A Shadyside native is now the new executive director at Project BEST. Nathan Butts, a Shadyside High and West Liberty University graduate, has been named to the post, according to the organization.

Project BEST is a nonprofit entity that combines labor and management in the construction industry. Prior to joining Project BEST, Butts spent the past eight years in the Ohio Workers Compensation industry working for The Health Plan, ProMedica, and most recently Minutemen HR Management Services.

In those eight years, Butts has assisted a large portion of local Ohio Valley contractors with their workers compensation administration on the managed care side with The Health Plan and ProMedica, as well as the third-party administration side with Minutemen HR.

“I am very excited and honored for the opportunity to lead Project BEST and advocate for union work throughout the local area,” Butts said. “I look forward to making new connections as well as working with some familiar faces as well. I would like to thank the Board of Directors and both co-chairs, Justin Klempa and Doug Giffin, for giving me a chance to be part of this organization.”

As executive director, Butts will work closely with the Project BEST Board of Directors and staff to oversee the organization’s community involvement and continue to adapt to serve the Ohio Valley’s construction labor and management teams.

Butts is currently on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Valley Energy Association and the Shadyside Local School District Board of Education. He and his wife, Nikki, reside in Shadyside with their four children Karson, Ella, Jordan, and Joanna.

“We are very pleased to have found Nathan as we feel he is the perfect fit to fill this role, and is a proven leader in past roles,” said Giffin, who added that Butts “is a lifelong Ohio Valley resident and we ask the community to take the time to reach out and get to know him.”