July 24, 2007
Contact: Pat Dodds, Public Affairs Officer, (480) 312-2336
New WestWorld head brings 24 years of experience in
event management
A 24-year veteran of the equestrian industry and current manager of a major event center in North Carolina has been named the new general manager of WestWorld, Scottsdale’s equestrian and events center.
Brian K. Dygert will assume his new duties at WestWorld on Aug. 22.
In 1997, Dygert opened and has since been the manager of the Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, a $19 million equine and multi-use center in Williamston, N.C. The center is similar in size to WestWorld and, like the Scottsdale facility, hosts a variety of events – equestrian and non-equestrian. The center is operated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Dygert also is the manager of Carolina Classic, Inc., an equine show management and production company that produces a series of top equestrian shows in North Carolina.
“It is a true privilege and honor to become a part of a phenomenal team that has such a commitment to the future of this facility,” Dygert said.
His experience includes positions as chairman of the reining discipline for the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, 2002; owner and operator of Dygert Stables in Springville, N.Y. from 1987 to 1997, and manager of the Erie County Fair Horse Show and the Empire State Fall Quarter Horse Show between 1988 and 1999.
He currently serves as chairman of the League of Agricultural and Equine Centers Executive Board and was president of the National Reining Horse Association in 2002. He has served as a judge for national and international equine competitions and is an international instructor for judges for reining events. He is a life member of the National Reining Horse Association, the United States Equestrian Federation and the American Quarter Horse Association and is a current member of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions and International Association of Assembly Managers.
Dygert holds a master’s degree in business administration from Colorado Technical University and a bachelor’s in animal science from North Carolina State University.
WestWorld is a 230-acre special events and equestrian center near Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Loop 101. Facilities include a 120,000-square-foot tent structure, a 6,300-seat covered Equidome, a 6,700-seat open-air arena, a 10,000-square-foot banquet facility and horse barns with nearly 700 stalls, a recreational vehicle parking area and a 10-acre polo field.
The center hosted 135 events during its last season, ending in June, including the Barrett-Jackson Class Car Auction, the Sun Country Circuit Quarter Horse Show and the All Arabian Horse Show.
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