⭐ Introducing the new job board!

Start hiring or find your next job opportunity now!

NEW

Douglas County Fair Board Selects Keith as New Fairgrounds Director

11:25 PM · Oct 31, 2024

After an extensive recruitment process, the Douglas County Fair Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Ciera Keith as the new Fairgrounds Director. The appointment will be effective at the end of December. She will replace the outgoing Director, Dan Hults, who will officially retire at the end of 2024. In her new role, Keith will oversee the planning, organization, and direction of all aspects related to managing the Fairgrounds Complex. Under the supervision of the five-member Fair Board and in collaboration with the Board of Commissioners, she will work to continue meeting the Fairground's current and long-term goals of growing and improving the Fairgrounds Complex for the citizens of Douglas County. "The Fair Board is very excited about selecting Ciera as the new Fairgrounds Director. We believe that with Ciera's energy and her connections across Oregon and through the Western Fair Association, we can harness her enthusiasm and expertise to position our fairgrounds complex as a premier hub for entertainment on the West coast. Together with a dedicated Fair Board we hope to bolster the visibility of our assets including the racetrack, indoor spaces, livestock and horse venues, and the RV Park to be able to attract an even wider range of events. For the past 28 years, Dan has demonstrated exceptional leadership and has been a mentor to Ciera. Congratulations to Ciera and thank you Dan for serving our County!" - Lisa Platt, Douglas County Fair Board Chair. This new role is a promotion for Keith, who has worked for Douglas County at the Fairgrounds Complex since 2011. During the past thirteen years, she has worked as a Senior Department Assistant, Event & Exhibitor Coordinator and most recently as the Business & Administrative Coordinator. As the Business & Administrative Coordinator, Keith managed all marketing, promotions, and sponsorships for the Fairgrounds Complex. During her tenure, the Fairgrounds has received several industry awards, including two first-place trophies for its television and radio ads, a second-place award for the fair logo, and a third-place award for the 'Fair Time' advertising poster in the small fair division at the 2024 Western Fair Association Convention and Trade Show. Keith has been the lead representative for the Fairgrounds while serving on committees for the Oregon Fairs Association, International Association of Fairs and Expositions, and the Western Fair Association. Before she joined the fairgrounds staff, Keith worked as a Customer Service Representative and Inventory Purchasing Agent for the Oregon Ophthalmic Group Provider. "We have one of the best, if not the best, County fairgrounds operations and County Fairs in Oregon. Ciera has been a key contributor to that success, and we are fortunate to have her on our team. We look forward to our award-winning County Fairgrounds continuing to grow and succeed under her leadership." - Commissioner Tom Kress, Fairgrounds Liaison Commissioner. Hults has worked for Douglas County at the Fairgrounds Complex for almost 28 years. He was hired as the Food and Beverage Manager in 1998 and promoted to Operations Manager in 2003. Following the retirement of Fairgrounds Director Harold Phillips in September of 2017, Hults was appointed Interim Fairgrounds Director by the Douglas County Fair Board and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. In December of 2017, he was officially appointed as the Fairgrounds Director. Prior to his time working for the County, Hults spent seven years as General Manager for the Food Service Corporation. In that role, he oversaw all concessions and catering at the Oregon State Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Salem. The Fair Board and Commissioners wish him all the best in his retirement. The Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex is home to the annual award-winning Douglas County Fair, Sportsman Show, Poker Craze and Christmas Fair! Nestled along the Umpqua River in Roseburg, Oregon, the Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex is conveniently located off I-5 Exit 123, minutes away from Downtown Roseburg. The complex boasts their own RV Park, racetrack, onsite catering and over 80,000 square feet of rentable building space. The complex can host any event imaginable. If you are interested in renting or learning more about what the Douglas County Fairgrounds has to offer, visit https://douglasfairgrounds.com/. Via Douglas County Release