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Uploaded: Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 7:28 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 22, 2012, 10:14 AM
Pickering quitting Alameda County Fair post to take top job at Cal Expo
Headed county fair in Pleasanton during period of phenomenal growth, profitability
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by Jeb Bing
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Long-time Alameda County Fair CEO and Bay Area Boy Scout executive Rick Pickering has been hired as the new general manager of the California State Fair, also known as Cal Expo.
State fair board directors made the announcement Tuesday, saying Pickering has accepted the offer to replace its current director Norb Batosik, who will retire Dec. 31. Pickering, 54, will start his new job Jan. 2.
Pickering has headed the Alameda Fair for 14 years in a period that saw the fair's remarkable growth and after its low point when a gunman opened fire on fairgoers during a crowded Independence Day fair. Fireworks, which drew tens of thousands to the fairgrounds each July 4, were canceled, although fireworks returned to the fair on a Friday night before Independence Day several years ago.
Former Dublin Mayor Janet Lockhart, who now chairs the Alameda County Fair board of directors, will start the search for Pickering's replacement.
Named by Amusement Business Magazine as "One of the Most Creative CEO's in America," Pickering has served as the Alameda County Fair's leader in a period that has drawn more than 3 million annual patrons to the Fairgrounds with some 300 events each year, The fair, itself, is recognized as one of the 'Fastest Growing Fairs in North America" with a 44% increase in attendance over the past four years alone.
Home to the "Oldest One Mile Horse Race Track in America," the county fair's horse racing activity grew to a $1 million a year business unit. The fair also has earned a record number of regional, national and international industry awards.
As CEO, reporting to a 26 member board of directors, Pickering has increased operating revenues by more than 150% and has become a sought-after international expert on fairs and festival management.
Pickering began his career as assistant city manager of the city of Cerritos after graduating from the University of Southern California. He also gained executive management experience with posts in Manhattan Beach, then Torrance, then Costa Mesa, handling labor relations and negotiations, land use and redevelopment planning, media and public relations, political relations, and, at one time, serving as an interim director of public works.
While the CEO at the Alameda County Fair, he also was selected chairman of the board of directors of the California Fairs Alliance in Sacramento and since 2002 has served as president of the Western Fairs Association. Pickering also is the part president of the California Authority of Racing Fairs, past president of the California Fairs Service Authority and, from 1994 to 1998, was deputy general manager of the Orange County Fairgrounds.
He is also the president of the board of directors of the San Francisco Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts, a position he has held since 1999. The father of Boy Scouts, Pickering used to go on overnight camping trips to the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton and regularly appears in a Scoutmaster uniform during Memorial Day and other events in Pleasanton.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Patriot, a resident of the Carriage Gardens neighborhood, on Dec 19, 2012 at 9:18 am Congratulations Rick on your new positon--you will be missed at the Alameda County Fair. Thanks for always trying to improve the quality of the entire fair each and every year. Thanks for always recognizing the dedicated service of our United States Military Forces by having a Military Appreciation Day each year. Also for your bold move to go to only one show per night at 7 P.M. which turned out to be a good move for the fair and for the show attendees as well. Again good luck to you up in Sacramento in your new role--looks like I will have to make a trip this summerto the California State Fair to see how you are doing--no doubt that you will introduce good changes there too.
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Posted by Long Timer, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 19, 2012 at 9:57 am So sorry to see him go. Big shoes to fill. Our 17 day Alameda County Fair has been in top 10 county and STATE fairs in the country numerous times in recent years...first class, clean, good vendors, entertainment, all around.
As a local maybe he can mentor for us.
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Posted by JJJ, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 19, 2012 at 10:50 am Sorry to see Rick go. He has had a huge positive impact on the Alameda Country Fair.
I was amazed to read that the 26 Directors on the Alameda County Fair Board. That sounds like a classic case of government run amok. All sorts of efficiencies would result if that number were reduced to 9.
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Posted by Wow!, a resident of the Mohr Park neighborhood, on Dec 19, 2012 at 9:29 pm How did they let him get away? He's turned our once run down fairgrounds into something we are all proud of. I bet the people at the State Fair noticed that our fair is now the 33rd largest fair in America! Our whole community will miss the Pickering family. :(
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Posted by Ken Mano, a resident of the Willow West neighborhood, on Dec 20, 2012 at 11:24 am I really did't know Rick until last week when he spoke at an Eagle Court of Honor and found that he is also President of the SF Bay Area Council for the Boy Scouts.. No wonder the Fairgrounds provides space for East Bay Standdown for our homeless and needy veterans. No wonder we were able to get into the Fair last year for a donation of Food. No wonder space was provided for Kids for Hunger at the Fair last year. No wonder so many Eagle Scouts were able to find Service projects at the Fairgrounds. No wonder the Fair does so many things for the community and also became one of the most successful and profitable in the country.
What a great example of community service, sorry to see him go.
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Posted by D, a resident of the Laguna Oaks neighborhood, on Dec 20, 2012 at 1:58 pm The Alameda County fair has been amazing since he has been running it. I pray that the new CEO does his hard work justice and keeps the momentum he has worked so hard to maintain.
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