Thursday, November 9, 2023 (11:58 am)

COSTA MESA (Nov. 8, 2023) – The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors has named Nick Kovacevich as Chair and Barbara Bagneris as Vice Chair.

Kovacevich, who previously served as Vice Chair, replaces Newton Pham as Chair. The Board voted in new leadership at its Oct. 26 meeting.

Kovacevich is the former CEO of Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of ancillary cannabis products and accessories. He is an entrepreneur who co-founded several successful businesses including KushCo Holdings, which merged with Greenlane in 2021, and BigRentz, an Irvine-based technology company. Kovacevich is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University where he captained the men’s NCAA II basketball team. He is a resident of Newport Beach and was appointed to the Board in 2020.

“It has been a great experience serving on the OC Fair Board and I am excited about the opportunity to lead us for the next year, working with my colleagues and the community,” said Kovacevich. “We are in terrific financial shape as we head into the 2024 OC Fair season and our Master Site Plan work has begun. This is truly an exciting time for OC Fair & Event Center.”

Bagneris has been a principal financial analyst at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems since 2010. She was a senior financial controls analyst at L-3 Interstate Electronics Corporation from 2008 to 2010 and held multiple positions at the Boeing Company from 1980 to 2008, including business analyst and program financial controls analyst. Bagneris is past president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Orange County (CA) Alumnae Chapter. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix, Fountain Valley. Bagneris has served on the Board since 2014 and resides in Orange.

Exiting Chair Pham will continue to serve on the Board of Directors, as he has since 2016.

Two new members have recently joined the Board. Tanya Bilezikjian and Dimetria Jackson were appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September.

Bilezikjian, of Anaheim, has been chief of staff and vice president at MNS Engineers Inc. since 2023. She held several positions at Michael Baker International from 2005 to 2023, including vice president and civil engineer. She was a staff engineer at Environmental Engineering and Contracting in 2004. She was a water resources control engineer for the San Diego and Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Boards from 2001 to 2003.

Jackson, of Irvine, has been a broker associate for eXp Realty of California since 2021 and principal at the Law Offices of Dimetria Jackson since 2018. She was a contract attorney for Lexolution from 2019 to 2021. Jackson held several positions at Nano Financial Holdings-Nano Banc EVP from 2017 to 2018, including general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer. She was a freelance attorney for Montage Legal Group from 2011 to 2012 and 2016 to 2019.

Board officers typically serve one-year terms and are nominated for office by a committee of fellow Board members. Board members are appointed by the Governor of California and may serve more than one term.

Friday, September 8, 2023 (11:52 am)

COSTA MESA (Sept. 7, 2023) – Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced two new appointments to the 32nd District Agricultural Association, Orange County Fair Board of Directors.

Tanya Bilezikjian, of Anaheim, has been Chief of Staff and Vice President at MNS Engineers Inc. since 2023. She held several positions at Michael Baker International from 2005 to 2023, including Vice President and Civil Engineer. She was a Staff Engineer at Environmental Engineering and Contracting in 2004. She was a Water Resources Control Engineer for the San Diego and Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Boards from 2001 to 2003.

She is a member of the California Stormwater Quality Association and Co-Chair of its 2023 conference. Bilezikjian is a member of the Anaheim Public Utilities Board of Directors. She earned a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. 

Dimetria Jackson, of Irvine, has been a Broker Associate for eXp Realty of California since 2021 and Principal at the Law Offices of Dimetria Jackson since 2018. She was a Contract Attorney for Lexolution from 2019 to 2021. Jackson held several positions at Nano Financial Holdings-Nano Banc EVP from 2017 to 2018, including General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. She was a Freelance Attorney for Montage Legal Group from 2011 to 2012 and 2016 to 2019.

She was Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability for Golden State Foods from 2012 to 2016. Jackson held several positions at First American Trust from 2000 to 2009, including Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary. She is a member of the Collaborative Courts Foundation Board and the International School of Orange County Board of Trustees. Jackson is a Past President of the Orange County Bar Association. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Dartmouth College. 

These positions do not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. 

Read the full announcements here: gov.ca.gov/2023/09/07/governor-newsom-announces-appointments-9-7-23/

Thursday, October 27, 2022 (2:36 pm)

COSTA MESA – The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors has named Newton Pham as Chair and Nick Kovacevich as Vice Chair.

Pham, who previously served as Vice Chair, replaces Doug La Belle as Chair. The board voted in new leadership at its Oct. 27 meeting.

Pham is an executive vice president and head of leveraged finance at California Bank and Trust, the California division of Zions Bancorporation. Prior, he was the principal financial analyst in charge of corporate development at Mitsubishi Materials U.S.A. from 2012 to 2014, senior analyst at McGladrey Capital Markets LLC from 2007 to 2012 and equity research associate at Smith Barney, Citigroup Global Markets from 2004 to 2007. Pham is a graduate of San Diego State University. He lives in Fountain Valley and has served on the Board since 2016.

Kovacevich is the CEO of Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of ancillary cannabis products and accessories. He is an entrepreneur who co-founded several successful businesses including KushCo Holdings, which merged with Greenlane in 2021, and BigRentz, an Irvine-based technology company. Kovacevich is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University where he captained the men’s NCAA II basketball team. He is a resident of Newport Beach and was appointed to the Board in 2020.

Exiting Chair La Belle will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.

Board officers typically serve one-year terms and are nominated for office by a committee of fellow Board members. Board members are appointed by the Governor of California and may serve more than one term.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022 (4:26 pm)

On June 23, the OC Fair Board reviewed a presentation from CEO Michele Richards on the mid-year state of the Fair.

The report covered the agency’s budget process, our place in the fair industry, bringing mission and values into focus, engaging the community, new business development, transparency, technology, workforce development, the financial outlook and opportunities and challenges.

View the 2022 State of the Fair presentation.  

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 (10:57 am)

As part of the Strategic Plan work the OC Fair Board of Directors voted to update OCFEC’s mission, vision, value and purpose statements:

Mission: Creating equitable community access to agriculture, entertainment, cultural and educational experiences

Vision: Orange County’s town square – the safe place where the community gathers and finds value

Values: Safety, People, Integrity, Stewardship, Compliance, Diversity & Inclusion, Excellence, Community & Neighborliness

Purpose: The OC Fair & Event Center is the 32nd District Agricultural Association (32nd DAA), a California state institution that is organized in accordance with the California Food and Agricultural Code. The 32nd DAA’s purposes under the Code are: 1) to hold fairs, expositions and exhibitions in Orange County to exhibit the industries and industrial enterprises, resources and products of every kind or nature of the state, with a view toward improving, exploiting, encouraging and stimulating them; and 2) to construct, maintain and operate recreational and cultural facilities of general public interest in Orange County.

Read more: https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ocfair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/18142624/22_03_Item8A_Strategic_Plan_Document.pdf

Thursday, January 27, 2022 (4:11 pm)

OC Fair & Event Center celebrates and welcomes all communities. Today the OC Fair Board voted to approve the Community Affairs Committee’s recommendation to adopt a policy to fly the PanAfrican flag at OC Fair & Event Center each February in recognition of Black History Month.

A flag-raising ceremony is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. at the OC Fair & Event Center administration building and all are welcome. 

This is the full text of the resolution that was approved:

RECOMMENDATION The Community Affairs Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Directors is to approve the proclamation and resolution below, and adopt a policy to fly the Pan-African flag at the OC Fair & Event Center each February in recognition of Black History Month.

BACKGROUND PROCLAMATION AND RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE 32ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION REGARDING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY PRESENTED AT THE ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

WHEREAS, the mission of the 32nd District Agricultural Association (the “District”) is the celebration of Orange County’s communities, interests, agriculture and heritage; WHEREAS, the District recognizes and affirms the Black/Afro-American community as one of the communities that makes up the fabric and heritage of Orange County;

WHEREAS, in fulfilling its mission, the District is proud to celebrate the Black/AfroAmerican community;

WHEREAS, February is observed across the United States as a month to recognize, educate, and celebrate the history of Black/Afro-American contributors to American history, infrastructure, politics, entertainment, education, business/entrepreneurship, science/technology/engineering/math, anthropology/culture, and global civil/human rights movements; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the District recognizes the Pan-African/Black Liberation flag as a symbol of welcoming and inclusiveness of the Black/AfroAmerican community specifically and of all ethnically diverse communities generally;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of the District hereby proclaims February as Black History Month at the OC Fair & Event Center;

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the District hereby reaffirms the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination as core institutional values of the District and the OC Fair & Event Center;

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors hereby reaffirms its policy prohibiting discrimination by the District on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, and, in proclaiming Black History Month at the OC Fair & Event Center, expressly notes that this prohibition applies to discrimination against any person on the basis of their race, ethnicity, or nationality; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors hereby directs that the PanAfrican flag be flown every February henceforth alongside all official flags that are displayed on the District’s property, as a symbol of the District’s belief in the equal dignity of all persons who visit the Fair’s grounds and of the District’s commitment to welcoming and including people of all backgrounds and identities to the OC Fair & Event Center; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors, in the continued belief in the equal dignity of all persons who visit the Fair’s grounds and commitment to welcoming and including people of all backgrounds and identities to the OC Fair & Event Center, hereby proclaims that no community member be left in the dark, unrepresented by the OC Fair & Event Center.

Friday, December 17, 2021 (2:25 pm)

During December’s OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors meeting, members paid tribute to International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was Dec. 3, 2021. 

The presentation slide is below (click to view pdf): 

Thursday, November 18, 2021 (12:03 pm)

At its Nov. 18 meeting, the OC Fair Board of Directors revised its committee structure and added two new committees.

Leadership Committee:
• Chair La Belle and Vice Chair Pham
Purpose:
This committee provides executive support to the Board and acts on behalf of the full Board during emergency situations.
Focus:
• Consult with CEO
• Develop Board meeting agendas
• Address Board issues
• Conduct annual safety/security meeting
• Initiate strategic planning
• Complete the strategic planning process and provide ongoing monitoring

Financial Monitoring and Audit Committee:
• Director Kovacevich and Director Bagneris
Purpose:
This committee monitors the organization’s financial position and ensures financial controls are in place.
Focus:
• Monthly financial oversight
• Annual budget review
• Annual audit process
• Participate in the scoring process for key RFPs, including for carnival services

Facilities Committee:
• Director Ruiz and Director Aitken
Purpose:
This committee reviews buildings and grounds related projects and issues and recommends site planning direction
Focus:
• Construction projects
• Capital expenditures
• Master site planning

Governance Committee:
• Director Cervantes and Director Rubalcava-Garcia
Purpose:
This committee ensures compliance with all Board policies and regulatory requirements
Focus:
• Policy updates
• Bagley-Keene open meeting compliance
• Annual form 700 reporting
• Annual required Board training

Community Affairs Committee:
• Director Bagneris 
Purpose:
This committee oversees the Board’s relationship with the community
Focus:
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Community engagement
• Relationships with local, county and state officials

Entertainment and Business Development Committee – NEW
• Director Rubalcava-Garcia, Committee Chair; Director Cervantes
Purpose:
This committee, in coordination with staff, evaluates opportunities at all District entertainment venues and pursues business development opportunities
Focus:
• Pacific Amphitheatre programming enhancement opportunities
• Hangar and Action Sports Arena programming enhancement opportunities
• Development of year-round and fairtime business opportunities
• Utilizing Board contacts and relationships for sponsorship and new event sales opportunities

Governmental Relations Committee – NEW
• Director Aitken, Committee Chair; Director Pham
Purpose:
This committee evaluates opportunities for expanding programing with the county and cities in Orange County and monitors legislative matters.
Focus:
• Legislative monitoring
• Evaluate City and County programing opportunities
• Annual “State of the District” presentation
• Monitor the development of the Joint Powers Authority initiative

Centennial Farm Foundation Liaisons
• Director Kovacevich 

Heroes Hall Veterans Foundation Liaisons
• Director Cervantes and Chair La Belle

(11:54 am)

During November’s OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors meeting, members paid tribute to Native American Heritage Month.

The presentation highlighted the contributions Native Americans have made to Orange County’s communities, education and heritage, and to agriculture throughout California.

View full presentation

Monday, November 1, 2021 (10:19 am)

COSTA MESA (Nov. 1, 2021) – The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors has named Doug La Belle as Chair and Newton Pham as Vice Chair.

La Belle, who previously served as Vice Chair, replaces Natalie Rubalcava-Garcia as Chair. The board voted in new leadership at its Nov. 28 meeting.

La Belle is retired and most recently served as City Manager for the City of Chino Hills from 1995 until 2009. Prior to that he served as City Manager for the City of Signal Hill and began his career in local government in 1964 with the City of Garden Grove and has worked in various administrative capacities for the cities of Cerritos, Huntington Beach, La Mesa and Marysville. La Belle, pictured right, is a resident of Costa Mesa.

“I am excited to take on the reins of Board Chair again and help lead the organization as we move into 2022,” said La Belle. “I look forward to using my experience serving on the Board since 2010 to create opportunities for families, businesses and local organizations to come together to enjoy the annual OC Fair and all the year-round activities at the fairgrounds.” 

Pham has been vice president at California Bank and Trust since 2014 and was the principal financial analyst at Mitsubishi Materials U.S.A. from 2012 to 2014, senior analyst at McGladrey Capital Markets LLC from 2007 to 2012 and associate consultant at Smith Barney, Citigroup Global Markets from 2004 to 2007. Pham has served on the Board of Directors since 2016 and resides in Fountain Valley.

Exiting Chair Rubalcava-Garcia will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.

“I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Orange County Fair Board,” said Rubalcava-Garcia. “It is with great pleasure that I can highlight our many accomplishments this past year which included navigating the pandemic, serving as a vaccine super pod site in an effort to help get the community vaccinated, hosting a very successful in-person 2021 OC Fair, initiating a community affairs committee which is tasked with ensuring OC Fair & Event Center is engaging with the community and focused on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and launching the organization’s three-year strategic planning effort.”

The Board also recently welcomed a new director, Melahat Rafiei. She has been Secretary at the California Democratic Party since 2021. Rafiei has been Principal at Progressive Solutions Consulting since 2009 and a Co-Founder of WeCann since 2017. Rafiei was Executive Director at the Democratic Party of Orange County from 2007 to 2009 and a Board Member at the Community Action Fund from 2007 to 2013. She is a delegate for the California Democratic Party and a member of Democratic National Committee and the City of Anaheim’s Cultural and Heritage Commission. She was appointed to the Board by Governor Gavin Newsom in September.

Board officers typically serve one-year terms and are nominated for office by a committee of fellow Board members.