Deschutes County, OR. — Deschutes County has selected Jeff Curtis, former chief executive officer of the Alaska State Fair, as the new Director of the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center.
Curtis will begin his new role on Monday, Feb. 9, replacing former director Geoff Hinds, who departed in September. County officials said Curtis was chosen following a nationwide recruitment process that drew a highly competitive field of candidates.
“We’re excited to have Jeff join the Deschutes County team,” said Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator and Interim Fair and Expo Director. “We are pleased to have identified such a well-qualified candidate that brings a proven track record leading large complex organizations.”
Curtis brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience in fair and festival management. He previously spent 18 years as chief executive officer of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation and more than two years leading the Alaska State Fair. His professional background includes overseeing multiple event facilities, managing fair and festival operations, developing corporate sponsorships, and leading public communications efforts.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Curtis has also served in several leadership and advisory roles, including as board chair for the International Festival and Events Association, and as a board member for the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.
As director, Curtis will oversee daily operations and marketing for the 340-acre Fair & Expo Center. The facility hosts more than 400 events annually, including the Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo, motocross and BMX competitions, trade shows, and concerts.
The center features approximately 200,000 square feet of indoor event space, 120,000 square feet of covered livestock and equestrian arenas, 400 horse stalls, and a 105-space full-service RV park. As a major tourism destination in Central Oregon, the Fair & Expo Center attracts nearly one million visitors each year, county officials said.
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