After more than 34 years of professional service to the Glendale community, Steve Zurn has announced his retirement, which will be effective Dec. 31.

Zurn served the majority of his career with the City of Glendale in the Public Works Dept. where he held a variety of administrative positions such as budget officer, project manager, special project liaison, and assistant director/chief administrative officer. He was appointed director of Public Works in 2003. In May 2012, Zurn took on a dual role of Public Works director and interim general manager of Glendale Water & Power after his predecessor resigned. In September 2012, while remaining the director of Public Works for two additional years, he was appointed general manager of Glendale Water & Power. He oversaw all aspects of the full service utility, including the Electric Services Division, Water Services Division, Power Management Services Division, Business Services Division, Administrative Services Division, and Environmental Sustainability Services Division.

Since his appointment, GWP has been a leader in the development and implementation of energy efficiency programs for its customers, and its programs have consistently ranked among the best in the state. Accomplishments include being recognized as a Smart Energy Provider, receiving a Community Service Award from the American Public Power Association, adopting clean energy programs, entering into an agreement to purchase solar and battery energy storage, moving forward with a plan to repower the aging Grayson Power Plant with a combination of renewable energy resources, energy storage, and limited thermal generation, receiving an efficiency award from the California Municipal Utilities Association, among many others.

Zurn graduated from UCLA with a degree in political science and from California State University Long Beach with a master’s degree in public administration. He has two daughters – Megan, 33, and Mariah, 27 – and three grandchildren.