October 24, 2024 4:00 a.m.
After an extensive recruitment process, the Douglas County Fair Board has named Ciera Keith as the new fairgrounds director.
A county release said the appointment will be effective at the end of December. Keith will replace 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 facility’s current and long-term goals of growing and improving the Fairgrounds Complex for the citizens of Douglas County.
Fair Board Chair Lisa Platt said, “The Fair Board is very excited about selecting Ciera as the new Fairgrounds Director”. Platt said, “We believe that 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”.
The new role is a promotion for Keith, who has worked for Douglas County at the Fairgrounds Complex since 2011. During the past 13 years, she has worked as a Senior Department Assistant, Event & Exhibitor Coordinator and most recently as the Business & Administrative Coordinator. In that role, Keith managed all marketing, promotions and sponsorships for the Fairgrounds Complex. During her tenure, the fairgrounds received several industry awards.
Fairgrounds Liaison Commissioner Tom Kress said, “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”. Kress said, “We look forward to our award-winning County Fairgrounds continuing to grow and succeed under her leadership”.
Hults has worked for Douglas County at the Fairgrounds Complex for almost 28 years. Hired as the Food and Beverage Manager in 1998, Hults was promoted to Operations Manager in 2003. Following the retirement of Harold Phillips in September of 2017, Hults was named as Fairgrounds Director in December 2017, following three months serving in that role on an interim basis. The release said the fair board and commissioners wish him all the best in his retirement.