RICHARD P. FRENETTE, CFE

*** * ******* ** *** ***, Milwaukee WI 53202

CELL PHONE: 801-***-****

EMAIL: acxqn1@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

POLICY FORMULATION

EVENT PRODUCTION

STRATEGIC PLANNING

BUDGET AND CAPITAL FORECASTING

BOARD COMMUNICATION

CONTRACT NEGOTIATION

FACILITY ADMINISTRATION

Seasoned leader in finance, operations, and administration in the fair and convention facilities management industries with an expertise in developing and implementing initiatives that optimize operations, revenues, and organization effectiveness. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR PARK

Executive Director / CEO

Feb. 2010 to May 2016

Chief Executive Officer responsible for all aspects of planning, implementation, and managing the operations and policies of the annual Wisconsin State Fair and the 400 plus year round non-fair shows and events. The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a state agency responsible for the 289 acre facility with thirteen leasable buildings, including a 269,000 square foot Exposition Center and a mile racetrack with seating for 30,000.

Notable Accomplishments include:

Raised attendance from 800,000 to over 1 million guests.

Led the Wisconsin State Fair Park from an $11.3M deficit in 2010 to a positive cash position operating now with a cash surplus of $1.5M annually.

Provided leadership to forty-eight full time employees and 1200 limited term employees and manage a budget of $25M annually.

Initiated, designed, and implemented independent Midway significantly increasing gross revenue.

Responsibilities included:

Implementing board policy.

Developing and monitoring long range strategic plans.

Capital expenditure allocations.

Identifying and negotiating new revenue opportunities.

Managing critical partner relationships.

Contract negotiations and approvals.

Providing leadership and educational opportunities to all employees.

Liaison to governmental agencies at a state and local level.

Production of annual 3 day Harvest Fair with an attendance of 150,000.

Liaison to Wisconsin State Fair Foundation activities and fundraising.

Represented Wisconsin State Fair at agricultural and commodity meetings.

Represented Wisconsin State Fair on local, national and industry boards and associations. UTAH STATE FAIR CORPORATION

Executive Director / CEO

Jan. 2004 to Feb. 2010

Chief Executive Officer responsible for management of all departments at the Utah State Fair Park and State Fair. The Utah State Fair has an attendance of 330,000 and the Fair Park hosts over 200 events on a year round basis. The facility and events are operated as a quasi-state agency under a 501- 3C Corporation.

Notable Accomplishments include:

Led the fair and Fair Park to a thirty percent increase in revenues.

Led the fair and Fair Park to a thirty-five percent increase in cash reserves. Responsibilities included:

Formulating and implementing board policy.

Developing strategic plans.

PRCA rodeo production.

Master Plan and Capital project development.

Legislative liaison.

Marketing and promotion oversight.

Financial and budget oversight.

Liaison with all agriculture agencies and programs. OHIO EXPO CENTER AND STATE FAIR, Columbus, OH

Executive Director

Jan. 1993 to Nov. 2003

Chief Executive Officer responsible for management of all departments at the Ohio State Fair and its year round Ohio Expo Center; a 360 acre facility with 23 exhibition buildings with over 900,000 square feet of indoor convention space operated as a state agency within its own generated revenues. The Ohio State Fair has an attendance of over 900,000 and the Expo Center hosts 240 other year round events.

Notable Accomplishments include:

Led the fair and expo center from a $3.5M deficit in 1993 to a positive cash position operating profitably on an annual basis.

Provided leadership and direction to a full-time staff of 83 and managed a $14.5M annual budget.

Responsibilities included:

Formulating and implementing board policy.

Developing and monitoring long and short-range strategic plans, which have led to increased revenues and decreased expenses resulting in increased profits.

Design and implementation of a comprehensive campus master plan; resulting in procurement of over $50M for facility upgrades and new construction.

Negotiated contracts and land leases leading to increased revenues from food and beverage sales, rental income, parking and camping fees and lease of previously non-revenue producing property.

Liaison and spokesperson in all matters related to governmental agencies and entities at a state and local level.

Assembled and directed a qualified, effective and efficient team of management employees.

Year round facilities maintenance and operations management.

Development of biennial state budget and capital expenditure requests.

Handled public and media appearances.

Represented the fair and expo center on local, national and industry boards and associations.

Formulated and completed land lease for the first soccer specific stadium in the United States and negotiated long term contract with the Columbus Crew a MLS professional soccer team. MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, St. Paul, MN

Finance Director

1986 to 1993

Chief Financial Officer on a senior management team responsible for production of annual state fair and management of year round fairgrounds facilities operation. Annual fair attendance is 1.7 million with an annual budget over $40M.

Responsibilities included:

Administration and management of all finance functions, including banking and loans.

Planning and initiation of investments.

Management and control of cash, admission and ticket sales operations.

Development and implementation of internal financial controls, as well as purchasing, acquisition and inventory control systems.

Management, planning and reporting to the board in all matters related to budgets and financial statements.

Review and approval of contracts, their financial terms and conditions.

Provided leadership to finance, purchasing, admissions and ticket sales staff. EDUCATION

University of St Thomas – St. Paul, MN.

Masters of Business Administration – Finance Concentration University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

B.S. Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND

CREDENTIALS

CFE -International Association of Fairs and Expositions – Certified Fair Executive

Midwest Fairs Association – President 2002.

International Association of Fairs and Expositions Board of Directors – Chairman 2009.

Ohio Fair Managers Association – Board Member 1999-2002.

Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau – Board Member 1993-2002

Utah Assoc. of Fairs and Festivals – Board Member 2007-2009

Wisconsin Fairs Association – Board Member

Visit Milwaukee – Board Member

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