The Big Fresno Fair (Fair) Board of Directors announced its formal search for the next CEO to lead year-round operations for the fourth largest fair in the State of California. The Board is working closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Fairs & Expositions Branch on the CEO Search process. Information about The Big Fresno Fair and the application for the CEO position can be found here.
In September 2020, longtime Fair CEO, John C. Alkire retired and transitioned to the Fair’s nonprofit Foundation, Friends of The Big Fresno Fair, in an effort to elevate fundraising amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. At that time, Deputy Managers Stacy Rianda and Lauri King were appointed by the Fair Board to oversee all Fair operations as an interim leadership strategy. Since then, the Fair has pivoted from a historical in-person Fair to a drive-thru event in 2020, and then navigated back to more normal year-round operations and a successful in-person fair in October 2021.
“The Board is pleased that the Fair has returned to its robust level of year-round activity,” stated Chuck Riojas, President of The Big Fresno Fair Board. “We are confident that with this search, we will determine the right person to lead the Fair into the future.”