Chris Carton

Vice President of Food and Beverage Services

Chef Chris Carton, an alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, CA, brings 40 years of culinary and hospitality expertise to his role as Vice President of Food and Beverage Services at VenuWorks. Over his 16 years with the company, Chris has led culinary operations focusing on menu innovation, food presentation, team development, and guest satisfaction. His efforts have strengthened the success of venues across the entire VenuWorks portfolio, driving innovation in operations, advancing national safety initiatives and fostering new business opportunities.

Chris’s career highlights include cooking for U.S. Presidents, performing artists, and major events, such as serving as a guest Celebrity Chef at Super Bowl XXXVIII. His honors include American Culinary Federation Chapter Chef of the Year, the Premier Chef Excellence Award, and multiple Taste of Elegance and Best Chef awards.

Dedicated to education and community, Chris has been an Adjunct Culinary Instructor since 1997, was named Teacher of the Year by Eastern Iowa Community College and serves as an Advisory Board Member for its Culinary Hospitality Arts Program. A Stakeholder Member of the Iowa Food Rescue Partnership, Chris is also recognized for his efforts to combat food waste and hunger. His community-minded approach also earned him recognition from the Quad City Food Rescue Partnership as Member of the Year.

With a career defined by excellence, Chris Carton continues to raise the bar in event-driven food and beverage services, empowering teams and enriching the communities he serves.