A Solano County senior management analyst has been chosen to succeed Mike Paluszak as manager of the Solano County Fair Association.

Stephen Pierce, who has been working in the county administrator’s office and has been a county employee for nearly 10 years, starts his new job Dec. 1, after Paluszak becomes chief executive officer of the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center in Salem, Ore.

“The board is excited about Stephen expanding his role with the Fairgrounds,” said Denese Allen, president of the fair’s board of directors.

“He has been connected with various aspects of our operations for several years now through his position with the county, and he will be able to make the transition to general manager relatively quickly and keep the fairgrounds running smoothly,” she said.

“With his leadership we will not miss any steps as we, in partnership with the county, move forward with the Solano360 project and expand the destination experience of the Fairgrounds,” she said.

Pierce had a similar reaction to his selection.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to be part of the Solano County Fair Association, which is responsible for more than just the annual county fair but the operations of the year-round venue,” he said.

The fair association, a nonprofit organization, was formed in 1949 to start the county fair.

“I see it this way, the fair association is in the facility rental and events management business, and the annual county fair and Youth Ag Day are the two premiere events that the Association hosts,” Pierce said.

The next Youth Ag Day will be March 17, 2015, and the annual Solano County Fair will be from July 29 to Aug. 2, 2015.

“Part of my job is to expand the opportunities for those other year-round events that bring entertainment options to Solano County and the region,” he said.

In his current position, he has been working with fair staff on budgets and policies.

Pierce has been the county’s public information officer for seven years, and prior to that he was marketing director for the former 60th Services Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, for which he directed campaigns for many programs that provided morale, welfare and recreation activities to 87,500 military members, retirees and their families.

“As a solution-oriented leader with vision and an always-positive collaborative style, he is an excellent choice to lead the fair through the upcoming opportunities and challenges,” said Linda Seifert, the District 2 supervisor who is also chairperson of the Solano County Board of Supervisors.

“His strong marketing and public relations background will serve the county, its citizens and, of course, the fair association.”

Pierce said the timing of the leadership change is good.

“I am coming into this position just as the county is getting ready to move to the next phase of the Solano360 project that will revitalize the 149-acre site,” he said. “That adds to the excitement, knowing that I am going to be part of something really significant that will benefit Solano County for years to come.”

Solano360 and its Memorandum of Understanding with Vallejo was adopted in 2009 by the Board of Supervisors, with goals of generating revenues for Solano County and Vallejo, creating jobs and ensuring long-term fiscal stability.

The concept sees the fairgrounds as a destination for visitors as well as a pedestrian-friendly community gathering place with retail, commercial, hospitality and recreational land uses. The plan also calls for improved connections with Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, the city of Vallejo and other operations.

The Solano360 plan involves using sustainable and “green” principles, according to the guiding principles adopted by the board, which called the document a master plan for the “Fair of the Future.”

“People come to their county fair for a variety of reasons, but it always comes down something in the entertainment, exhibits, food and rides that resonates with them,” Pierce said.

“That experience creates memories. Memories create traditions, and traditions create loyal customers. I see it as my task to find more ways for the fair to resonate with residents so they can have great memories at their county fair.”

Pierce is a Dixon resident. He and his wife, Cathy, have two children and four grandchildren.

He said he is proud of his accomplishments in Solano County. “I have been fortunate in my time here to be part of some amazing efforts,” he said. “Most of what I did was behind the scenes, and because nothing went wrong you didn’t know I was involved.”

For example, “I was part of the formation of the Senior Coalition of Solano County, which is still going strong to serve our seniors.

“The county won a California Association of Local Economic Development’s Award of Excellence in Economic Development Programs for the inaugural (2008) Index of Economic and Community Progress. That was a herculean effort to do the first one, but I’ve been responsible for producing that valuable tool to help decision makers — public and private — make fact-based decisions to grow the local economy ever since.”

Among Pierce’s recent tasks was helping the county complete Moving Solano Forward, an economic diversification strategy.

“I look back at those items, and I can say I am proud of my time in the county and what we accomplished,” he said.

“I look forward to being in a position down the road and saying I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish at the Solano County Fairgrounds.”