CHICAGO (February 1, 2005) - The National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) has named Krista Schulte of The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, the recipient of the 2005 Bert Nathan Memorial Award. The award presentation will be made on March 16 at a breakfast sponsored by Nestle USA and Screenvision during the ShoWest theatre exhibition convention in Las Vegas.

Criteria for the award include involvement in NAC, providing positive leadership direction, significant contributions to the development and professionalism of the concessions industry, and current involvement at the executive level. The award is named for the late Bert Nathan, a past president, leader and great supporter of NAC and the concessions industry. The award is given annually based on nominations from NAC members and a vote of past award recipients.

Schulte began her career at The Coca-Cola Company in 1994 in Presence Marketing. Since that time, she has served in a variety of positions in the areas of marketing, sales and management. She has managed the activation of Coca-Cola's partnerships with major sports properties such as FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl and the NBA All-Star Game.
For the last six years Schulte has led theatre marketing and was recently promoted to Senior Global Account Director of Strategic Alliances. Currently, Schulte leads a team of sales and marketing associates that manage international and domestic theatre and theme park partnerships including Cinemark, Loews and Six Flags.

Schulte has been an active member of NAC since 1998, and joined its Board of Directors in 2000. She has served on the Marketing/Membership Committee, and is currently chair of the Board's Convention Sponsorship Committee.
"I am truly honored to receive this award and be in such select company as the previous honorees," stated Schulte. "I've been privileged to have been a board member of NAC for the past five years and have witnessed first hand its growth and contributions to the industry."

A Texas native, Schulte holds a bachelor's degree in Communication from Southwest Texas State University. She has also served on the board for the Variety Club of Georgia Children's Charity. She and her husband Sean live in Atlanta with their three-year-old twins, Alex and Sydney.

Previous winners of the Bert Nathan Memorial Award are Maria Angles, Norman Chesler, Charlie Cretors, Larry Etter, J.C. Evans, John Evans, Jr., Evan Gordon, Wally Helton, Ron Krueger II, Jack Leonard, Peter Leyh, Frank Liberto, Libby Mauro, Bruce Proctor, Bill Rector, Robert Scribner, Skip Stefansen, Bruce Taffet, and the late Bill Chaplain, Len Marsh and Bert Nathan.

The National Association of Concessionaires, founded in 1944, is a trade association representing the recreation and leisure-time food and beverage concessions industry. NAC is comprised of owners and operators of all types of public assembly facilities including stadiums and arenas, colleges and universities, amusement parks, park and recreation departments, movie theaters, ice and roller rinks, and other leisure-time foodservice operations, as well as the companies that provide products and services to these facilities.