Sam Parks has been named the executive director for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, replacing Paul Smith, who is retiring after 26 years as the organization’s leader.
Smith is set to retire on Jan. 30. He began as a pilot in 1982 before providing legal counsel for the organization. He was appointed the executive director in 1997.
Parks, currently the Director of Operations, will assume the leadership role in February. He served as the Fiesta’s Balloonmeister from 2013 to 2018. “I am excited about taking on this new role within a great organization,” Parks said in a news release. “After celebrating AIBF’s golden anniversary this past October, I look forward to launching the next 50 years of the World’s Premier Balloon Event this year.”
Smith is credited with helping bring a number of improvements to the event. Smith oversaw the addition of Fiesta’s grass field and a slew of extra entertainment offerings, like the 2022 drone show. Balloon Fiesta celebrated its 50th event in October 2022.
AIBF also announced Judith “Judy” Nakamura will lead the Board of Directors in 2023. Nakamura, a former Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, replaces Al Tetreault.
“I look forward to continuing the work of the Board and staff in ensuring Balloon Fiesta remains one of New Mexico’s economically and culturally defining events,” Nakamura said in the release. Nakamura has been on the Balloon Fiesta board since 2011.
Other leadership changes included Jennifer Garcia as the Fiesta’s new event director. Taylor Caldwell has been named the pilot coordinator. For more on the event’s leadership changes, visit this blog post on Fiesta’s website.