Our Mission
Fairplex at 100
Founded in 1922 with a mission centered on the region’s agriculture and commerce, Fairplex is richly ingrained in the history of Southern California. As we approach the 100-year anniversary of the LA County Fair, it is important to ensure our strategies are relevant and beneficial to Southern Californians.
During this process, we will honor and respect the mission, purpose and history of Fairplex while collaborating with stakeholders, government officials and neighbors to further build community and strengthen our economy for those who live, work play and learn at Fairplex.
We invite you to visit this page often to see our progress and welcome your input into this very important process.
Executive Team
Walter M. Marquez
President & Chief Executive Officer
Joined Fair Association: 2018
Walter serves as the CEO, responsible for leading the organization, financial reporting and engaging in the future development of Fairplex. With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education as an administrator and adjunct professor, Walter has held responsibilities in short and long-term financing and multiple developments, including public/private partnerships and donor-funded projects. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Cal State San Bernardino, an MBA from Cal Poly Pomona and a Doctoral degree from the University of La Verne.
Steve Birdwell
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Administration
Joined Fairplex: 2022
Steve came to Fairplex in 2022, overseeing the 501(c)(5) nonprofit organization’s Accounting, Facilities, Human Resources and IT departments, as well as Fairplex Learning & Development Centers (FLDC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit financials. Bringing with him a wealth of experience in finance, operations, and organizational leadership, Steve’s prior roles included Chief Operating Officer for Desert Champions LLC and Garden of Champions LLC at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home to the renowned BNP Paribas Open. During his tenure at Desert Champions, he played a key role in growing the organization from a small business into a leading sports and entertainment management firm, overseeing operations across multiple departments including Hospitality, Marketing, Merchandising, Sales, and Finance. Steve holds an MBA in Sport Entertainment from the University of North Texas and is deeply involved in community service, currently serving as Chairman of the Champions Volunteer Foundation and as a Board and Audit Committee member for the Desert Community Foundation.
Nena Hernandez
Vice President of External Affairs
Joined Fairplex: 2014
Nena Hernandez is the Vice President of External Affairs for Fairplex, overseeing the departments of Programming, Community Engagement, Governmental Affairs, Public Affairs, and social media. In addition, she has oversight over the newly formed Fairplex Learning and Development Centers (FLDC). Before being promoted in 2024, she served as Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships at Fairplex. Throughout her Fairplex career, Nena has managed the Fairplex community efforts and programming for FLDC, including the Ambassador Volunteer Program and fundraising for the non-profit’s key programs. Nena has spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector in organizations supporting children and education. Prior to joining Fairplex, Nena worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District, supporting the new school construction through their community engagement department. She also serves on the Board of the Pomona Public Library Foundation. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine with a BA in Political Science.
Marcus Jackson
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Joined Fairplex: 2021
Marcus started with Fairplex during a period of transition in 2021. His background experience includes working for Six Flags, where he held the positions of Operations/Security Supervisor and eventually became the Marketing and General Sales Manager, leading sales, marketing, and operations staff at multiple properties in the Six Flags system. Marcus later joined Universal Studios Hollywood as Sr. Sales Manager, where he spearheaded business development initiatives and led the local market corporate, youth and education, convention sales, special events sales, programming, and production teams. With Fairplex, Marcus initially served as the Director of Sales before being promoted to Interim Vice President of Marketing and Sales. In December 2024 he was promoted to his current role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and oversees the marketing, sales, and revenue-producing operations departments, including oversight of the Sheraton Suites and Conference Center and Fairplex/Fairview RV Parks and Storage.