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NICA's 2024 Board of Directors Election


It's that time of year again! This year's Candidates for NICA's Board of Directors are Michelle Allen, CCE, H&M Funnel Cake Express; Nathan Vandewarker, Maverick Concepts; and Trent Wilkes, Wilkes Concessions. Read more about them below and in the upcoming December issue of NICA News.

We sent out election ballots on November 22nd to Voting Members. Members without email, non-working emails, or those with a shared email address were sent the election ballot via mail. If you do not receive a mail ballot by November 30th or have received an online ballot, but would prefer it to be sent by mail, contact the NICA Office at (813) 438-8926. Thank you for your continued support!

Michelle Allen, CCE, H&M Funnel Cake Express

My name is Michelle Allen, CCE and I am 3rd Generation Concessionaire In 2012 my husband and I decided to make Concessions our full time life, so we packed up our three daughters and moved from Utah to California to be a part of our family business. We currently play approximately ten Fairs throughout California. After falling in love with Concessions all over again, I chose to join NICA's West Council in 2023. In 2024, I became the Ex-Officio for the West Council. I would like to continue to help Concessionaires, Commercial Exhibitors, and all the current and future NICA Members. I hope to be one of your next Board Member!

What is the single most important challenge facing Concessionaires today?
I believe the single most important challenge facing the Concessionaires right now is inflation. We all want our prices to stay reasonable for our guests joining the Fair.

As a Board Member, how would you help overcome this challenge?
I believe we need to have better communication with fairs and I am hoping to join in conversations that everyone can accept.

Where do you see NICA in five years?
I see NICA growing in the next five years. We currently are adding more and more commercial vendors and fairs. My hope is to see the membership double.

What would you plan to help NICA get there?
My plan to implement this is to continue to share with others the benefits and amazing opportunities that NICA has for everyone.

Nathan Vandewarker, Maverick Concepts

My journey began with my first job at the San Diego County Fair when I was just seventeen. I hold a degree in economics from UCLA, and I believe the phrase "failing forward" best describes my experiences in this dynamic Industry. With over twenty years in the Concession Business, I play Fairs on the West Coast and in the Midwest. I balance my professional life with a loving family, including my wife and three kids, who inspire me to continually grow and adapt.

What is the single most important challenge facing Concessionaires today?
I believe the single most important challenge facing concessionaires today is the convergence of rising food costs, labor shortages, and compliance issues, compounded by price increase fatigue among consumers. With the cost and availability of labor becoming increasingly unpredictable, many concessionaires struggle to maintain quality service and to meet regulatory requirements while keeping prices manageable for patrons. This environment has created a ripple effect, impacting fair partners and suppliers who each face similar pressures.

As a Board Member, how would you help overcome this challenge?
As a Board Member, my focus would be on strategies to enhance profit margins for concessionaires and programs providing guidance on navigating regulatory and compliance issues.

Where do you see NICA in five years?
In five years, I envision NICA with an increased membership base and a strengthened role in regulatory advocacy. By expanding reach, influence, and resources it can better represent the interests of concessionaires and help shape policies that support their success.

What would you plan to help NICA get there?
To help NICA achieve this vision, I would strive to maintain NICA’s history of assisting Concessionaires in overcoming obstacles. It seems clear that NICA’s continued growth is a result of the sum of all the great things it offers its members; support services, offering tailored resources, and fostering partnerships and bulk purchasing programs, advocacy, knowledge sharing and collaboration. I would work to ensure that NICA remains a vital resource in navigating the evolving landscape of the Concession Industry.

Trent Wilkes, Wilkes Concessions

My name is Trent Wilkes, owner of Wilkes Concessions / The Baker Man. My wife Katie and I live in Linton, IN with our four-year-old daughter Finn Hadley. We are employed full time with our Concession Business. We work approximately thirty locations a year across Indiana at several County Fairs and Fall Festivals including the Indianapolis 500 and the Indiana State Fair. I grew up working for close family friends (who basically were adopted grandparents) in their Cinnamon Roll trailer. At the age of 15 I started on my own selling canned soda and popsicles out of a tent. The next year I graduated to a small trailer and the rest is history. We pride ourselves in being a Family owned and operated business.

What is the single most important challenge facing Concessionaires today?
Like many NICA Members, this business is my family's livelihood. As inflation increases, that bottom line and profit margin decreases. I have seen one of my main products (fish) go from $60.00 a case to $1 04.00 a case in 10 years. Meanwhile my sandwich cost has only increased by $3.00 in that 10 years. At the same time credit card volumes have gone from 10-15% to 60-75% in some cases. I want to be able to maintain Family Friendly prices for my customers but at the end of the day keep my lights on at home, I see that challenge growing constantly.

As a Board Member, how would you help overcome this challenge?
Networking with fellow Concessionaires, sharing ideas and ways to increase profit margins, and keep prices reasonable is the number one way to overcome the inflation challenges as well as trying to provide resources for Independent Concessionaires.

Where do you see NICA in five years?
I can't help but notice that there is not a great abundance of Independent Concessionaires, such as myself, doing this for full time household income with a young family at the age of thirty. My hope is to get more younger people involved so NICA can be just as strong in five years as it is now and for many years after that.

What would you plan to help NICA get there?
I would like to help promote all of the benefits of NICA to fellow Independent Concessionaires (non-members).

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