The National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA) is pleased to announce that Courtny Hinds has been selected as its next Executive Director.
Courtny will officially begin her role on September 14, 2026, working side by side with current NICA Executive Director Rey O’Day through February 14, 2027. This transition period has been intentionally designed to provide continuity for NICA while allowing for a thoughtful transfer of knowledge, relationships, and strategic priorities.
Currently serving as Executive Director and General Manager of the Wyoming State Fair & Event Complex, Courtny brings extensive experience in Association Leadership, Fair Management, Strategic Planning, Financial Stewardship, and Member Engagement. As a Second Generation Concessionaire and Certified Concessionaire Executive (CCE), she also understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing Concessionaires.
What makes Courtny uniquely qualified is the breadth of that experience. She is the only professional in the Fair Industry to hold all three premier professional designations: Certified Association Executive (CAE), Certified Concessionaire Executive (CCE), and Certified Fair Executive (CFE). Together, those credentials represent leadership in Associations, Concessions, and the Fair Industry—the very partnerships that define NICA’s mission. Courtny shared, “It is an incredible honor to serve as NICA’s next Executive Director. NICA has built an extraordinary legacy by bringing together Concessionaires, Fairs, Festivals, suppliers, and Industry partners who believe in supporting one another and advancing our profession. I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside our Members, Board of Directors, Volunteers, and Partners as we continue to strengthen the Association, advocate for our Industry, and invest in the Next Generation of Leaders. NICA’s motto reminds us that our greatest successes are never achieved alone. Together We Can—and Together We Will—build on that legacy, embrace new opportunities, and ensure a strong, vibrant future for our members and the Industry we proudly serve.”
Courtny succeeds Rey O’Day, who has served as NICA’s Executive Director since 2019 after nearly two decades of leadership and service to the Association, beginning with the co-founding of the NICA West Council. During her tenure, NICA has experienced tremendous growth, including the creation of the NICA Foundation and NICA Marketplace, the expansion of Regional Councils across the country, the implementation of Strategic Planning Goals, and the development of numerous new Member Benefit
Programs and National Purchasing Contracts. In the coming months, Rey will work closely with Courtny to ensure a seamless handoff. Rey said, “For the past 20 years, NICA has been an incredible part of my life, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has allowed me to serve this Association in so many different ways.
Every Executive Director builds upon the work of those who came before them, and I have always believed we stand on the shoulders of the leaders who shaped NICA into what it is today. Now it is my privilege to pass that torch to Courtny. I have every confidence in her Leadership, her passion for our Industry, and her commitment to our Members. As we begin this transition together, I know NICA’s future is filled with endless opportunities, and I look forward to watching the association continue to grow and thrive.”
