'Gut punch' surprise: Ventura County Fairgrounds CEO resigns

Ventura County Fairgrounds CEO Jen McGuire has resigned in a move a fair board member described as a "gut punch" surprise.

The sudden announcement that McGuire was leaving state employment, ending her position with the fairgrounds, was made after an hourslong closed door fair board meeting Tuesday. The private session was also attended by lawyers for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which advises county fairs. Board president Dan Long said the departure is pushed by McGuire's health.

“This board wants to thank her for her amazing service,” he said, giving a brief explanation. “Jen has medical issues, and that is why she is resigning.”

The often praised leader of the state-owned fairgrounds was hired as CEO a year ago and served simultaneously as CEO of the Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop. Her sudden departure comes little more than a month before the start of the 12-day Ventura County Fair.

Long said McGuire resigned from the Bishop position and that the decision ended her connection with the state government and with the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The two fairgrounds had a mutual contract for her services. Steve Lyle, spokesman with the state Department of Food and Agriculture, confirmed McGuire has resigned but said he could not offer any details because “it is a personnel matter.”

Long also said he could not disclose more information about the situation. In the closed session, the board unanimously voted to name Long and Heidi Ortiz as co-interim CEOs. Ortiz is the fairgrounds deputy manager.

McGuire, who was reportedly not in the closed-door meeting, did not respond to messages. The Fillmore native becomes the third CEO to leave the position in two years. She was hired a year ago to replace Stacy Rianda who suddenly retired from the top administrative position less than a year after she was hired.

Shortly after Rianda departed, a 34-page audit surfaced from the Department of Food and Agriculture, citing irregularities at the Big Fresno Fair while she was a top manager. The audit found the Fresno fair required companies doing business with it to donate with a nonprofit foundation.

State leaders gave no explanation for Rianda’s retirement, citing confidentiality reasons. Rianda was hired by the Ventura County Fairgrounds to replace Barbara Quaid, who retired in 2022 after serving as CEO since 2005.

McGuire is a Fillmore High School graduate who grew up competing in the Ventura County Fair, and as an adult, served as large livestock superintendent. She went on to become CEO of Tri-County Fairgrounds, and upon being hired in Ventura, shuttled between the two sites in a marathon work load.

In her short term as CEO of the seaside fairgrounds in Ventura, she earned considerable praise for her energy and innovation. In Tuesday's fair board meeting before the closed session, fair staff gave her repeated kudos, including credit for a dramatic increase in ticket sales for this year’s fair.

The departure came as a surprise, said Leslie Cornejo, fairgrounds board member.

“It was a gut punch to everyone, the board and staff,” she said. “She really got everyone excited about the future. She was just such a wonderful person. She was really lifting up the organization.”

The announcement came days before Friday’s launch of X Games Ventura at the fairgrounds. The fair follows, running from July 31 to Aug. 11. It will go on as planned, Long said.

“Fortunately, we have a really dedicated staff,” he said. “We’re going to get through this just fine.”

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com .

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 'Gut punch' surprise: Ventura County Fairgrounds CEO resigns