In late May, Expo Square announced that longtime staff member Amanda Blair would take over as CEO following the retirement of Mark Andrus, who had held the position since 2008. Starting with facility in 2005 as assistant manager in the ticket office, Blair worked her way up through the organization, taking on oversight of operations at the Tulsa State Fair in 2009 before becoming chief operating officer in 2014.
She took a moment from her packed schedule to sit down for a conversation about Expo Square, which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Golden Driller statue this year, and give a preview about the upcoming 11 Days of Awesome at the Tulsa State Fair.
How has Expo Square grown since you first began working here?
My goodness, where to start? Most of the change has been physical change. We’ve done a lot of investment into this property. Back in 2005, we were just starting a lot of our construction and completing some of it … We like to say, “there’s never a finish line,” but it’svery true because (the events we host) are always pushing us to be better, and to make sure that we continue investing into the facilities, the infrastructure.
In 2005 we were just completing some of the new barns with the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex. Then around 2007 and 2008, Central Park Hall and the Exchange Center came online, and those were new consumer event spaces that we built … (We’re) always looking forward and making sure that we continue the investment in Expo Square…