Press Releases

Cal Expo Board Selects New Chair & Vice Chair
Gil Albiani and Cornelius Gallagher Begin Term with December Board Meeting

SACRAMENTO, CA (November 18, 2009) – At its October board meeting, the California Exposition & State Fair (Cal Expo) Board of Directors voted unanimously to have Gil Albiani of Elk Grove and Cornelius Gallagher of Fair Oaks serve as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the Cal Expo Board. Their leadership term is set to begin at the next Cal Expo board meeting on Friday, December 11.

Director Gilbert Albiani, of Elk Grove, has served on the Board of Directors under this Administration since 2007.  He has owned and managed a herd of registered shorthorn beef cattle since 1969.  Mr. Albiani has also served as a real estate broker since 1977 and currently as the Albiani Group of Lyon Real Estate.  He served in the California Army National Guard for nearly 22 years before retiring with the rank of major.  Mr. Albiani is Chair of the Cosumnes Community Services District Board of Directors, a member of Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and their PAC, and is immediate past chair of the Mercy Foundation Board of Directors.

Director Cornelius Gallagher, of Fair Oaks, has served on the Board of Directors since 2007.  He has served as senior vice president and agribusiness executive for Bank of America since 1987.  Mr. Gallagher has worked for Bank of America since 1969, previously holding the position of senior vice president and regional market executive as well as other vice president and managerial positions.  Additionally, he represents the Bank of America on several agricultural leadership boards and committees, including chair of the California Bankers Association Agricultural Lending Committee and Commissioner on the US President’s Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources

Other Cal Expo Directors include: Amparo Perez-Cook (Immediate Past Chair), Davis; Steve Beneto, Carmichael; Richard Cuneo, Sonoma; Rex S. Hime, Loomis; Bert Johnson M.D., Los Gatos; Peter Lopez, Encino; Marko Mlikotin, Folsom; Kathleen Nakase, Huntington Beach; Paul F. Stacey, Visalia; Senator Darrell Steinberg, Ex Officio; Assembly Member Dave Jones, Ex Officio.

Cal Expo is an independent state agency established by law and regulated primarily by the California Department of Food and Agriculture codes. The organization is governed by an appointed Board of Directors, with daily operations managed by a permanent staff of 75. During the annual State Fair more than 2,000 temporary employees are hired for the event's duration. Cal Expo is a self-sufficient operation receiving no government funding and yet has an estimated economic impact of more than $250 million on the region.

For more information, media should contact the Cal Expo Media Center at 916-825-0646 or via email at mediacenter@calexpo.com. Inquiries from the general public should be directed to info@calexpo.com or 877-CAL-EXPO.