A total of seven cannons were mounted by Sanders Museum Services, at Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — During its 30-plus years in business, Sanders Museum Services helped design and install exhibits in over 100 museums across the country.

When its owners, Shepherdstown residents Bradley and Carol Sanders, were looking to retire, one of their employees offered to take over the business. Nancy Veldran went on to run her new business out of Charles Town for a number of years, before announcing her own plans to retire on April 1, 2026. The timing of this announcement could not have been more ideal, as the Sanders’ daughter and son-in-law, Roselyn “Rose” and Greg Mendez, recently realized that they were ready to take on a new challenge. They made an offer to take over the business, which was recently accepted.

“Rose and Greg are going to continue the family legacy,” Bradley said. “How wonderful, to know it will still be in the family, after almost 50 years.”

The couple had both learned the craft of museum exhibit design and mounting, while working for Sanders Museum Services. They also just so happened to fall in love, in the midst of installing an exhibit at a museum in Texas.

“We fell in love in Texas,” Rose said. “He taught me how to solder, actually, 27 years ago. He’s a good one!”

Carol and Bradley Sanders stop for a photo together in one of the many museums they designed an exhibit for, during their time running Sanders Museum Services. Courtesy photo

After Bradley’s and Carol’s retirement, Greg transitioned to working for Veldran, while Rose focused on caring for their two sons and starting her jewelry design business, Even Rose Love. Now that their children are older, Rose has the time to be able to focus on helping run a museum exhibit installation business, with her following in her mother’s footsteps and handling the administrative side of things.

“We will be in the middle of installing an exhibit at the Obama Presidential Library when Nancy retires. Our first month will be spent on completing that installation. We couldn’t be more excited to be doing this,” Rose said. “Working in museums is fascinating — you’re dealing with historians and you’re dealing with construction workers. I’ve always loved it.”

The most notable change with this business, will be that it won’t use the name of one of its forbearers.

“We wanted to start fresh, with a new name, so we are naming it Monarch Artifact & Exhibit Specialists. We went back and forth over what we wanted its name to be, because we wanted something West Virginia-y in the title. When we settled on this one, it felt right,” Rose said. “The name emphasizes the importance of preservation and conservation to us. It is also appropriate for another reason — the delicacy of a butterfly is similar to that which is required to mount an object. It has to look effortless.”

She noted that Monarch Artifact & Exhibit Specialists will likely remain in the family for many years to come, as both of her sons have creative instincts and are detail-oriented — two of the natural traits required to succeed in the business.

Rose Sanders Mendez sews together parts of a display, during her time working for her parents’ business, Sanders Museum Services. Courtesy photo

“They have the makings of what is necessary to thrive in this business,” Rose said. “They may decide to carry it on after us.”

Greg Mendez works on a display for an exhibit, early in his career with Sanders Museum Services. Courtesy photo