Jim Barich was elected president and Peggy Haidl was elected vice president of the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center's Board of Directors on Thursday, August 26, 2004.

Irvine resident Barich is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. He has served on the board of directors for the California Taxpayers Association, California Business Properties Association, Orange County Public Affairs Association and the California Chamber of Commerce (Public Affairs Council). He has served on the OCFEC Board since 1998.

Haidl, of Corona del Mar, is Vice President of Financial Operations for the auction house Asset Liquidation Group, a position she has held since 1995. She is a former Commissioner of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. She serves on the Orange County Sheriff Advisory Council, and has been an Orange County Reserve Deputy Sheriff since 1999. She has been a Board member since 2001.