The Southeast Alaska State Fair hired resident Kari Johnson as its new executive director this month, replacing long-time employee Jessica Edwards.

Johnson, a 1998 Haines High graduate, moved back to town in July with her husband and two children after working as an assistant athletic director and women’s program administrator at Central Washington University for the past 16 years. In Haines, she worked in the office for Constantine Metal Resources.

In her capacity as an athletic director, Johnson oversaw the student athlete advisory committee for which she organized community service and engagement events. She said working for the fair will enable her to do similar work in her hometown. “This job really appealed to me because it was an opportunity to be involved in the community and to work at events and have that community engagement, which is what I love,” Johnson said.

Edwards will help Johnson with the transition and work as the events manager beginning in January when Johnson takes the helm. Edwards will assist through next fall.

Fair board chair Deborah Marshall said the board received eight applications for the position and interviewed four finalists.

Marshall said the board was unanimous in their support for Johnson. “The caliber of our applicants was high,” Marshall said. “We were very pleased. We chose Kari because she’s a cultural fit and she knows Haines. It’s important for us to hire someone who understands Haines.”

The executive director is responsible for overseeing 10 employees, a $400,000 annual budget and 40 acres of land.

Marshall said the board has confidence that Johnson will fill the big shoes left behind by Edwards, who is leaving the fair in great shape.

“We’ve put tens of thousands of dollars into fixing up the fairgrounds under her tutelage,” Marshall said. “Dalton City is fully rented. Brew Fest sells out in two days. We have increasingly become more solvent and more popular under her leadership.”

Edwards announced that she would be stepping down as the executive director last August, and agreed to stay on to assist with the transition. She said she’s excited to return to the role of events manager, the position she started with eight years ago, as Johnson learns the job.

“I think the first step is to have the incoming director land, give her a chance to learn what we are doing,” Edwards said.

“I’ll be helping with anything that needs assistance with the transition of leadership.”

Edwards is moving on to become more involved in her family rafting business, Haines Rafting Company. She said she’ll miss being part of the community effort that makes fair events successful. “I felt really invested in the community activity of putting on the fair and other events,” Edwards said. “The challenge of being part of an organization like this has been really rewarding and has kept me moving mentally and physically.”

Johnson said she’s encouraged by the fair board’s energy, and its goals to expand what the fairgrounds can offer. “As far as this year, it’s really going to be learning from them and seeing what they see for the fair,” Johnson said. “I’m really excited. I’m itching to get going and to learn as much as I can. It will be a great year.”

Author