One of my few claims to fame is that I can see the roller coaster at the Washington State Fair Event Center from my backyard. As a neighbor, that means my family also participates in the local Fair economy. My teenager parks cars on our lawn to fuel her Starbucks and Taco Bell habits and my youngest sells lemonade and cotton candy in our driveway.
When the Fair first became a client, I was elated. It was the intersection of work and neighborhood that this community-driven, middle-aged marketer dreams about.
From Sedro-Woolley to Puyallup
Bopping around at Puyallup-Sumner Chamber and fundraising events in Puyallup almost always puts me in proximity with Renee McClain, chief executive officer of the Washington State Fair Event Center.
Her connection to the Fair goes back much further than her professional tenure. As a teenager growing up in Sedro-Woolley, she made her very first trip to Puyallup to experience what was then known as the Puyallup Fair. That early journey came full circle over the decades. Renee has now worked at the Fair for nearly 30 years, stepping into her role as chief executive officer in 2023, making history as the first woman to lead the organization.
Honoring the Legacy, Shaping the Future
Renee is nothing if not authentic. She has an executive presence that shines through both her strategy and her personality. When she talks about the history, heritage and values of the Fair, you sense that she truly believes in all of it.
Bringing people together for extraordinary moments is what the Fair is all about. With Renee at the helm, she is keeping her feet firmly planted in the rich 125-year legacy while also keeping an eye on the future to keep people coming back for generations to come.
Listen to the Conversation
To hear more of Renee’s journey from a visiting teenager to the chief executive officer of the Washington State Fair, listen to Maintaining a Legacy Brand and Growing It into the Future. We dive deeper into her vision for the next generation of the Fair and what it takes to keep a 125-year legacy alive.
