Impactful Women of the 918: Amanda Blair

Amanda Blair has spent more than 20 years helping create the experiences that have become traditions for generations of Oklahoma families. Today, as Expo Square‘s first female president and CEO, she’s leading an organization she knows from the ground up.

Blair began her career at Expo Square in 2005 in the ticket office before becoming chief operating officer and, ultimately, president and CEO. She credits those experiences with giving her a deep appreciation for every member of the team.

“Buildings host events, but people create experiences,” Blair says. “Watching our team come together to serve our community is what inspires me every day.”

While many know Expo Square as the home of the Tulsa State Fair, the campus hosts hundreds of events each year that bring visitors and economic impact to Tulsa County. For Blair, opening day of the fair is still the most rewarding moment, when months of planning come together as families begin making memories.

Outside of Expo Square, Blair supports Leadership Tulsa and The Lemon-Aid Project, helping develop future leaders and young entrepreneurs.

“My hope is that one day my son will understand the long hours were never just about building events,” Blair says. “They were about helping build a stronger Tulsa for his generation.”

Q&A with Amanda Blair

Can you tell us about your career journey and what has kept you passionate about the organization?

I began my career at Expo Square in 2005 as the Assistant Manager of the Ticket Office, just as the Tulsa 66ers launched their inaugural NBA D-League season in the historic Pavilion. Throughout the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in many different areas of the organization, which gave me a strong operational foundation and a deep appreciation for every role that contributes to our success.

I served as Chief Operating Officer beginning in 2014, where I had the privilege of leading incredible teams, overseeing new facility construction, and helping create the Tulsa State Fair experience that so many families enjoy each year. Today, as President and CEO, I am grateful for the opportunity to help lead Expo Square into its next chapter by continuing to improve our facilities, strengthen our economic impact, and serve Tulsa County for generations to come.

What has kept me passionate all these years is simple. Our people. Buildings host events, but people create experiences. Watching our team come together to serve our community is what inspires me every day.

For readers who may not realize it, Expo Square is much more than the Tulsa State Fair. Can you briefly describe its mission and the impact it has on our community throughout the year?

Our mission is simple: to provide Safe. Clean. Fun. experiences that positively impact the participants and community we serve.

While many people know us for the Tulsa State Fair, Expo Square is active virtually every day of the year. Across our 240-acre campus, we hosted more than 300 events and 634 event days in 2025. From livestock shows and youth sports tournaments to concerts, trade shows, community events, and equestrian competitions, every event brings visitors, economic impact, and opportunities to Tulsa County.

Although our facilities provide the venue, it is our people who create the experience, and that is what makes Expo Square special.

The Tulsa State Fair is one of Oklahoma’s largest and most beloved annual traditions. What does it take to bring an event of that scale to life, and what makes you most proud each year?

The Tulsa State Fair is truly 11 Days of Awesome, but bringing it to life requires a full year of planning.

During the Fair, our workforce grows from approximately 150 year-round employees to nearly 675 team members. It takes thousands of hours, countless moving parts, long days, an unwavering focus on safety, and extraordinary teamwork to create a consistent experience for every guest who walks through our gates.

The moment I am most proud of each year is Opening Day. As the gates open and families begin making memories together, it reminds us why we do this work. Seeing months of planning come to life through the smiles of our guests is something that never gets old. Those moments are only possible because of the people behind the scenes who work tirelessly to create them.

Looking back on your career, what accomplishment or milestone are you most proud of?

Becoming the first female President and Chief Executive Officer of Expo Square is certainly an honor that I do not take lightly. What I am most proud of, however, is earning the trust of the people I have worked alongside for more than two decades and having the opportunity to help shape the future of an organization that has meant so much to me.

I hope my journey demonstrates that leadership is built through hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to continue learning. If it encourages another young woman to believe she belongs at the leadership table, then I hope that becomes part of the legacy I leave. For me, the greatest accomplishment is not the title itself, but the opportunity to invest in our people, our facilities, and our community.

As someone who has grown from within the organization to become its CEO, what leadership lessons have you learned along the way?

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that there is never a finish line. The moment we become comfortable, someone else is improving.

I have also learned that leadership is not about avoiding mistakes. It is about how you respond to them. Challenges are inevitable, but character is revealed in what you do next.

Finally, I have learned you can teach skills, but you cannot teach passion. I look for people who genuinely care about serving others because passion inspires excellence. Buildings host events, but people create experiences, and investing in people will always be the best investment an organization can make. No matter where you are in your career, your education is never complete. The best leaders remain lifelong learners.

Outside of Expo Square, are there organizations, volunteer work, or community causes that are especially meaningful to you?

I have been fortunate to serve on several community boards throughout my career. One organization that has been especially meaningful is Leadership Tulsa, where I continue to support the Women’s Leadership Conference and the development of future leaders in our community.

I am also actively involved with The Lemon-Aid Project, which teaches young people entrepreneurial skills while encouraging them to give back. Investing in future generations is something I am deeply passionate about.

Anything you would like to share about your family, hobbies, or interests?

I am a born-and-raised Tulsan who genuinely believes in the future of our community. Outside of work, my greatest joy is spending time with my family and experiencing Tulsa through the eyes of my young son. He reminds me every day why investing in our community matters.

My hope is that one day he will understand the long hours were never just about building events. They were about helping build a stronger Tulsa for his generation.

We also have two wonderfully spunky corgis that keep life entertaining, and I am always on the hunt for Tulsa’s perfect slice of pizza.