Jeff Peterson Named 2025 Mickey Warner Award Honoree

The Entertainment Food & Beverage Association (formerly NAC) has announced that Jeff Peterson, Account Manager-Theatre and Concessions Mars Wrigley Confection, has been named the 2025 Mickey Warner Award Recipient. The Mickey Warner Award is bestowed upon an individual each year by NAC to recognize leadership and significant accomplishments in the non-theatre concession industry.

The award honors the late Mickey Warner, the father of the NAC Concession Manager Certification Program and one of the greatest innovators and educators of the concessions industry. The 2025 award presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 17 at the Awards Luncheon during the Concession & Hospitality Expo.

Jeff Peterson is a seasoned sales and account management leader with over 29 years of experience leading sales initiatives and driving revenue growth. Since 2016, Peterson has held the role of Senior Customer Manager for Theatre and Concessions for Mars Wrigley. In this role, Jeff is responsible for building strategic partnerships, sales growth, program development, marketing and forecasting. Prior to joining Mars, Jeff spent 15 years in the publishing industry, where he held various sales leadership roles including National Sales Manager and Director of Sales. He was responsible for business growth with retailers such as 7-11, H.E.B. and Walmart.

A member of EF&B/NAC since 2016, Peterson’s commitment to the industry is unwavering. As a long-time and highly active member, he has served as a dedicated Board Member, and his influence is felt across multiple committees including the Expo Committee and the Silent Auction Committee. Peterson has been instrumental in securing top-quality speakers and contributors for seminars and the Expo, helping ensure our industry events deliver fresh perspectives, valuable insights, and real-world expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Southern Illinois University.

Past recipients include: Shelly Feldman of Shelly Feldman Associates (2002), Walter Dunn of the Coca-Cola Company (2003), Frank Liberto of Ricos Products Company (2004), Jeremy M. Jacobs of the Delaware North Companies (2005), Chris Bigelow of Bigelow Companies (2006), Phil Noyes of Proof of the Pudding (2007), Ken Young of Ovations Food Service (2008), Charlie Cretors of C. Cretors and Company (2009), Gary Horvath of Ovations Food Service (2010), J. C. Evans of Gold Medal Products (2011), Larry Etter of Malco Theatres (2012),Terry Conlon of the University of Illinois (2013), Gary Wattie of Centerplate (2014), Dan Kroeger of Gold Medal (2015), Charlie Neary of Spectra Comcast Spectacor (2016), Joe Joyce of Playhouse Square (2017), Jon Muscalo of Legends Hospitality Management (2018), Brian McMillin of The Lexington Center Corporation (2019), Charlie Gomez of Ricos Products Company (2020), Jeff Scudillo of PIM Brands, Inc. (2021), Dave Guepfer of the La Crosse Center (2022), George Raub IV of Delaware North (2023), and Shelly Olesen of C. Cretors and Company (2024).

About EF&B/NAC: The Entertainment Food & Beverage Association (formerly The National Association of Concessionaires), founded in 1944, is the trade association for the recreation and leisure-time food and beverage concessions industry. Members are comprised of the owners and operators of facilities such as: Movie Theatres, Stadiums & Arenas, Zoos & Aquariums, Colleges & Universities, Foodservice Contractors, Park & Recreation Departments, Amusement Parks & Family Entertainment Centers, Ice and Roller Skating Rinks, Racetracks, Bowling Centers, Outdoor facilities, Convention centers and Performing Arts Centers. Our members also are the companies that provide products and services to these facilities, including: Suppliers, Equipment Manufacturers, Popcorn Processors, Jobber Distributors, Consultants and Brokers.

For more information:
Chris Dammann
Executive Vice President
612-849-8418
cdammann@naconline.org

Category: News Releases