OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) staffing coordinator, Cristina Garcia, was a former teacher before being offered a job at OCFEC. She now nurtures professional growth and corporate culture through the reviewing of applications, interviews, resumes and onboarding paperwork of over 100+ qualified individuals each day.

Her decision to transition from her career as a teacher to human resources wasn't easy, but she took a leap of faith into a new chapter in her life. "Transitioning out of teaching after 6 years taught me a lot and it gave me the confidence to feel comfortable now," Cristina said. "I realized I will always be a teacher. It translated into me doing the training materials. They are learning materials, but my audience is different."

Though her typical workday consists of checking invoices, emails and making schedules, the time flies by because she loves the work. Of particular significance for her is revamping the training and learning materials for other staffing assistants and coordinators. She hopes the reworked documents can be easily applied by the user for a smooth transition into their work environment. “I want to make sure the training program is strong, to give them the confidence to do their job,” Cristina said. “[I want to be] the best that I can be so that it can continue to develop to ensure everyone feels empowered in their roles.”

Cristina’s hard work and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed as she plays a big role in helping OCFEC succeed through its mission and core values. More importantly, she shows up every day as her authentic self, always willing to step out of her comfort zone to help others feel comfortable in their own skin within and outside the workplace. 

After two Fairs her staffing journey has been quite memorable as she does her best to appreciate the little things that make work fun. “My favorite memory working here was an unexpected photograph fail on the first day of Fair when greeting guests,” Cristina said. “I wanted to take a photo on my Polaroid but forgot to put film in it, so we ended up taking a regular photo on a phone.” The excitement of people and capturing the moment led to a forever memory that she cherishes and remembers every Fair opening day. 

When she isn’t working, Cristina takes in the sunshine and enjoys the Fair as a Fairgoer. Her favorite part is the $4 Taste of Thursdays and, this year, is looking forward to exploring The Art of Music Experience.