Don’t Fear the Fall

Changes Propel Columnist into an Exciting 2026

By Clint Novak, Business Development Manager, A&A Global Industries

For those of us in the family entertainment industry, December is a time of both high-octane execution and quiet reflection. We’re deep in the holiday rush, but we’re also starting to think about the year that was and the new one on the horizon. For me, this December marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and I wanted to share it with you, the community I’ve been so proud to be a part of.

As many of you know, my journey with A&A Global has come to a close. To put it simply, it was the best job I ever had. It was a privilege to travel the country, visiting hundreds of facilities and meeting the incredible operators who make this industry so special. I am grateful for the experience, for the relationships I built, and for the unique perspective it gave me. A&A is a great company, and I’m proud to continue my relationship with them as a customer and a friend.

The single best part of that job was the community we built. It was the passion I found in helping others, in sharing best practices, and in connecting operators who were facing the same challenges. That work isn’t finished – for me, it’s just getting started.

But I’ve always believed that to give the best advice, you must be in the trenches. You can’t just talk the talk; you must be an operator at heart.

That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that I am officially back as an operator. My new passion project, the Cosmic Clawcade, just celebrated its grand opening on November 1. This isn’t my new full-time job, but it is my new full-time “lab.” It’s a high-end, high-payout crane and claw arcade concept, and it’s already providing me with real-time, on-the-ground experience in the trenches.

It’s the place where I get to experiment with operations, marketing and prize-sourcing right now. I’m excited to share the entire journey with you — my first article of 2026 will be a full deep-dive into the Cosmic Clawcade from the initial concept and finding a location to the grand opening and all the lessons we’re learning in these first crucial months.

This new venture leads directly to my primary new focus: The Novak Network.

The Novak Network is the new home for the work I am most passionate about. It is a direct continuation and evolution of the FEC Masterminds group I’ve been proud to host for the last eight years. It is a community built for operators, by an operator, dedicated to the simple idea that we are all stronger when we share what we know. My commitment to this industry is unwavering, and the Novak Network will be the hub for everything I’m doing to help you grow your business.

This new chapter is the perfect blend of what I love – helping the community on a grand scale while simultaneously building something new from the ground up. I am more committed than ever to the success of this industry and to the operators who make it great. Thank you for your support, for your friendship, and for being on this journey with me.

I’m looking forward to continuing these articles and sharing everything I learn in 2026. Have a wonderful holiday season!

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Clint Novak is a veteran of the FEC industry and a hands-on operator. He is the founder of The Novak Network, a community and consulting resource dedicated to helping operators thrive by sharing proven best practices and fostering mastermind groups. He is also the owner and operator of Cosmic Clawcade, his new high-end crane arcade that serves as a real-world lab for the latest in operations and prize strategy.

You can connect with Clint at [email protected].