HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Lori Hart, who has been with the Kansas State Fair for 17 years, was recently named interim General Manager after Denny Stoecklein accepted a position at Hutchinson Community College. Hart will oversee 25-plus full-time employees and an additional 550-plus part-time team during the 2015 Kansas State Fair, held September 11-20 in Hutchinson.
Hart, who has served as Assistant General Manager for the last 12 years, is happy to assume the role. “During the Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson transforms into the fourth largest city in the state,” Hart said. “To be part of that, with a team of dedicated and hardworking individuals, is truly my pleasure.”
A five-person subcommittee has been established to lead the search for a new General Manager. The subcommittee includes Angie Clark, Virginia Crossland-Macha, Ron Hinrichsen, Brad Rayl and Tom Tunnell.
Fair Board Chairman Harmon Bliss notes that while the subcommittee is eager to fill the position, they’re starting by identifying a search process to garner the best applicants.
“Our committee understands how serious of an undertaking filling the General Manager role is,” Bliss said. “They’ll be recommending a handful of qualified options to the Kansas State Fair board, along with a recommendation.”
Bliss adds, “We appreciate all Denny has done for the Fair and having Lori serve as a very capable interim General Manager allows our subcommittee the flexibility to properly fill this necessary position.”
No specific timeline for the hiring of a new General Manager has been set.