News Release
Washington State Fair110 9th Avenue SW Puyallup, WA 98371www.thefair.com
Washington State Fair has a new CEO... Well, after Kent leaves.
The Washington State Fair Board of Directors is pleased to announce
Renee McClain as the new chief executive officer for the Washington
State Fair, effective October 1, 2022. She is replacing longtime CEO
Kent Hojem, who will retire from the Fair later this year.
McClain is a highly experienced, successful and well-regarded
business leader in Pierce County. She recently served as the Chair of
the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce and has worked for the
Washington State Fair for the past 26 years as the Chief Financial
Officer.
“Renee has demonstrated her leadership capabilities in many ways over
her career and most recently in guiding the Washington State Fair
through the pandemic, working closely with other Fair leaders and
employees in creating a tactical plan to enhance visitor experience at
all Fair events and activities,” said Washington State Fair Board of
Directors’ President Jeff Hogan. “The combination of Renee’s experience, leadership style, and drive
makes her an ideal fit for the Washington State Fair for our next stages
of growth.”
As CEO, McClain will oversee all operations of the Fair and Fair
properties. Those operations include the Washington State Fair, the
Washington State Spring Fair, The Taste Northwest, Oktoberfest NW,
Holiday Magic, as well as all interim rental activities that occur at
the Washington State Fair Events Center throughout the year.
“I’m honored to be selected as the Fair’s next CEO,” McClain said.
“I have a deep respect for the Fair’s 122-year-old history and am
excited to build on that foundation. I am passionate about our guests’
experiences and ensuring our facilities are first class.”
McClain was born in Tacoma and raised in Sedro Woolley, WA. She
attended Central Washington University where she earned a Bachelor’s
degree in Accounting. She started her career in Tacoma as a CPA in
public accounting, then became corporate controller of a $75 million
forest products company in Seattle before beginning her career at the
Fair. She and her husband Andre reside in Puyallup and have four adult
children.
The Washington State Fair is one of the biggest fairs in the world, and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. It started in 1900 in Puyallup and welcomes more than a million guests to the single largest attended event in the state. Star-studded entertainment, the Puyallup Rodeo, rides, exhibits, food, flowers and animals are mainstays of the 20-day event that kicks off the Friday of Labor Day weekend. For more information about the Sept. 2-25 2022 Washington State Fair (closed Tuesdays and Sept. 7), visit www.thefair.com.
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