County restructures fairgrounds management jobs

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Change is afoot at the Larimer County fairgrounds as the complex seeks someone to fill a new position of campuswide events manager.

Application deadline for the new job, with a salary range of $51,000 to $70,000, is Feb. 3.

The restructuring eliminated the job of fair manager held by Bob Holt, and he has accepted an offer of another new job, landscape manager, at his current annual salary of $66,000. Holt also has the option of applying for the events manager position.

The events manager will assume many of the responsibilities of the fair manager, as well as oversee the Thunder in the Rockies motorcycle rally, the Rocky Mountain Ag Showcase and future campuswide events.

The fairgrounds is part of the county's public works department, where director Marc Engemoen said fairgoers should not be concerned that the county fair will get less attention with the reorganization.

"We would not want to create a situation where we would shortchange the fair," he said. "We want the fair to be a very successful event."

Fairgrounds director Jay Hardy managed the motorcycle rally and ag showcase for their inaugural seasons in 2005. He said, however, that the three big events will need year-round attention. In addition, the county will host a national hot rod show for the first time this year.

Job duties of the events manager include coordination of security, police, fire, entertainment, marketing, promotions, operation, maintenance, parking and sponsorships. The manager will also serve as liaison to the proposed Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center to be located at the complex.

To make all campuswide events successful, the new manager will be able to call on the other 42 onsite, full-time employees at the fairgrounds, Hardy said. Some of those employees work for Global Spectrum, which manages the Budweiser Events Center, and for Ovations, a private company in charge of concessions.

The Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Center (The Ranch) opened in 2003 at a 243-acre site in Loveland east of Interstate 25. During the past two years, the county fair has failed to attract the crowds county officials expected. In response, the county's volunteer fair board has decided that this year's fair should have both free parking and free admission.