O.C. fairgrounds leader named 2022 ‘Woman of the Year’

OC Fair & Event Center Executive Director Michele Richards — who oversees production of the OC Fair — was the main attraction Friday at a ceremony in which she was named the California’s 37th state Senate District’s “2022 Woman of the Year.”

Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) presented the award at a gathering held at TeWinkle Park near the Orange County fairgrounds, where Richards has worked for more than 20 years as a consultant, then VP of development, before being named chief executive in 2019.

Richards was set to helm her first county fair in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit and organizers were forced to cancel the event, a move that resulted in record revenue loss.

Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine), left, presents OC Fair & Event Center Chief Executive Michele Richards with a “Woman of the Year” for California’s 37th state Senate District at TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa on Friday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

The fairgrounds shifted gears, becoming an important hub of the county’s COVID-19 response and offering the site for food drives, testing and vaccine distribution.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, Ms. Richards’ stewardship not only steered the Fair’s financial recovery but leveraged its shuttered facilities for COVID-19 response,” Min said in a news release Friday. “From food distribution center to vaccine supersite, we are incredibly grateful for her leadership.”

Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens attended Friday’s ceremony alongside Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr. Presenting Richards with a proclamation, he credited OCFEC with being an important partner with the city.

Aaron Trujillo, left, takes a selfie with OC Fair & Event Center Chief Executive Michele Richards at TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa on Friday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

“In the past two years, she has navigated the OC Fair through its most challenging times with grace, expertise and creativity,” he said. “Congratulations on this prestigious, well-earned recognition.”

Richards thanked Min for the honor, calling it an incredible privilege to be counted among past recipients, and crediting her colleagues at OC Fair & Event Center for the organization’s accomplishments.

“What we do is important to the community, and to be able to help so many people during the pandemic and bring back the OC Fair has meant so much to all of us,” she said in Friday’s news release. “Thank you for this recognition.”

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