Evelyn B | Event Specialist

A Fair Fan since birth, Evelyn Bader is an event specialist extraordinaire that started her career in sports with the original Coliseum residents, the Phoenix Suns. Evelyn executes 50-60 events throughout the year, such as Crossroads of the West Gun Show, Maricopa County Home Shows, cheerleading and bridal events, just to name a few.  

Clients attest to her passion for the Fairgrounds, as well as her deliberate thinking.  This adrenaline junkie at heart, Evelyn coordinates over 3,000+ entertainment credentials, and serves as a liaison between 100+ community stage entertainers during the Arizona State Fair.

Anthony C | Operations Outdoor Supervisor

When you have a family of nine, there is no job too big or too small that could scare Anthony Correnti. As the Operations Outdoor Supervisor, Anthony leads the crew through the many events we hold at the fairgrounds year-round. 

Aside from overseeing his crew, Anthony’s ability to operate equipment helps put on the hundreds of banners we see throughout the fair! If you know Anthony, you know that a Pork Chop on a Stick with BBQ sauce and hot sauce is the best way to celebrate a hard day’s work at the Arizona State Fair.

Wanell C | Executive Director

Starting as an intern in the Events Department, few people can say they’ve truly worked their way up the Ladder of Fun like Wanell. As the Executive Director since 2015, Wanell has led her crew through thick and thin and has achieved record breaking years. A legend in the fair industry, Wanell is the director fairgrounds dream of having. From the Maricopa County Home Shows to Crossroads of the West, Phoenix Roadrunners and the Phoenix Suns, the Pope and three Presidents, Wanell has helped maintain and shape this iconic venue for over three decades.    

Sylvia G | Social Media Specialist

Sylvia is the social media genius marketers dream of. From TikTok to WordPress, there is no job too complicated that Sylvia cannot accomplish. Having aced the SAT’s at just twelve years old, Sylvia is a natural talent with an eye for social media design, content creation, and impact.

After completing college in NYC, Sylvia returned to her native home, and landed at the Arizona State Fair where she has taken its digital presence to new heights. With a slim marketing Crew of 2.5 (and the fabulous interns recruited each Fair), Syl embraces the ever changing landscape of digital media, bringing the Fair brand and message to the State. 

When she is not answering the thousands of comments and DMs, she travels the world to experience different cultures and perspectives.

Heather H | Marketing Partnerships Manager

Barbara J | Commercial Sales Manager

Originally from Alabama, Barbara moved here in 2008 and loves the excitement of creating a family fun event for Arizonans to enjoy. In her role as Commercial Sales Manager, Barbara helps businesses showcase their goods, be it Hot Sauce to Hot Tubs or artisanal candles to street art.  Each year she looks for interesting items for people to share inside our Shopping Pavilion and outdoors.

Brianda M | Marketing Specialist

From her start as a Marketing Intern to her current position as Marketing Specialist, Brianda can tell you a little bit about nearly everything at the Fair.  And a lot about Marketing and Media.  

As the Face of the Fair, Brianda acts as our spokesperson and publicist sharing stories about the latest Concert, Esports Tournament, winning bid at the Livestock Auction, latest sponsor promotion (which she probably helped create), the hottest Fair Food trend (Can we please get the Korean Corn Dog?). She’ll jump on a ride for a 4:30 a.m. media hit, then turn around and facilitate concepts for the website.  She’ll also wave a parking flag for 5 hours while deploying and eblast her phone.  From pre-dawn to the wee hours of the night, she averages 5 media hits daily during the Fair, all with a smile.

Part project manager, party idea generator, and wholly polished on camera (except when she fell at The Flaming Lips concert ((two years in a row)), Brianda’s bright spirit, enthusiasm, and can-do attitude make her the ideal publicist for this Independence High School alumni.

Matthew M | Graphic Designer

Aubrey M | HR & Staff Manager, Events Support

With a background in live events, Aubrey became an instant hit at the Arizona State Fair. She started in 2016 managing the event security department and now oversees the event staffing department. Managing over 800 seasonal employees is not an easy task, but Aubrey enjoys the energetic atmosphere and a fry bread on the side. 

When not working an event or reading a book, Aubrey enjoys adventures with her kids.

Krislyn P. | Accounting Specialist 

Hawaii’s spirit of aloha lives on with Krislyn.  After moving to Arizona from the Waianae Coast of Oahu 4 years ago, Krislyn quickly became an invaluable asset to the Fair Crew.

Initially hired as the HR Assistant, Krislyn’s commitment to details, follow through and resourcefulness propelled her into the Entertainment & Event Solutions Department where she acted as the hub of events, from client communications, contracts, insurance and billings, managing Front of House in the Coliseum, to managing Etix – building shows/events, creating and scheduling various Box Office reports, and constant troubleshooting.  Her drive for learning and background in finance recently promoted her to an Accounting and HR role.

Mark R | Facilities Manager

Mark has experienced what few have – worked on the ice rink at the Madhouse on McDowell. As an Operations Supervisor, Mark works in tandem with the Operations Director of turning empty buildings and pavement into the dazzling Arizona State Fair. 

Mark’s focus is on Coliseum Operations, including the extensive load-in and load-out of the much-loved Arizona State Fair Coliseum Concert Series. His favorite concert to work was Slayer because of the custom made pit.

Outside of Fair time, his ability to operate all of our equipment and machinery and ability to adapt and create solutions to any situation makes him a versatile leader. 

James R | CFO

Similar to playing his ukulele, mandolin or bongos, James orchestrates the $10 million cash flow for the agency.  

Processing over 1,500 payables (with most during Fairtime), 500 vendor receivables, and daily balancing of each revenue stream, James analytic approach to financials ensures we’re always in the black.

Karen S | Entries Director

With a contagious smile and far reaching Fair knowledge, Karen’s extensive fair experience and network in the Agriculture industry make her the perfect Entries Director at the Arizona State Fair. A California transplant, Karen has brought her passion back to Arizona where she oversees thousands of competitive entries – both livestock and exhibits –  the Arizona State Fair receives each year. Think it’s easy to bake a great apple pie, or grow a 187 pound squash? It’s not.  And with Competitive Entries being what differentiates a State Fair from a festival, the century long tradition of winning a blue ribbon is an achievement many seek yet few earn.  Karen embraces her role, furthering the program across multiple categories, capturing new participants.  

Michael S | Deputy Director

When it comes to fairs, Michael is a force to be reckoned with. You can find Michael’s passion and dedication in every inch of the fairgrounds. A natural entertainer and as the biggest fair fan of the crew (we can bet on that), his time as the Deputy Director of the Arizona State Fair has been a breeze. With his vast knowledge and decades of experience of the western fair industry, the Arizona State Fair crew is being led by a fair legend.

 When not working to make the fairgrounds a better place for all, you can find him in his pool with his wife, Karen, and his pups. 

Meghann T | Event Specialist

Growing up in Peoria, Arizona, Meghann always loved the way the annual State Fair brought people together.  After working in the hospitality industry, she recently joined the Fair Crew and is excited to be part of the team that plans one of the biggest events in the State.

Jen Y | Assistant Executive Director

As an Arizona native who hasn’t missed a Fair since birth, Jen believes that making memories is what the Fair Tradition is about.  While at ASU studying Journalism, when working at an Ad Agency, and through her years in radio, the fun of the Fair (on a stick) has always been part of her life.

Jen leads the “best Marketing and Sponsorship Crew anywhere,” creating ideas and solutions for audiences internal, external and otherwise. She also books and produces the Coliseum Concert Series, a dream from her teenage years. The sheer joy of watching someone giggling, dancing, and singing along to live music is what drives her to make every moment special. Jen is currently the Public Information Officer (PIO).

Tom Y | Operations Director

Few people know more about the Fairgrounds than Tom Youngs.  

From his early days in 1994 as the Tomboni Driver for the minor league hockey teams Phoenix Roadrunners and Mustangs, the final years of the Phoenix Suns, through three Presidential visits, and over 3000 events, Tom can find his way around the 96 acres of Fairgrounds with his eyes closed.  

Managing 150 Crew during the Fair and a significantly slimmer Crew outside Fairtime, Tom is the first call when you want to know where something is, what happened in what room when, and where the (insert item here) was from the 2009 Fair because we want to repurpose it and use it for (insert new attraction here).  Or he’ll offer other solutions to help solve whatever it is you’re trying to do.