Team AZ
See who our team is below.
Dale A | Executive Director
Dale has spent 20+ years bringing live entertainment experiences to life, from touring productions to major venues and community events. He believes great events are built on great people, and leads the team that makes the Arizona State Fair one of the most special traditions in the state. Outside the office, he loves connecting with local partners and Fair fans, and he’s always thinking about new ways to make our Fair even more welcoming, fun, and memorable.
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.
Mcgwire D | IT Support
When it comes to event technology, Mac has truly seen it all. After an early career spent traveling to set up IT infrastructure for major festivals, concerts, and venues, he understands exactly what it takes to keep an event running behind the scenes.
A true “Fair kid” at heart, Mac grew up within the RCS carnival family and has been around the Fair team for years. Some of his favorite memories involve working the funnel cake stand (his favorite flavor: strawberries and cream).
When he’s off the clock, Mac stays connected to his tech roots by building custom computers, gaming, or hitting a round of golf.
Olivia D | Marketing Specialist
Born and raised in Phoenix, Olivia has been attending the Arizona State Fair for as long as she can remember. What started as a favorite childhood tradition has now grown into a fulfilling career. Olivia began her journey with the Fair as an intern in the Marketing Department. Over the years, she’s worked her way into a permanent role.
When she’s not busy helping to make the Fair a memorable experience for others, Olivia enjoys diving into her creative hobbies like painting, discovering new music, and cooking up new recipes at home. Fun fact: she’s even a proud Blue Ribbon winner.
Alisha E | Guest Services Manager
Meet Alisha, the person responsible for making sure all of our events at the Arizona State Fairgrounds are staffed. With nine years of Starbucks under her belt (she went from barista to store manager, no less!), she’s now rocking the role of Event Staffing Manager. Think of her as the fairy godmother of Customer Service Representatives, ensuring every guest’s experience is pure magic.
Apart from her talent for coaching people to achieve their full potential, she’s also a certified project management expert, thanks to her degree from ASU. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her engrossed in sci-fi and fiction books or getting creative with her two trusty Cricut machines. And if that’s not enough, she also has two furry feline friends who rule the roost when she’s not on the clock.
Andrea E | Deputy Director
With 25+ years of leadership in the sports and entertainment industry, Andrea brings expertise in high-level operations and event services to our team.
As an Arizona native, Andrea grew up visiting the Fair and has kept that tradition alive with her four sons. Today, she’s expanded that legacy by introducing her daughters-in-law and grandchildren to the Fair, continuing their hunt for the best Fair food.
Heather H | Marketing Partnerships Manager
As a Marketing Partnerships Manager, Heather brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role, consistently driving innovative collaborations and generating impressive results. She thrives on building lasting connections and finding innovative ways to maximize the reach and impact of Arizona State Fair’s mission.
Born and raised in Arizona, Heather’s love for football runs deep, thanks to her family’s unwavering support for the Arizona Cardinals. Heather’s love for travel and exploration has led her family to make frequent trips to San Diego for their vacations. They relish the opportunity to soak in the sun, explore the beautiful beaches, and create cherished memories together.
Garrett H | Graphic Designer & Print Shop Manager
Known around the office as “Graphic Design Garrett,” Garrett started his journey as a Fair intern before stepping into a full-time role. Whether he’s working on large-format prints, eye-catching animations, billboard signage, or making the most WONDERful visual graphics, his passion shines through. Design runs in the family—his love for the craft began as a kid, watching his mom design posters for his school musicals!
Outside of making magic for the Fair, Garrett loves thrifting, antiquing, playing baseball, and spending time with his cat, Sundae.
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 Director
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.
Dave M | Security Manager
With 32 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, this Arizona native brings unmatched expertise to our team. Over his career, he specialized in large-scale Special Events, helping oversee security for major moments like three Super Bowls, the Final Four, and Luke Days.
When he’s on the fairgrounds, you’ll usually catch him enjoying his favorite Fair classic: a corn dog with mustard. Off the clock, he loves spending his free time with his family & hitting the golf course for a round.
Krislyn P | Business Logistics Specialist
Hawaii’s spirit of Aloha lives on with Krislyn! After moving to Arizona from the Waianae Coast of Oahu, Krislyn quickly became an invaluable asset to the Fair Crew.
Initially hired as the HR Assistant, Krislyn’s sharp attention to detail, resourcefulness, and follow-through quickly propelled her into the Entertainment & Event Department. There, she truly mastered handling client communications, contracts, insurance, and billing, while managing Front of House at the Coliseum.
After lending her finance background to an Accounting & HR role, Krislyn has perfected so many moving parts of the Fair that she is stepping into her next chapter: Business Logistics Specialist. In this organization-wide role, she will lend her cross-departmental knowledge to streamline operations and support the Fair as a whole.
Irene R | CFO
With a career spanning 25 years, Irene has cultivated a profound understanding of the inner workings of the State, equipping her to excel in any functional area and collaborate with clients across diverse business sectors. Beginning her journey at the Department of Economic Security, Irene’s passion for innovation was ignited as she tirelessly sought ways to enhance processes for both her clients and colleagues. A fervent advocate of continuous improvement, she harnesses data-driven insights to pinpoint opportunities, streamline operations, and deliver lasting results. Irene’s commitment to an Agile mindset is palpable in her everyday contributions to the State Fair.
Beyond her professional life, Irene finds joy in quality time with her husband, four children, and four grandchildren. Whether it’s cheering on the Arizona Cardinals, relishing the snow in Pinetop, or attending various events at the State Fairgrounds, family and adventure hold a special place in her heart. An annual highlight for Irene is the State Fair, where she eagerly satisfies her sweet tooth and indulges her extraordinary craving for junk food.
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.
Charles S | Procurement Officer
With a background in the National Guard and years of experience at the State Procurement Office, Charles knows the ins and outs of state procedure like the back of his hand. He brings a disciplined, expert eye to the Fair’s operations.
A total “car dude” at heart, Charles’ favorite car is a ’69 442 convertible. He stays busy by cheering on his two children, keeping up with his energetic Bernedoodles, or enjoying a round of poker and bar bingo with his wife.
Erica S | Physical Plant Administrator
With over a decade of event experience, Erica brings serious operational firepower to the Fairgrounds. A former Sr. Director of Operations who spent 12 years at Rawhide and 4 years at Motor Sports Park, she worked her way up from livestock to leading large-scale venue operations.
Now, Erica oversees parking, traffic flow, and event support across the Fairgrounds—along with working closely with Phoenix PD she brings her OSHA 30 certification, ADOA training, and emergency/fire planning background with the Fair. With a degree in Agriculture (and yes, she’s a certified stagecoach driver who has owned farms!), Erica is fueled by music, creativity, and her awesome parking squad. Off the clock, she’s usually knee-deep in crafting projects like knitting, sewing, and bookmaking.
Lilli S | Marketing & Partnerships Assistant
Hailing from NoCal and growing up in a community where 4-H programs and Country Fair entries were a way of life, she learned the importance of community engagement and allowed her to be a natural fit at the Arizona Exposition and State Fair. She graduated from Grand Canyon University (GCU) with a degree in marketing where she developed a strong foundation in strategic planning, digital marketing, and partnership development. Her time at GCU provided her with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the field.
Lilli’s farm town upbringing, love for coffee, surfing, and passion for event planning (she spent a summer in Hawaii as an wedding planner), have shaped her into a well-rounded professional who approaches each task with enthusiasm and creativity.
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.
Meghann T | Event Specialist
As a Peoria native, Meghann has spent her life immersed in the vibrant community events of the Valley. Her career in hospitality and event planning has taken her across the West Coast, but she returned to the Fairgrounds with a specific mission: managing large-scale events without losing the personal touch. For Meghann, the magic of the State Fair lies in the details—even with a million guests passing through, she believes it’s the small, thoughtful moments that truly define the experience.
Carrie W | Competitive Exhibits Coordinator
The San Diego County Fair is where Carrie fell in love with Fair Life. Starting in elementary school, she and her family attended the event on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, fueling her love of animals. In high school, she joined FFA and showed livestock. Carrie was able to build on her passion and has been working in the Fair industry since 2007. As the Competitive Entries Coordinator, Carrie wrangles all areas of Entries, from Livestock to Culinary to Art, and every creative nook and cranny in between.
Jen Y | Deputy 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).