Cliff Hedges, Mackenzie Coburn Earn Roles in International Assoc. of Fairs and Expos

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Eastern States Exposition (ESE) employees Cliff Hedges, director of Security, and Mackenzie Coburn, Sales Innovation manager, have been appointed chairman of the Safety & Security Committee and chair of the Sponsorship Committee, respectively, by the International Assoc. of Fairs and Expos (IAFE).

The IAFE is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation that represents more than 1,100 fairs worldwide and includes more than 900 members from allied fields. Its purpose is to promote and encourage the development and improvement of agricultural fairs, shows, and expositions.

Cliff Hedges

Hedges has an extensive background in public safety beyond his six years as ESE’s director of Security. He began his career in law enforcement as a police officer in Dallas and was later employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for 26 years.

Hedges maintained various roles while working for the FBI in Tampa, Fla., Boston, and Springfield. While in Springfield, he spent five years conducting criminal investigations as a supervisory special agent for the Safe Streets Gang Task Force and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force. He was a foreign counterintelligence investigator when he concluded his career with the FBI.

Immediately before joining ESE, Hedges was the Compliance director and investigator for Regional Care Healthcare, where he oversaw the security of five hospitals. At that time, he was simultaneously acting as a security consultant for Bee-Line Security.

The IAFE’s Safety & Security Committee is an all-inclusive committee for fairs within the U.S. and those beyond its borders. This committee is composed of public-safety staff, fair managers, operations departments, human-resource departments, and more. The collective collaborates to address topics that affect the general fairgoing populace, such as ADA requirements, risk assessments, de-escalation, and active shooter training. As the 2025-26 chairman, Hedges will oversee these monthly meetings and instruct multiple courses throughout the year.

“It is an honor to have been selected as the 2025 chair for the IAFE Safety & Security Committee. This position is one that highlights my professional career and shines a light on the Eastern States Exposition,” Hedges said. “We have gone from not having a public-safety department to now having one of the most respected in the fair industry. I look forward to guiding this committee throughout 2025.”

Mackenzie Coburn

Coburn began her career at ESE more than five years ago as a marketing intern immediately after completing her bachelor’s degree in communications at Westfield State University. Soon after, she joined the team as a brand marketing coordinator and expanded her responsibilities tenfold, overseeing website redesigns for ESE and the Big E, rebranding the Big E’s food competition, refreshing the sponsorship program, and more. In July 2022, she became Sales Innovation manager, re-establishing the internship program, developing a brand style guide, curating a local brewers showcase, and more.

Coburn has also completed the Institute of Fair Management graduate certificate program in November 2023, became an IAFE ambassador in February 2023, and will now serve as IAFE’s chair of the Sponsorship Committee for 2025-26.

The Sponsorship Committee exists as a valuable entity within the IAFE’s Resource Library, providing articles to Fairs & Expos magazine, educational courses, and monthly meetings that allow for collaboration among fair leadership to grow sponsorship tactics and increase revenue and more.

As chair, Coburn will lead monthly conference calls for the 120 members of the sponsorship committee, host live discussions, enforce procedures, recommend rules, and serve as a mentor for those on the committee.

“I am committed to supporting the IAFE Foundation’s fundraising efforts and strengthening connections among industry professionals,” she said. “Through collaboration and education, I strive to empower IAFE members with the tools and knowledge they need to secure impactful sponsorships and drive the success of fairs and events worldwide.”