great place to be,” Stitt said.

Zearley has 23 years of experience in the tourism department, starting as a curator in Gore in 1984. Then he was a park supervisor at Tenkiller State Park and a park manager at Cherokee Landing State Park and at Sequoyah State Park.

He moved up to become the Northeast regional director and oversaw 21 state parks, two golf courses and a lodge. He held that position for 10 years, according to his online resume on the social media site LinkedIn . He became executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association in 2007 and remained there until 2023, when he rejoined the tourism department as the director of parks, lodge and golf, according to an industry newsletter .

Zearley said in a statement that he’s looking forward to serving in the role and continuing to work for an agency he loves. “With the upcoming Route 66 Centennial and the opportunity to host Olympic softball and canoeing, all eyes will be on Oklahoma,” Zearley said. “We are ready for the challenge.”

His appointment comes about a week after tourism director Shelley Zumwalt announced her retirement . That came after five months when Attorney General Gentner Drummond called on her to resign after a scathing state audit.

The audit , released this spring by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, raised questions about Zumwalt's oversight of spending by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, which she led through much of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report questioned how Zumwalt approved $8.5 million in contract payments to Phase 2, a firm where her husband is employed.

At the tourism department, Zumwalt was the target of two age discrimination lawsuits.

Zumwalt said she will remain in her position to help with the transition of her office until her final day with the state, Oct. 11.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's tourism department is getting a new interim leader