Koziar

Blair Alliance President/CEO Steve McKnight said he wanted the incoming director of Discover Blair County to have “standout communications skills, experience in destination marketing and an understanding of the existing assets in Blair County,” and has found those qualities in Morgan Koziar, a WTAJ-TV host and journalist who will lead the tourism promotion agency starting in February 2026.

The Alliance announced Koziar’s hiring in a news release published Wednesday morning, concluding a month-plus search for the inaugural operations and marketing director of Discover Blair County.

According to McKnight, about 40 candidates submitted resumes for consideration after the position was posted in late October, with six advancing to the interview round in early November.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into this role and champion the places, people and experiences that make Blair County feel like home,” Koziar said in a statement. “I’ve spent years telling the region’s stories, and I’m excited to continue that work by helping visitors and residents discover everything our community has to offer.”

The Slippery Rock University graduate has worked for WTAJ-TV since 2018, first as a multimedia journalist before producing and hosting the “Studio 814” lifestyle show starting in 2021.

Chair of the Alliance Board Ron McConnell said in a statement that “(Koziar) brings a deep knowledge base of Blair County’s destinations, experiences and lodging properties, along with the proven communication skills needed to help market our community on all levels. We are very fortunate to have someone with such a skill set and background join our team.”

In her new role, Koziar will serve as the chief executive for the county’s tourism promotion agency, promoting Blair County business, hospitality and recreational assets around a “First Frontier” marketing theme.

McKnight said that there are no plans currently to hire any additional staff for Discover Blair County, but Koziar will have the support and resources from other Alliance-affiliated entities.

McKnight declined to comment about Koziar’s starting salary.

Discover Blair County was chartered as a 501(c)(6) nonmember business league after relations between the county commissioners, the Alliance and the previous TPA, Explore Altoona, broke down in late 2024 over disagreements about the future direction of county tourism promotion, leading to a multi-month decertification process that ultimately defunded Explore Altoona in early 2025.