Wayne McCary, president and CEO of Eastern States Exposition (ESE), announced his retirement at a press conference held Dec. 16 at ESE's Brooks Building. McCary has been at the helm since July 1, 1991; he will step down effective June 26, 2012.

Under his leadership, the exposition experienced significant growth, with more than $36 million in improvements made to its physical plant as well as the facility's infrastructure. Topping the list are upgrades in the midway area, the completion of the agricultural complex and the building of a Food Court, Gate 1 Visitors Center and Equine Arena.

McCary spearheaded a successful bid to extend The Big E from 12 to 17 days in 1994. He brought international exhibits and new ideas to the Fair including an authentic Mardi Gras Parade with New Orleans-made floats.

Located on 175 acres in West Springfield, Mass., ESE is home to The Big E, the largest fair in the Northeast. More than 100 shows are held on the grounds, including horse and dog competitions, trade shows, and The Fiber Festival of New England. The Storrowton Village Museum and Storrowton Tavern are open throughout the year and offer shops and demonstrations of traditional crafts by artisans. ESE was founded in 1916 and is a not-for-profit agricultural, educational institution.

The Big E $30,000 Six-Horse Hitch Showdown attracts national competitors as one of the qualifying shows of the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series.
A equine-related feather in the cap of the ESE is the selection of the site for the 2014 World Percheron Congress, the world’s largest gathering of Percheron horses from North America and beyond. This spectacular event showcasing one of the world’s oldest breeds of draft horses will take place Oct. 6-11, 2014 and was announced by McCary during the annual meeting of exposition trustees in May 2011, who noted that a new covered equine arena was “instrumental in the congress deciding to move its event to the Northeast.”

McCrary has made great strides in entertainment features, customer service and beautification of the grounds and has also expanded the number of year-round events held at ESE fairgrounds.

Three industry Hall of Fame honors have been bestowed upon McCary: The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Hall of Fame, 2001; The New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) Hall of Fame, 2009; and The Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs Association Hall of Fame, 2010. He is accredited as a certified fair executive by the IAFE and served with distinction as its president in 1997.

Locally, McCary has served in many leadership positions including a long tenure as chairman of the Board of the Sisters of Providence Health System and vice president of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Springfield, Mass. He currently serves as a trustee of the College of Our Lady of the Elms and is on the Finance Council of the Diocese of Springfield. He was the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree from Westfield State University in 2007.

ESE Chairman of the Board, Donald Chase, announced that Eugene Cassidy, ESE executive vice president and chief operating officer, will succeed McCary and take the reins of the exposition as president and CEO, effective, June 27, 2012.

Cassidy will be the seventh CEO in the organization's 95-year history. He joined ESE as director of finance in 1993 and was named executive vice president and chief operating officer in March. He is currently responsible for the financial management of the company, strategic planning, developing a plan for year-round growth at ESE and furthering the agricultural/educational mission of the exposition. He represents the exposition regionally and nationally in the fair and outdoor amusement industry and act as a liaison with community and local government.

He serves on the finance committee of The Springfield Technical Community College Foundation, is treasurer of the Western Massachusetts Legatus Society, is on the school board and finance committee at St. Thomas the Apostle School and is active in the IAFE as a member of the budget and finance committee. He is also accredited as a certified fair executive by the IAFE and served as program chair of the organization's International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2010.