BIZ BITES

OC Fair names new media relations leader

It’s been a week of major turnover at the OC Fair & Event Center. In addition to naming Steve Beazley as its next chief executive, the fairgrounds also welcomed Robin Wachner as its new communications director.

Wachner, who has worked in marketing and public relations for the Queen Mary, the Disney Channel, Buy.com and other companies, started work at the fairgrounds Monday.

Her duties will include overseeing media relations, publications, websites and employee communications.

“We’re pleased to welcome Robin to the OC Fair & Event Center,” Dena Heathman, the fairgrounds’ vice president of finance and administration, said in a release. “Her strong background in communications will be a great benefit to the OC Fair and our overall event facility.”

?

Newport native named top marketing director

????Susanne Day, a native of Newport Beach and the senior project manager for The Marketing Directors Inc. in New York, has been named Marketing Director of the Year by the National Assn. of Home Builders.

????Day received the Gold Award from the association’s National Sales and Marketing Council at its annual awards gala Feb. 13 in Orlando, Fla. Her firm took home 14 total awards.

????“This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Susanne and we couldn’t be more proud of her,” Adrienne Albert, the founder and national director of The Marketing Directors Inc., said in a release. “Throughout her nearly six-year tenure with us, she has proven to be a consummate professional and an essential member of this team.”

— Michael Miller