New York, NY—July 30, 2026—The Strip Club Cowboy, Mike Dickinson, the Regional Manager of the Pony Clubs has nabbed an ED (Exotic Dancer) Award nomination for the “Industry Innovator of the Year.”
“This is unreal. Many thanks to my boss and mentor Jerry Westlund for giving me the creative freedom to execute events. I owe it all to him. Thank you to the staff at ed Magazine. Thank you to Pony Nation,” says Mike Dickinson. “I’m honored to be nominated and the goal in doing anything is always to maintain what’s going on and try to push the industry forward and that’s what we try to do every step of the way, to find new ways and new solutions to bring our industry into 2026 and beyond. “
This latest nomination adds to what has been a domination of 2026. After winning the 2025 ED “Progressive Leader of the Year” award Mike Dickinson hasn’t sat on his laurels but went full speed ahead to deliver the best entertainment the gentlemen’s club industry can offer. He has also secured ED Award nominations for overall “Club of the Year” for the Admiral Theatre in Chicago, “Overall Small Club of the Year” for Mouse’s Ear in Johnson City and “Club of the Year Midwest” for Cheyenne’s in Oklahoma.
Mike Dickinson has earned a reputation as one of the adult nightclub industry’s most forward-thinking operators through his commitment to offering entertainment that is far outside the norm. His latest innovation involves recognizing and cultivating the next generation of club entertainment; specifically, he embraces “special guest appearances” by those with large social media and reality television followings, through such key locations as The Admiral Theater in Chicago.
By identifying emerging social media “stars” before they become mainstream and creating new entertainment options for club guests, Dickinson continues to help shape the future of entertainment in this industry. His entrepreneurial vision and leadership make him a deserving nominee for ED’s Industry Innovator of the Year Award.
The ED Awards will be held in Las Vegas at The Rio on August 23 through August 26 and for more information please go to https://theedexpo.com/
You may follow The ED Awards on X at https://x.com/ExoticDancerMag on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theedexpo/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/edpub/
You may follow Mike Dickinson on X at https://x.com/IamMrMikeD and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iammrmiked/
About Mike Dickinson:
Mike Dickinson is a dynamic leader in the adult entertainment industry and currently serves as Regional Manager for Pony Clubs, the premier strip club group often referred to as “the New York Yankees of strip clubs.” A Richmond, Virginia native, Dickinson was inspired by the film The People vs. Larry Flynt while still in high school. On the same day he earned his PhD in Public Policy from DCU, he walked into a job interview at a local bar and boldly declared his ambition to dominate the world of strip clubs. That night, he began working as a DJ.
He entered the industry at age 18 at The Candy Bar in Richmond and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a manager within weeks. Over the next 15 years, he owned and operated multiple clubs throughout the Richmond area, mastering the business of creating memorable experiences and connecting with people from all walks of life. In 2020, seeking his next challenge, Dickinson partnered with industry veteran Jerry Westlin to help expand Pony Clubs into Tennessee. What began as a single club in a small market has grown into a thriving regional operation under his leadership.
Known for his relentless drive, creativity, and ability to juggle multiple high-level projects, Dickinson is passionate about delivering exceptional value to guests through smart marketing, headline-grabbing events, and genuine human interaction, something he believes no digital platform can ever replace.
