American Paint Horse Association
announces four promotions

FORT WORTH, Texas―The American Paint Horse Association (APHA), one of the fastest-growing horse breed organizations in the world, recently announced that four employees―Bob Steach, Kelvin Ostra, Paul Zinn and Jerry Circelli―have been promoted to new positions. According to APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite, each has contributed significantly toward the success of the association over the past several years.

Bob Steach Hirez JPEG (1.32 mb)

Bob Steach
Formerly APHA’s manager of IT, the processing center and records retention, Bob Steach has been promoted to the organization’s senior executive administrator position.

In his new role, Steach will be involved in enhancing customer service and programs for APHA’s members around the world. Although his duties will shift to include more administrative functions, he will still have a role with the IT department, which he was instrumental in building.

After a decade of working in the banking and consulting industry, Steach joined APHA 25 years ago as the sole member of the data processing department. He helped APHA build a solid technical department and extensive database. One of his department’s most recent accomplishments is the development of on-line registration of new Paint Horses, which offers members a quicker alternative to the traditional mail-in process.

Steach currently lives in Bedford, Texas, with Pam, his wife of 35 years. He has four children, Brandon, 30, Angel, 28, and twins, Gabe and Tyler, 20, and four grandsons.

Kelvin Oostra Hirez JPEG (1.13 mb)

Kelvin Oostra
Former APHA network manager, Kelvin Oostra, was recently promoted to the position of IT manager. The new role will involve directing activities of the department’s technical employees.

After earning an associate’s degree, Oostra worked in the medical supply industry, in the fields of sales and consulting before joining the American Paint Horse Association.

In his 13 years with the organization, Oostra has been an integral part of several APHA advancements, including the development of its Web sites and on-line records. The association’s extensive on-line database offers members extensive and detailed information about Paint Horses, including progeny, performance and pedigree records.

”It is important for us to keep our members updated in this area,” said Oostra, “and we’re preparing now for even more information that will be available on our on-line database.”

Oostra lives in Euless, Texas, with his wife of 27 years, Karen, and his two children, Kaitlyn, 10, and Kyle, 15.

Paul Zinn Hirez JPEG (1.60 mb)

Paul Zinn
Paul Zinn, has been promoted to the position of director of creative services for APHA. Zinn, who has served as the association’s art director and graphics systems administrator the past nine years was primarily responsible for visual and design aspects of APHA’s Paint Horse Journal. His duties have been expanded to encompass production and design elements for the entire association, including its member publication, the APHA Connection and the racing enthusiast publication, the Paint Racing News.

After graduating in 1994 from the University of Texas, in Austin, Texas, with a degree in graphic design, Zinn consulted at companies like Adobe Systems, Inc., and Texas Graphics, Inc. He also supervised the in-house design department for textbook publisher Harcourt Inc. before joining APHA.

In his time with the APHA, Zinn helped to bring the Paint Horse Journal pre-press work in-house. This earned it distinction of being one of the first subscription-based magazines in the state to use the computer-to-plate process, which is a digital method to create printing plates from computer concept to finished product without film.

Zinn, will incorporate similar innovations into other APHA publications, resulting in greater visual cohesion for all of the association’s printed materials.

“We will continue to be an award winning department and look forward to winning more this year with innovative designs for the new Paint Racing News,” said Zinn. “The addition of multimedia and web projects for the marketing department will expand our scope and give us new opportunities.”

Currently, Zinn lives in Forth Worth, Texas with his wife of 10 years, Jessica, and his children Douglas, 7, and Rowan, 4.

Jerry Circelli Hirez JPEG (1.15 mb)

Jerry Circelli
Jerry Circelli, who served as APHA’s director of communications the last five years, was recently promoted to director of public relations and marketing. Responsibilities of the new position include overseeing the APHA’s public relations, media relations, community relations, marketing, advertising, and general promotional activities.

After graduating from Utica College of Syracuse University, in Utica, N.Y., with a bachelor’s degree in public relations, Circelli worked in the journalism field for 20 years. He has worked on newspaper staffs in upstate New York and for The Dallas Morning News, in Dallas, Texas. His byline has been carried in more than 50 newspapers and magazines around the world and he has lived and worked in the Republic of China. Circelli arrived at APHA five years ago after working in the public relations field at Texas Wesleyan University and Sabre Inc., both in Fort Worth, Texas.

During his service with APHA, Circelli has managed the content of membership magazines and significantly increased media exposure for the association. He was successful in helping gain exposure for Paint Horses to millions of people through the “Rangers & Outlaws Wild West Show” at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. He also worked with SBC to spotlight American Paint Horses and APHA on the cover of one million Greater Fort Worth Metropolitan Yellow Pages directories. Among many other projects, Circelli worked with Buena Vista Pictures marketing officials on a joint promotional effort to publicize the Walt Disney film Hidalgo, which featured five registered American Paint Horses.

“The fine reputation of the great American Paint Horse breed precedes it,” said Circelli. “Our job is to continue to bring beautiful and talented Paint Horses the respect and recognition they truly deserve. In the process of our work, we will constantly search for innovative ways to introduce people to our horses.”

Circelli lives with his wife of 27 years, Joan, in Aledo, Texas. They have three children, Christa, 26, Vincent, 22, and Gina, 15. They also own two Paint Horses.

More about APHA
Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 40,000 horses each year. APHA has registered more than 842,000 horses in 49 nations and territories since it was founded 43 years ago. APHA serves approximately 106,000 active members around the world.

Among its many activities, APHA works to preserve bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics of the American Paint Horse breed. For more information about APHA, contact the association at (817) 834-2742 or visit apha.com.