Volunteer CEO position turns into paid job starting in January
By Jon Chown
WATSONVILLE — Dave Kegebein, who left a prosperous business of growing strawberries two years ago to voluntarily take charge of a group of volunteers in managing the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, told the fairgrounds board of directors October 22 that he needs to get back to work, but he’s willing to be employed by the fairgrounds.
“In the last probably eight months, this job has actually turned into fun,” Kegebein said. “I’m thinking of a long-term commitment. I’m not in a position to do this as a volunteer for the rest of my life. I’m 56 years old and have about 10 more years in my working career.”
It was wonderful news to the board, which had anticipated Kegebein’s departure in January and didn’t have a plan how to replace him with most of the directors feeling he really couldn’t be.
“You put us in a financial position so we could consider this,” director Don Dietrich told Kegebein. “We will probably have a fist fight to see who gets to make the motion to hire you.”
Kegebein’s history with the fair goes back to his childhood when his father, John Kegebein, worked for the fairgrounds. The elder Kegebein celebrated his 50th year of service to the fair and has had as many retirements as Brett Favre. He retired in 1984, but returned in 1991 and then retired in 1998 to focus entirely on the Agricultural History Project, housed at the fairgrounds. But he came back as a volunteer CEO in 2007 to help bail out the fair after it suddenly found itself in financial straits. Many in the community rallied to make the fair financially stable again and he finally retired “for good” in 2009, with a plan to again focus entirely on the Agricultural History Project.
Michael Bethke, who had recently resigned from the board, was hired in a somewhat controversial move to replace Kegebein. Unfortunately, the fair’s finances were back in the red by 2011 and the facility was even closed in December of that year due to a lack of funds. Bethke resigned and Dave Kegebein stepped forward to lead about a half dozen core volunteers who have since turned it around once again. The 2013 fair was one of its most successful this century and the fairgrounds’ finances are back in the black.
Dietrich suggested the board hire Kegebein in closed session at the next board meeting and discuss pay and benefits. Both Kegebeins, father and son, argued against that and said everything should be done and discussed in public.
“I think if we didn’t have a closed session last time, it would have been a whole different turnout,” John Kegebein said, indicating that other candidates had public support in 2011, but were not given enough consideration. “Somehow there has to be a better system in choosing managers.”
Dave Kegebein said the pay range was set by the state and he would be seeking the maximum package, about $90,000 in salary and $30,000 in benefits. Kegebein, who comes to work with his own heavy equipment, said it was necessary.
“I’m going to want the maximum because I come with my toys — the backhoes, the trucks — those take a lot of money to keep going and without outside income, I can’t support that,” he said.
Director Belgard said the board should be able to make an offer in November and still have plenty of time to start a new contract on Jan. 1. The board decided it would be meaningless to conduct a search and do interviews, but did want to make certain the process they took was lawful.
“This is one of the happiest days for me,” Dietrich said. “It’s almost like Christmas right now.”