Wisconsin Fair Terminates Exec. Director

The Wisconsin State Fair Park Board unanimously voted to terminate the park’s executive director, Rick Frenette, in a closed-door meeting May 11.

Frenette held the position since 2010 and is a longtime fair exec, working as an executive director or GM for various fairs for decades. He reportedly violated the “rules and regulations” of the administration’s “method” for dealing with merit-based pay increases.

Franklyn Gimbel, Frenette’s attorney, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Frenette admitted some negligence but that there was “no illicit or illegal behavior on his behalf.” Kathleen O’Leary, the board’s COO, was voted to serve as the interim replacement.