Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Administration, Fairplex
Steve Birdwell is the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration for Fairplex in Pomona, CA. Fairplex is a 543-acre nonprofit community benefit organization in Pomona, CA. It’s home to the L.A. County Fair, NHRA Winternationals, NHRA Finals, Sheraton Fairplex Suites & Conference Center, and hosts hundreds of other events year-round.
He joined Fairplex in 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience in finance, operations, and organizational leadership. Prior to his current role, Steve served as the Chief Operating Officer for Desert Champions LLC and Garden of Champions LLC at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home to the renowned BNP Paribas Open. During his tenure at Desert Champions, he played a key role in growing the organization from a small business into a leading sports and entertainment management firm, overseeing operations across multiple departments including Hospitality, Marketing, Merchandising, Sales, and Finance.
Steve holds an MBA in Sport Entertainment Management from the University of North Texas and is deeply involved in community service, currently serving as Chairman of the Champions Volunteer Foundation and as a Board and Audit Committee member for the Desert Community Foundation. He is also a former Chairman of Upward Bound Sports. Outside of work, Steve enjoys fitness training, hiking, and traveling.
