The N.C. Azalea Festival promoted Alison Baringer to executive director, festival officials announced late January.
 
Baringer began her involvement with the festival working as the festival office manager. Since then she has promoted the event as festival coordinator and spearheaded innovative changes in its operations, officials said.
 
While organizing 120 community members to run the event, Baringer helped implement a major concert venue change, transition to an online ticketing system and social media platform and complete an economic impact study.
 
“The North Carolina Azalea Festival is such a large part of our community’s history and culture,” Baringer said in the release. “I have seen this Festival grow exponentially in the ten years I have been fortunate to be a part of the Festival family, and am excited to see how much further we can take it!”