Cinergy Entertainment Group today announced the promotion of Rich Schwarte to Chief Executive Officer & President, reinforcing the company’s commitment to strong leadership as it continues to expand its portfolio of luxury cinema and entertainment centers nationwide. Schwarte succeeds Jeff Benson, who will step down from the CEO role and continue serving as Chief Strategist, Co-Founder, and Director. Jamie and Jeff Benson will remain actively involved in guiding Cinergy’s long-term development and innovation strategy.

“In the beginning, Jamie and I were carrying the full weight of Cinergy’s operations and home-office functions,” said Jeff Benson, Chief Strategist, Co-Founder, and Director of Cinergy Entertainment Group. “Today, under Rich’s leadership, Cinergy has transformed into a high-performing professional services organization that supports our theaters and entertainment centers at every level. Our team truly embodies our magical values, and I couldn’t be more confident in Rich as we enter our next chapter of growth.”

Schwarte brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience across the entertainment and restaurant sectors. Since joining Cinergy in 2021, he has played a critical role in strengthening enterprise operations, professionalizing shared services, and supporting the company’s evolution into a scalable, guest-focused organization. Most recently, he served as President & Chief Financial Officer, overseeing enterprise strategy, operations, and financial performance.

“Cinergy is the best at what we do, and that starts with our people,” said Schwarte. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our home-office teams, our managers and staff, and the millions of guests who choose Cinergy each year. We have an incredibly strong leadership team across the company, and together we’ll continue to deliver the MAGICAL standard our guests expect.”

As CEO & President, Schwarte will lead Cinergy’s strategic vision, operational excellence, and continued innovation in guest experience across its expanding footprint, while working closely with the Benson co-founders and executive leadership team.

Cinergy’s leadership transition comes amid significant growth momentum. In December 2025, the company opened Cinergy Midland Tall City, a next-generation flagship entertainment center spanning approximately 100,000 square feet. The venue features luxury dine-in cinemas with 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos, a massive 70-foot sports-bar screen, boutique bowling, immersive escape rooms, and more than 80 arcade games, with Cinergy Speedway Extreme Karting scheduled to open in Spring 2026.

Building on that success, Cinergy has also acquired 5.125 acres in Odessa for a major expansion. The project includes a 13,000-square-foot building addition featuring seven Home Run Dugout bays, a new kitchen and bar, expanded amenities, and 45 additional arcade games. Outdoor plans include turf seating areas with fire pits, a large patio, and an 18-hole bunkers-style mini-golf course designed to create a dynamic destination for families, groups, and corporate events.

Schwarte is based at Cinergy’s Dallas headquarters and will continue working closely with leadership teams across all locations as the company expands its footprint and elevates the guest experience nationwide.

About Cinergy
Cinergy Entertainment Group, Inc., crowned Top Family Entertainment Center of the World*, is a one-stop entertainment experience providing movies, games, attractions, food and beverages for guests of all ages.

All Cinergy centers feature luxury recline-and-dine cinemas with alcoholic beverages, and most include a menu of craveable American favorites. In addition to upscale cinema amenities, many Cinergy locations feature a unique selection of interactive games and a variety of other amenities, including bowling, axe throwing, laser tag, escape rooms, Virtual Reality, and elevated ropes course with zip lines.

In 2024, Cinergy won the Loyalty360 Best In Class Customer Service award, in addition to the Loyalty360 bronze award for Customer Experience Strategy, and also received Honorable Mention in Technology.

Cinergy is guided by its core values – MAGICAL: Motivated, Accountable, Guest First, Informed, Committed, A Leader – which shape the company’s dedication to creating extraordinary experiences for every guest.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Cinergy operates nine luxury cinema and entertainment centers in Illinois, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas with 82 screens. For more information and to buy tickets, visit Cinergy at www.cinergy.com.

*As named by The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) in 2019