Melanie Linnear

Melanie started with the State Fair of Texas in January 1989 as a secretary in the concessions department. She has certainly moved up through the ranks as she was promoted to coordinator of concessions and then to director of concessions. In 2013, Melanie received a Leadership Certificate from the Texas Event Leadership Program (TELP) through the Texas Association of Fairs and Events (TAFE) in conjunction with the Texas Agri-Life Extension Program at Texas A&M College Station. In December 2018, she graduated from the IAFE Institute of Fair Management (IFM) after having completed a two-year curriculum in fair operations and fair management. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for EWI as a Board Advisor after having served this past year (2017-2018) as the Board President. And in December, she was selected to serve on the National Independent Concessionaire Association (NICA) Advisory Board for a 3-yr term. She is currently working with the State Fair’s director of community affairs to implement the third year of the Cohort for Fairs, Festivals, and an Events (CFFE), a program that educates and helps to incorporate minority vendors as participants within fairs, festivals, and events. She currently serves on the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE) Concessions/Exhibits Committee, the board of directors for the Texas Association of Fairs & Events (TAFE), and her final goal is to complete the certification as a Certified Fair Executive (CFE).