Ohio Expositions Commission

The Ohio Expositions Commission was established in 1961 when the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation creating a new governing body for the Ohio Expo Center. Prior to 1961, the State Board of Agriculture oversaw the Center. The Commission maintains and manages state property reserved for the purpose of conducting at least one Fair annually.

The Commission comprises 14 members, (nine of whom are appointed by the Governor), plus five ex-officio members: the Agricultural Chair of the Ohio Senate, the Agricultural and Natural Resources Chair of the Ohio House of Representatives, the Director of Development, the Director of Agriculture and the Director of Natural Resources.

Of the nine Commission members appointed by the Governor, no more than five may be from any one political party. Expiration of appointed terms is staggered to ensure the continuity of the Commission at all times.

• Rodney Arter
• Brian Baldridge, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director
• Michael Curtin
• Andrew Doehrel
• Rose Hartschuh (Chair)
• Donald Jakeway (Vice Chair)
• Representative Don Jones, House Agriculture Committee Chair
• Cathann Kress, OSU College of Food, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Vice President & Dean
• Erin Limes Stickel (Secretary)
• Mary Mertz, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director
• Lydia Mihalik, Ohio Development Services Agency Director
• Doug Preisse
• Senator Tim Schaffer, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Chair
• Adam Heffron, Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Executive Director
• J. Michael Townsley

Upcoming Meeting Dates (tentative)

• January 23, 2025
• February 20, 2025
• April 17, 2025
• June 5, 2025
• July 23, 2025
• August 3, 2025
• October 23, 2025
• December 11, 2025

Accessibility
The Ohio Expositions Commission is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Jo Ellen Albanese, j.albanese@expo.ohio.gov, 614-644-4015 a minimum of 14 days prior to the meeting date above.

Public Comment Policy
The policy shall be that verbal public comment will be permitted up to a total of 15 minutes with a limit of 3 minutes per person at the beginning of the full Ohio Expositions Commission meeting. Comments must pertain to the work of the Ohio Expositions Commission. Members of the public wishing to comment must sign up at least 24 hours in advance by emailing l.ciminello@expo.ohio.gov.

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