Governed by an appointed Board of Directors, daily operations are managed by the Chief Executive Officer and permanent staff of approximately 55. Each year more than 2,000 temporary employees are hired by Cal Expo or key business partners to operate the annual 17-day State Fair. Cal Expo is a self–sufficient State agency that receives no government general or special fund support.
The governing body of the California Exposition & State Fair is an 11–member Board of Directors, that must all be residents of California. Nine (9) directors are appointed by the Governor, one director by the Speaker of the Assembly and one director by Senate Rules Committee.
Willie Pelote (Chair), of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. Pelote has been Principal at Pelote Strategic Advisors since 2016. He was Chief Principal Consultant at the California State Assembly from 2015 to 2016. Pelote was Political and Legislative Director at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees from 1995 to 2015. He was a Consultant to the California State Assembly from 1987 to 1995. Pelote is a member of the National Board of Advisors at the University of California, Davis Health. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Pelote is a Democrat.
Kim Craig (Vice-Chair), of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. Craig has been a Full Partner at Arc Strategies since 2018. She was Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2016 to 2018. Craig held several roles from 2010 to 2015 in the office of then-Assembly Speaker, Majority Leader, and Assemblymember Toni Atkins, including Special Assistant and Chief of Staff. Craig was a Lobbyist at KP Public Affairs from 2012 to 2014 and Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny from 2005 to 2010. She was a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of San Diego City Councilmember Toni Atkins from 2000 to 2005. Craig was a Field Representative in the Office of State Assemblymember Denise Moreno Ducheny from 1996 to 2000. She is a member of Inter-Governmental Advocates. Craig earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Public Administration degree from San Diego State University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Craig is registered without party preference.
Arturo Barajas (Member), of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors, where he previously served from 2022 to 2023. Barajas has been Government Affairs Manager at FanDuel Inc. since 2021. He served as a Deputy Secretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 2019 to 2021. Barajas was a Legislative Aid for State Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula from 2016 to 2019. He is a member of the 52nd District Agricultural Association. Barajas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Systems Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Barajas is a Democrat.
Heather Bernikoff (Member), of Catheys Valley, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. She has been Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat Program Manager and Tribal Liaison at the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts since 2024. Bernikoff has been an independent Consultant since 2017. She was Program Director at The Special Hope Foundation from 2014 to 2017 and was Program Officer and Program Director at the California Consumer Protection Foundation from 2002 to 2014. Bernikoff was Program Manager at the California Telehealth and Telemedicine Center from 2000 to 2002 and Senior Health Educator and Program Manager at Contra Costa Health Plan from 1997 to 2000. Bernikoff earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Humboldt and a Master of Science degree in Health Education from the University of Wyoming. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bernikoff is a Democrat.
Sonney Chong (Member), of Sacramento, has been a practicing dentist in Sacramento for the past 30 years. He was previously on the Cal Expo & State Fair Board of Directors from 2001 to 2005. Then appointed again to the Board of Directors in 2011 to 2014 by Senate Pro Temp Darrell Steinberg, and was reappointed by Senate Pro Temp Kevin De Leon for 2015-2018. Chong has been recently appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. Sonney is Chair of CAPITAL (Council of Asian Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy and Leadership) and on CSUS University Foundation, Chair of Board of Director for Asian Resources Inc, Chair of the SOCAB (Sheriff Outreach Community Advisory Board) for Sheriff Scott Jones, Fellow member of American Leadership Forum (Class II), member of the Sacramento FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association and lifetime member of CACS (Chinese American Council of Sacramento) and SCCF (Sacramento Chinese Cultural Foundation).
Rina DiMare (Member), of Clarksburg, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors, where she previously served from 2020 to 2022. DiMare has been a Proprietor at Elevation Ten Winery since 2015. She was a Managing Partner/Owner at Government Strategies Inc. from 2001 to 2015. DiMare was a Consultant and Legislative Assistant in the California State Assembly from 1991 to 1997. She is President of the Clarksburg Winery Collective and a member of the California Winegrape Growers Association. DiMare earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Latin American Studies from California State University, Chico. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. DiMare is a Democrat.
Nick Hardeman (Member), of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. Hardeman has been a key player in California government for 20 years where he has served in senior level staff positions in both houses of the California Legislature. Since 2016, he has served as the Chief of staff for Senator Toni Atkins including 6 years (2018-2024) as the Chief of Staff to the Senate Leader. Previously, Hardeman served in the Assembly Speaker’s office as the chief of staff to the Assembly Speaker and as a senior consultant handling issues on labor, employment and retirement from 2011-2016. Prior to working in the Speaker’s office, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Assembly Speaker pro Tem (2006-2011). Hardeman began his career in the State Capitol through the California Senate Fellowship program and spent the following two years as a policy committee consultant and legislative aid (2003-2006). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Brightline Defense Project and the California Storm—a Sacramento based women’s semi-pro soccer team. Hardeman is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California where he played Rugby, served in student government and led a successful living wage campaign for campus food and custodial workers. He resides in East Sacramento with his wife Katie and children, Damien and Alex. Hardeman is a Democrat.
Brian May (Member), of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. May has been a retired annuitant at the California Department of Food and Agriculture since 2013. He was vice president of operations for Sacramento Republic FC from 2014 to 2019. May held multiple positions at the California Exposition and State Fair from 1989 to 2012, including deputy general manager, assistant general manager and assistant to the general manager.
Che Salinas (Member), of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. Che has been Special Counsel and Senior Legislative Advisor at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP since 2021. He was Senior Advisor at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development from 2020 to 2021, Chief Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs for Operations in the Office of the Governor from 2019 to 2020 and Counsel at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in 2011. Salinas was Counsel in the Office of State Senator Ed Hernandez from 2010 to 2011, Counsel for the Office of Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez from 2009 to 2010 and Consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Judiciary from 2006 to 2009. He was a Legislative Aide in the Office of President Pro Tempore Don Perata from 2004 to 2006. Salinas is a member of the Improve Your Tomorrow Board of Directors. Salinas earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
In addition to appointed members, the Board of Directors includes five Ex-Officio Members:
- Governor Gavin Newsom
- Senator Angelique Ashby
- Assemblymember Kevin McCarty
- Assemblymember Robert Rivas
All California Exposition & State Fair board, sub-committee, and advisory board meetings are open to the public and are subject to a 10 day notice period. Agendas and pertinent materials are available on our Public Meeting Notices page.
Tom Martinez is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of California Exposition & State Fair after being appointed by Governor Brown in April 2016. Since his appointment, Tom has brought about a dynamic transformation to the events organized by the state agency. He has introduced innovative concepts such as a youth mariachi competition, a farm laborer showcase, and even collaborated with High Times Magazine to organize the inaugural Cannabis Competition and Exhibit. Tom’s vision revolves around enriching Cal Expo’s mission to highlight California’s finest offerings.
With an eye on California’s promising future, Tom is dedicated to diversifying Cal Expo’s events to captivate new audiences while expanding the horizons for the regulars. He’s passionate about showcasing sectors and innovations where Californians are paving the way and positively impacting society.
Before leading Cal Expo, Tom held a pivotal role as the state government relations manager at the Santa Clara Valley Water District. His diverse career has seen him in roles including communications director for the California State Senate Democratic Caucus, press secretary for Senate Majority Leader Don Perata, and director of external affairs at the San Mateo County Recorder’s Office. Notably, during the COVID-19 crisis, Tom was Cal Expo’s frontline coordinator for pandemic-related initiatives, including vaccination drives, testing, and collaborative housing solutions for those affected by the virus in Sacramento.
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