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Renee Alexander, CFE - Minnesota State Fair
As Deputy General Manager for the Minnesota State Fair, Renee Alexander oversees the marketing, entertainment, ticketing, educational programming, graphic design, web and guest services departments. Among her primary responsibilities is booking and producing entertainment for the 13,000-seat historic Grandstand, which draws more than 100,000 concert-goers and upwards of $5 million in revenue in just 12 days. She is also responsible for the overall branding and promotion of the Great Minnesota Get-Together and, as part of the senior management team works to develop vision, strategies and resources for a world class exposition that preserves tradition while presenting a guest experience that is innovative, entertaining, and fun. Renee has participated in IAFE since 2005, is a member of the International Entertainment Buyers Association and chaired the organization in 2020. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Music class of 2022.
Jaryth Barten, Program Manager, Kansas Leadership Center
Jaryth Barten is responsible for managing the execution of events and leadership programs hosted virtually and in-person at the Kansas Leadership Center Conference Center. He found a passion for leadership development at a young age and he has been seeking out opportunities to grow himself and others in the discipline ever since. Jaryth believes that leadership is the key to unlocking a future in which all people can thrive. Jaryth graduated summa cum laude from Fort Hays State University with degrees in organizational leadership and communication. 4-H was a significant experience in his upbringing and he aims to give back to the program as often as he can to ensure 4-Hers have access to high quality, youth-led development. Jaryth advises the Sedgwick County Teen Council, Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Council, and serves on the Dickinson County 4-H Foundation Board of Directors. Growing up in Woodbine, Kansas, Jaryth is skeptical of others who claim to be from “small” towns. As an avid extrovert, he can never seem to get enough social time to make him slow down. He loves fishing, woodworking, swing-dancing, looking for sasquatch, trying new foods, discussing BIG ideas, and is always in search of a new activity to get his adrenaline pumping. One day soon he hopes to be a proud boat owner as he has decided it seems like more fun than a house despite the continuous advisement of his friends and family.
Shari Black, IFMG, CFE - Wisconsin State Fair
Shari Black has been involved in the fair industry for more than 25 years. Her career began at Waukesha County Fair in Southeastern Wisconsin where she served as Executive Director. In 2016 she joined the staff at Wisconsin State Fair Park and is currently serving as Chief Programs officer, which oversees the Programming Division. This Division includes Vendor Services, Competitive Exhibits & Park Beautification, Agriculture, Entertainment and the Fair’s Independent Midway, SpinCity. Shari served as the Wisconsin Association of Fairs President in 2016 and was also Chair of the IAFE County Fairs Committee. She graduated from the IAFE’s Institute of Fair Management in 2013 and became a Certified Fair Executive in 2014. Shari also served as the IAFE Convention Program Chair for 2021. She is active in 4-H and enjoyed watching her three children Gavin, Lauren and Mason show their pigs and carry on her passion for agriculture and the Fair Industry.
Bill Bourne - Associate Principal, Architect, Populous, MO
Bill received his Master's of Architecture from
the University of Kansas and is a registered architect in Missouri, Kansas,
Maryland and Texas. He is a Leed accredited professional and serves on the IAFE
Master Planning and Physical Operations committee.
Matt Bruskotter - Senior Director of Event Operations, Indiana State Fair
Jen Cannon, IFMG - Iowa State Fair
Jen Cannon is the Competitive Events Director for the Iowa State Fair where she is responsible for over 65,000 entries in everything from livestock to fine art and also oversees Agriculture Education programming. Jen had been with the Iowa State Fair for 14 years and prior to her current position was the Sponsorship Director with the Blue-Ribbon Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Central College majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis is marketing and a minor in communications. Jen graduated from the International Association of Fairs and Expos (IAFE) Institute of Fair Management in 2010. She is active in the North American Livestock and Rodeo Managers Association and the IAFE Agriculture Committee. Jen and her husband, Tom, have two sons, Lane and Trey. They all work together to operate a purebred Charolais herd in central Iowa and participate in cattle shows throughout the country.
Bill Charney - Charney Associates
Bill Charney is the CEO/principal consultant of Charney Associates. Charney is a highly respected consultant in leadership and governance education for boards of directors and the agencies they lead. He is the co-author of The Board Member’s Playbook. Prior to founding Charney Associates, he was the founder and CEO of Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
Leslie Cunningham – Impact & Profits, ID
Leslie is an award-winning Leadership and Teamwork Development Expert. She has over 25 years of experience coaching, leading workshops, educational seminars and working with leaders and their teams. She is the founder/owner of Impact & Profits, a columnist for a national magazine and an internationally published author whose work has appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Leslie is a radio personality, hosting her own weekly call-in talk show, “Extraordinary Leadership & Teamwork,” and has appeared live on CBS (formerly CNN) News Talk Radio. She has mentored, trained under and collaborated with Jim Bergquist, World Famous Pike Place Fish Market consultant. Her mission is to empower every leader to stand in their FULL power and authority and transform their workplace culture to inspire extraordinary teamwork and breakthrough results.
Matt Daly, IFMG, CFE -Sonoma County Fair & Exposition, CA
Matt is the COO of the Sonoma County Fair & Exposition, CA. Previously the Operations Director at the South Florida Fair, and prior Matt has 20 years of experience developing agricultural related programming.
Chris Derby-San Antonio Livestock Exhibition, Inc., TX
Chris Derby is the Chief Marketing Officer and leads a team of marketing professionals that helps drive consumer awareness year-round, as well as sponsorship sales and revenue for the event. Chris Also oversees the following responsibilities for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo - Social, Digital and Traditional Media buying, Public Relations, Website, Sponsorships, Creative Design, Community Affairs, & assisting with Volunteer Fundraising & Marketing needs. Chris returned to the rodeo team in 2019 from a recent position as the VP of Marketing for SeaWorld San Antonio and was the Executive leader for all creative, media, social media, sales, public relations, and branding. With over 26 years of marketing experience that includes over 10 years with Simon Malls as the Regional Director of Marketing and Business Development where he oversaw 38 Retail Centers in 5 states including the Houston and Dallas Galleria and managed a team of 30+ marketing professionals. He also had over 7 years of experience from 2006-2013 with the San Antonio Livestock Exposition as the Marketing and Sponsorship Director. Chris is also very active in the community, city events, and sits on the board of the San Antonio Travel Alliance, Respite Care of San Antonio, and Alamo City Youth Sports Organization. Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing sports, and coaching.
Debbie Evans, Marketing Executive & Crisis Communications Counsel, Ellis & Associates, MD
Hospitality industry veteran Debbie Evans has more than 25 years of marketing strategy, communications, public relations and crisis communications experience. Her career has taken her from the floor of Germany’s largest travel trade fair to the top of Spain’s tallest roller coaster. Evans has extensive experience in integrated marketing plan development, product launch, corporate communications and crisis management. Through the year 2006, Evans served as Six Flags, Inc.’s corporate director of communications providing strategic counsel to the company’s 39 parks worldwide. As a consultant, her clients have included the International Association of Fairs & Expositions, the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, Ripley’s Entertainment, Herschend Family Entertainment, Gaylord National Resort, Space Needle and Six Flags among others. Evans currently serves as the marketing executive and crisis communications counsel for Ellis & Associates, overseeing branding for the company’s full suite of safety and risk management services and providing crisis communications support for hospitality industry clients worldwide. Evans is a graduate of the Georgia State University School of Hospitality Administration and is active as a volunteer with numerous industry and local organizations. A native of Georgia, she currently lives with her family on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Kyle Gustafson, IFMG - South Carolina State Fair
Kyle Gustafson is the director of Finance and Technology at the South Carolina State Fair where he oversees the day-to-day financials, network infrastructure, cameras, sound, ticketing and University of South Carolina football parking. Born and raised in Hawaii, Kyle attended the University of Hawaii and graduated with degrees in Economics and Computer Science. He currently holds I T certifications from Amazon, Cisco, CompTIA, Google, and Microsoft. When not working, he enjoys being outside, preferably at the beach or in the mountains, or watching a good movie. Kyle is also a U.S. Soccer referee and referees’ youth, high school and collegiate level games throughout the country.
Ken Karns, IFMG, CFE - OC Fair & Event Center, CA
Ken was introduced to the Fair/Multi-Purpose Event Center industry at the Western Fair Association around 33 years ago. He has held a number of different positions from Projects and Facilities Manager, Events and Facilities Manager, Property Services Manager, Director of Operations, Director of Facility Development and Vice President – Operations. Ken’s post-secondary, Business/Facility Management and Technical education was completed in London Ontario at Fanshawe College. Always maintaining his passion for the development of the industry, Ken accepted a position as Chief Operating Officer at the OC Fair and Event Centre in Costa Mesa California back in January of 2016. Ken currently overseas the Fair, Master Site Planning and Capital Projects, Security & Safety, Event Operations, Facility Operations, and Production. Ken is currently serving on the Executive of the IAFE Board of Directors as First Vice Chair. Over his career he has served on several other Boards and Committees with IAFE, CAFÉ, TSSA, ASHRAE, IAPA, WSPS, and also on the Executive of the City of Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Kathy Kramer, IFMG, CFE – CEO, Central Washington Fair Association
Kramer has a diverse background in for-profit, government and non-profit organizations, holding key roles in the areas of executive management, strategic planning, sales and marketing, venue operations, production of major events and corporate sponsorship. She joined the Central Washington Fair Association, home of the Central Washington State Fair and Yakima Valley SunDome, in January 2020 as President and CEO. She previously was CEO of the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. During her tenure, the organization achieved its highest fair attendance, gross revenues, customer satisfaction ratings and won numerous industry and community awards. She was with Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she was the Vice President of Business Operations. Prior to that, Deputy Director of the Phoenix Convention Center and Venues, Vice President of Convention Sales & Marketing for Century Link Center in Omaha, Midwest Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Six Continents Hotels and Resorts and Director of Sales & Marketing for Harrah’s Casino and Hotel. Kramer holds a CVE (Certified Venue Executive) from the International Association of Venue Managers, is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE) from the International Festival and Events Association.
Laura Kwilos, IFMG, CFE – Erie County Fair, NY
Laura Kwilos has been with Erie County Fair since 2007, and the Agriculture Manager since 2017 Laura graduated with her Institute of Fair Management in 2014 and received her CFE in 2017. Laura is currently sits on the IAFE Agriculture Committee. Laura, her husband Josh and 9-year-old daughter Olivia live on a small beef cattle farm in Forestville, NY. Laura’s favorite pass time includes watching her daughter show animals at jackpot shows and enjoys spending time with family.
Bernee Long, Chief Navigator - GENersectuion, LLC, AL
Bernée is the Founder and Chief Navigator of GENersection,
LLC, a talent development company that specializes in early
to mid-career development and fostering connection and
collaboration across generationally diverse teams.
GENersection partners with businesses and workforce
development programs to increase the return on investment
in their early career talent by bridging the gap between
educational preparation and true world of work readiness.
Believing that emotionally intelligent leaders who are
innovative thinkers are necessary to address today’s
workforce challenges, GENersection also equips and
empowers people with the mindset and soft skills needed to
maximize their potential and value.
Bernée has facilitated workshops and conducted training with Ally, Apple, Cartier,
CBRE Group, Chevron, Clemson University, Kroger, Lyft, Hennessy, HBCUs, IAFE,
Molson Coors, NBA, Stanley Black & Decker, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Truist,
and Truman State University, to name a few. Her career has included positions as
Director, Organizational Learning & Talent Development at SHRM; Director,
Distinguished Scholars Programs with Thurgood Marshall College Fund; Assistant
Dean for Student Services at Cumberland School of Law, Samford University;
Director of Admissions, Drake University Law School; Director of Admissions,
Talladega College; Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Albany State University;
and as an Administrative Law Judge and mediator with the Iowa Public Employee
Relations Board.
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Bernée received her Juris Doctorate from
Washington University School of Law and is a graduate of Truman State University.
An advocate of social entrepreneurship, Bernée believes that everyone is uniquely
called to fulfill a purpose in life and has spent the vast majority of hers transforming,
empowering, inspiring, mentoring, coaching, and otherwise positively impacting the
lives of the next generation.
One of Bernée’s favorite quotes is by Henry Ford: “We each have a calling that if left
unanswered will become a challenge unmet, a problem unsolved, an opportunity
missed, a dream and a legacy unfulfilled, a link missing in the chain of events that
were meant to form the history of the world." With a passion for the work she does,
Bernée plans to “die empty” having shared all that she has learned during her
lifetime with others
Penny McBride - Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, TX
Penny C. McBride is the Producer of the Light the Night Christmas Parade, an illuminated night parade, which more than doubles the population of the community of Fredericksburg, Texas and is viewed live by 17,000 households on CBS Austin. She recently retired as President & CEO of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 800 area businesses. For 14 years prior to starting with the Chamber she owned Indigo Resource Group, providing marketing services to tourism-related businesses and organizations. Her company managed the Texas Festival & Events Association and the Texas Association of Fairs and Events for nine years. Early in her career, Penny served as the Director of the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau, during which time occupancy tax receipts increased more than 400 percent and sales tax revenues tripled. She continues to work as a consultant, speaker, trainer and writer. Her speaking clients have included the International Tour & Travel Research Association, Argentina Economic Development Federation, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Community Associations Institute. Since 2008, she has worked on a contract basis for the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA). Penny teaches two of the six required core courses for IFEA’s Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) program. She serves on the faculty of National Event Management School, jointly produced by IFEA and the National Recreation and Park Association and teaches Business Planning for the International Association of Fairs & Exposition’s Institute of Fair Management. She is also a frequent presenter for the Texas Event Management Institute. In 2011, she was inducted into the Texas Festival and Event Association’s Hall of Honor. Penny is a graduate of Texas State University, where she studied public relations and business administration. She is a co-founder and inaugural class member of Leadership Gillespie County, a program now entering its 32nd year with more than 600 alumni. Penny enjoys traveling, writing, photography and watercolor painting. Her writing and photography may be found on her blog – ALesserLife.com. She is active as a community volunteer with a passion for events, church activities and the local healthcare system, serving on the Methodist Healthcare System Community Board.
Jessie McLaughlin, IFMG, CFE - Spokane County Interstate Fair, WA
Jessica McLaughlin hails from the Spokane County Fair and Expo in Spokane Washington. Jessica serves as the Fair Coordinator. Jessica graduated from Spokane Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree and an A.A.S in Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Management. She is a graduate of the IAFE Institute of Fair Management and received her Certified Fair Executive Designation in 2009. In addition to her many Fair responsibilities, Jessica is involved in her community through Camp Fire-USA; Boy Scouts of America ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and the Washington State Horsemen. Other interests include Geocaching, camping, hiking and scrapbooking.
Dr. Stephen Neel – Technical Solutions, Inc., OR
Dr. Neel has been active in the international food business since 1985. Upon completion of his Ph.D. program in Meat Science & Muscle Biology from the University of Georgia in 1992, Dr. Neel was retained by the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to study and develop meat-marketing strategies for USMEF programs in the Russian Federation. Dr. Neel was subsequently employed by the USMEF as the Director of Technical Services and was responsible for development, implementation and evaluation of technical marketing activities funded by USMEF in over 50 international markets, with a particular emphasis on emerging markets. Dr. Neel’s primary focus during his doctoral education and throughout his professional career has been on the development, implementation and evaluation of marketing programs and market driven research. He has created, implemented and evaluated large-scale market research programs, including a U.S. based research study profiling the preferences and usage patterns of red meat in the U.S.; an international beef quality audit; a multi-national pork competitiveness study and an international pork quality audit. His technical education paired with a strong technical marketing background provides a unique combination of attributes to evaluate and understand international market development needs and trends. Technical Solutions International has ongoing relationships with several U.S. based research institutions, including Colorado State University and Oregon State University, for the purpose of resource sharing and technology transfer. Furthermore, TSI has formed working alliances with several other independent companies with special emphasis on governmental reporting and traditional market research services, allowing for a more comprehensive package of services available to clients. Dr. Neel has been responsible for coordinating and conducting over 30 trade teams to emerging markets around the world, as well as “reverse teams” of U.S. companies to foreign markets for trade activities, tours and food shows, resulting in an impressive network of contacts and a close familiarity with overseas business practices and cultures.
Rey O’Day - National Independent Concessionaires Association, CA
Rey O’Day has extensive management experience in the fairs and festivals, food and beverage concessions, and entertainment industries. She currently teaches the Principles of Event Management as a UC Riverside Extension Instructor and serves as the Executive Director of NICA, a sister organization focused on developing vendor and event staff Communication Committees and advantaging its vendor members with the power of group discount buying. Over a period of 18 years, she held a number of key management positions at Fairplex, home of the LA County Fair, including Assistant Operations Manager, Retail Sales Manager, Entertainment Manager, Director of Food and Beverage and General Manager of Cornucopia Foods, LLC. Ms. O ’Day gives keynote addresses and leads workshops for numerous organizations. She also conducts orientations and guest service training for organizations like The Hollywood Bowl and California Fairs Service Authority. She holds a California Community College Teaching Credential in Dance and a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Chip Overton - K/O Fairground Planners, IA
Jeremy Parsons, IFMG, CFE - Iowa State Fair
A passionate advocate for the fair industry and education, Jeremy Parsons’ professional life came full circle in March 2023 when he began his tenure as CEO of the world-renowned Iowa State Fair. His introduction to fair management began in elementary school with a letter he wrote to then-Iowa State Fair Manager Marion Lucas. Since that moment, his life and fairs have intersected in a variety of ways, even during the 11 years he spent as a high school English teacher and coach. Starting when he was a teen, his 30 years of fair experience has included time as a volunteer at the Decatur County Fair (IA), a seasonal employee at the Iowa and Missouri state fairs, executive director of the Missouri State Fair Foundation, and CEO/Manager of the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa. Parsons served as Chairman of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) in 2022 and currently serves on the IAFE Education Foundation Board of Directors. He is also past president of the Mid-West Fairs Association. In 2022, he was awarded the “Fairman of the Year” award by the Association of Iowa Fairs. Originally from Leon, Iowa, he has four priorities in life, which he attempts to keep in the proper order -- faith, family, the Chicago Cubs, and fairs. He and his beautiful wife Kelsi have three sons.
Patrick Schoen, IFMG, Minnesota State Fair
Patrick Schoen has been in the human resources field for 12 years and has worked in the long-term care, IT management consulting and fair industries. He has served as the Human Resources Manager with the Minnesota State Fair since 2017 and has a passion to help both organizations and individuals grow and prosper. Patrick was the chair of the IAFE Human Resources Committee in 2022 and 2023 and graduated from the IAFE Institute of Fair Management in 2023. Patrick loves the fair industry because we do not compete with one another, and this allows us to collaborate and make each other better.
Brienne Schuette, IFMG, CFE - Moxie and Drive Marketing, MN
Brienna Schuette is the founder of Moxie & Drive Marketing. Previously, she spent the majority of her career creating and executing strategic, multi-platform marketing plans for the Minnesota State Fair’s annual campaigns and special initiatives. As the youngest spokesperson in Minnesota State Fair history, Brienna conducted nearly 100 local radio, television and print interviews annually; was interviewed by all four Minneapolis/St. Paul national television network affiliates, plus the New York Times, Tonight Show, USA Today, Food Network and Travel Channel; and wrote hundreds of headlines and promotional pieces seen by millions.
Jim Sinclair, CFE - Minnesota State Fair
A native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin,
Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in December 1973, Sinclair continued to work at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair until February of 1975, when he was hired by the Minnesota State Fair (St. Paul) as an administrative assistant responsible for development of the fair's early American theme area, Heritage Square. He was promoted to special events superintendent in charge of off-season special events and facility utilization on the exposition's more than 300-acre campus, which includes 12 multi-use activity buildings and a year-round Coliseum event complex. In 1978, he was named rental services supervisor charged with management of the fair's concession and exhibit rental operations, special attractions and carnival oversight. After serving in numerous positions at the fair Jim was named, in March 2006, Deputy General Manager. During his forty plus (40+) year tenure at the Minnesota State Fair, Sinclair has had numerous management responsibilities and undertaken multiple program and operational initiatives on behalf of the exposition. Sinclair is a Certified Fair Executive and 2012 graduate of the IAFE Institute of Fair Management.
Mark Sparks, IFMG -Triangle Talent, KY
Mark currently serves as the Vice President/ Manager Triangle Talent Midwest Office. Mark is a recognized expert in programming grounds attractions. A Veteran performer, he has booked and produced grounds entertainment at more than 50 Fairs and venues across the country. Mark is an IAFE Institute of Fair Management graduate.
Jessica Underberg, IFMG, CFE - Erie County Fair, NY
Jessica Underberg is the CEO for the Erie County Fair; the 183-year-old annual 12-day Fair that attracts over 1 million people to the 275-acre facility in Hamburg, New York. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Western New York. She exhibited beef, hogs and dairy cattle as a Junior Exhibitor. After college her love of agriculture took her back to her roots and she joined the team at the Erie County Agricultural Society. She has now been a part of that team for 28 years. She is a past Chair of the Board for the International Association of Fairs and Expos as well as a Past President of the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs. She was also one of the first co-chairs of the IAFE Young Professionals Initiative. Jessica loves being involved in the fair industry, is passionate about educating the public about agriculture and is proud to be immersed in a great industry.
Jordan Walker – Bondfire Strategy, KS
Jordan is the owner of Bondfire Strategy, a consulting firm dedicated to helping companies activate sales and marketing date to improve customer acquisition and retention strategies. Having spent her career working with and for mid-sized operations to Fortune 500 companies, her passion is using a data-driven approach to foster collaboration with cross-functional teams to improve customer experience and increase revenue-generating opportunities. As a connector, Jordan enjoys collaborating with creatives and clients alike to build relationships and understand how people and places intersect. She is a frequent speaker and workshop facilitator for local and national organizations such as American Marketing Association, and Public Relations Society of America, as well as co-host of a date-focused podcast, Insightly.
April Walton - Wisconsin State Fair
With over 25 years of industry experience, April Walton is a dedicated Custodial Services Manager at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, a premier event venue serving millions annually. April brings an unmatched depth of knowledge and hands-on expertise to her role, combining technical proficiency with leadership that drives excellence in facility care and event readiness. A trained custodian and certified auditor, April holds specialized credentials in infectious disease cleaning, custodial work loading, and safety compliance. She is a certified “Train the Trainer” for custodial operations and an accomplished instructor in both heavy and light custodial equipment usage. Her leadership ensures that her team is well-prepared, detail-oriented, and equipped to uphold the highest standards of cleanliness and safety across the Wisconsin State Fair Park’s diverse facilities. April’s commitment to operational efficiency and high-performance standards makes her a trusted leader in venue management. Her work not only supports daily operations but plays a key role in the success of major events throughout the year. Outside of work, April is an avid reader with a passion for true crime and historical non-fiction. She enjoys model making, anime, and gaming—interests that reflect her creativity and eye for detail in everything she does.
David Wantz, IN
David Wantz has never milked a cow or plowed a furrow. He doesn’t know the difference between a barrow and a gilt. But he is a fair guy through-and-through. In fact, he developed this curriculum on Ethics for the Institute for Fair Management. Dave has also consulted with fairs and expositions across the country on strategic planning and board management. He spent 40 years in higher education, but don’t hold that against him. He is down-to-earth, practical, and genuine. Yes, he is a doctor, but he can’t prescribe so much as Tylenol. His degree is in psychology, which means he can ask one questions really well: So, how do you feel about that? In addition to his college life, David is an expert in public safety, beginning his career as a sheriff’s deputy in Maryland. He taught for years at and is on the board of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He also served as the Director of Public Safety in Indianapolis, as an executive-on-loan. His classes are realistic and engaging. No boring lectures or deep theory.
Brett Whitaker - Fort Hays State University, KS
Dr. Brett Whitaker is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Leadership Studies at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). His research and teaching interests include global leadership, ethical leadership, leadership education, and organizational behavior and effectiveness. He holds a PhD in Global Leadership from Indiana Tech, and lives in Hays, KS with his lovely wife, Whitney. Perhaps most importantly, he was involved in 4-H for many years, during which he attended many county and state fairs, and was always grateful for the opportunities provided through those experiences.
Andrew Vandepopulier, IFMG - Haas and Wilkerson Insurance, MO
As a Producer at Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, Andrew is responsible for developing and building relationships in the Events and Rodeo industry, with an emphasis on generating new business opportunities for H&W in each of these segments. As an engaged member of the IAFE, IFEA and many Rodeo organization he strives to help each of these organizations enhance their risk management strategies. Currently Andrew insures over 250 events nationwide and is continually expanding on the roles within the agency.
Mindy Williamson is the Chief Marketing Officer for the Iowa State Fair. Her connection to the Fair runs deep—long before joining the team in 2015, she was a Bill Riley Talent Show participant, 4-H exhibitor, booth exhibitor, and sponsor. She’s also enjoyed her fair share of corn dogs, peppermint ice cream bars, and lemonades. With a background in nonprofit and government communications, policy, event planning, advertising, and marketing, Mindy has worked on a variety of major events, including the Iowa Corn Indy races and the Cy-Hawk Series, which celebrates the in-state rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State. Before joining the Fair, she traveled across the U.S. and South America promoting Iowa’s agricultural economy and building markets. Mindy holds a B.S. in Biological Pre-Medical Illustration from Iowa State University with an emphasis in botany. She is certified in volunteer management and is a member of the 2024-2025 Leadership Iowa class. She also graduated from the Institute of Fair Management through the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) and recently earned her Certified Fair Executive (CFE) designation. In 2025, she will serve as Chair of the IAFE Marketing Committee and help plan the IAFE Convention in Denver, Colorado. Passionate about sharing Iowa’s traditions and building relationships with media worldwide, Mindy loves showcasing the Iowa State Fair. Outside of work, she and her husband, Kevin, enjoy traveling, exploring breweries and wineries, biking, hiking, kayaking, and, most of all, spending time with their children, brand-new grandbaby, and their very spoiled dog.