In this long exposure photo, lights criss cross on the "Raptor" at the Southwest Washington Fair in Chehalis.
The Board of Lewis County Commissioners has announced five finalists for the Southwest Washington Fair manager position.
A meet and greet with the candidates will be held in the community events center at the fairgrounds on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Interviews for the position will be held on Wednesday.
The candidates include Tamara Hayes, Cynthia Mudge, John Scholder, William “Pat” Slusher, Jr. and Una Wirkebau.
Hayes is currently the state capitol weekend supervisor for the state Department of Enterprises Services. She worked for the San Francisco Museum and a historical society in California from 2011 to 2014, first as a sales and event manager and then as director of events and facility manager for the Old Mint. Hayes has a bachelor’s degree in humanities from New College of California, a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in museum studies, both from John F. Kennedy University in California.
Mudge has been the executive director for the Astoria Sunday Market in Oregon since 2008, and is currently the events coordinator for the Seaside Chamber of Commerce. She served as executive director for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Association in Oregon from 2003 to 2008. She is the former president and founder of Pock Communications, Inc., in Seattle, which produced and promoted consumer and trade shows. She has an associate’s degree from Bellevue Community College.
Scholder has been a director on the Clark County Fair Board in Ridgefield for the past 16 years and is the current chairman of the premium and awards committee. He is also part of the executive, finance, animal health and scholarship committees. He was a volunteer at the Eastern San Diego County Junior Fair from 1979 to 1990. He also worked as a maintenance planner and supervisor for electrical and mechanical maintenance of high production equipment in manufacturing and public utilities.
Slusher has served as the Southwest Washington Fair’s marketing specialist since 2005. From 1997 to 2005, he worked with the Roy Haueter production company, producing entertainment tours in venues throughout the Northwest. He was with Armga and Associates for 10 years where he served as vice president and general manager of the concert and theatrical production company for seven years. He has also toured several western states with his own road shows and held various positions on touring productions for Stan Kramien and Associates.
Wirkebau was the executive director for the Monroe Chamber of Commerce in Washington from 2014 to 2016. She has been providing business consulting service since 1999. Wirkebau has worked as the operations manager for Tanana Valley Fair in Alaska for over three years, and was the vice president of operations for Coral Bay Eco Tours in Australia. She was also the owner and operator of two bed and breakfast establishments, one in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the other in McElmo Canyon, Colorado.
The new fair manager will replace interim fair manager Lee Coumbs who took over the role after the termination of former fair manager Gale Sobolesky in January.
