Auster The Adolfo Camarillo Ranch House has a new manager. Marlyss Auster, a Ventura County native who just returned to the area after 14 years in Arizona, began her job this week as head of the historic property.

The Victorian home, built by Adolfo Camarillo in the early 1900s, and its surrounding grounds are used to host weddings, parties and other special events. The foundation uses money raised by the events to maintain the property.

Prior to taking over, Auster worked as the assistant executive director and production manager for the Arizona State Fair.

Auster was selected from a pool of 28 applicants, according to Bruce Fuhrman, vice president of the ranch house’s 15- member board of directors.

Fuhrman said Auster will be paid in “the $70,000 range” as the new manager.

“We chose Marlyss because of her vast experience in events, her charisma, knowledge of marketing and planning skills,” said Fuhrman.

The previous manager, Kristin Rickey Mulholland, resigned after more than 10 years in the position. She moved her family to Virginia because her husband, a master chief in the U.S. Navy, was transferred there from Port Hueneme.

From the original pool of ap- plicants, four were called in as finalists and interviewed by the board of directors.

One of applicants was Brandi Gardner, the property’s current assistant manager. Gardner was sad to see Mulholland go and said she did a great job overseeing the daily operations of the ranch.

Auster takes over responsibility of budget preparation, managing the three full-time and more than 12 part-time staff members and supervising events.

The Camarillo Ranch House hosts many events, including what Fuhrman said will be more than 120 weddings this year alone.

—Elliot Golan