Fair board makes staff changes

Enterprise reporter

Charisse Nikel began working at the Lorain County Fair office last June as office manager and fair secretary.

Nikel is replacing Peg Ziegler, who retired, and Juanita Wright, who was employed as the fair secretary for nine years. During the summer months, Nikel is assisted by college students Amanda Allen, who is also a web design intern, and Samantha Bartlett, who is the grounds assistant and advertising intern.

When questioned about the change in personnel, fair board president Brian Twining said, "The board basically decided we needed to go in a different direction." Wright declined to comment about the situation when contacted by The Enterprise.

Twining said Nikel and Allen are updating the fair's website, networking online through Facebook, and considering other new ideas for advertising and promotion.

"When my dad was on the fair board, they didn't have the computers and technology that we have now," he said, "and the board members were farmers and had family-owned businesses. The fair board has changed; we have full-time jobs and we can't spend as much time up there (at the fair office)."

Nikel was previously employed at the Ohio State Extension office in Medina. Twining said her work experience was a big factor in the fair board's decision to hire her.

"She knew a lot of the ins and outs of the fair and didn't need a lot of training," he said.

Nickel said she applied for the position because "it was a lot of similar work to what I did at the extension office and it appealed to me because I love fairs." In addition to all the details that go into making fair week run smoothly, Nikel is responsible for a lot of off season work as well, such as scheduling hall rental, concession contracts, off-season storage, and other duties involved in managing the office.

According to Nikel, her job as office manager was created by the fairboard with the intent of having a position that included not only secretarial work but also "encompassed promoting the fair and adding more events to the fair." Nikel said she "loves organizing events" and was responsible for multiple fundraisers as the vice president of Welcome Wagon in Medina.

Nikel was raised in Maple Heights and attended the Geauga County Fair annually while she was growing up. She and her husband, Todd, live in Litchfield and have two sons.