Now Accepting Applications and Donations for California Wildfires Assistance

The application for our California Wildfires Relief Fund, which supports food and beverage workers affected by the 2025 disaster, is now open. Find the application here.

We have committed an initial funding amount of $300,000 for this relief effort. However, we know that many more food and beverage workers are in need, and we can provide further assistance with your help. If you’re interested in supporting our response efforts, please consider donating.

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About
About Southern Smoke
News + Views
People + Partners
Our Impact
Programs
Overview
Emergency Relief
Behind You
How to Help
Overview
Donate
Shop
Events
All Events
Southern Smoke Festival
Southern Smoke Decanted
Respect the Rosé 2025
EN
GET HELP Emergency Relief Mental Health Services
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Petter Pettersen

Immediate Past President

Petter Aa. Pettersen, a native Norwegian turned Texan, is a graduate from the University of Oslo with a Master of Law. During his 17+ year career with AIG, he relocated from Oslo, Norway to Houston in 2011. Upon putting boots on the ground in Houston he quickly fell in love with and felt welcomed by its vast and diverse culinary community, having worked and managed events in the hospitality industry for several years in Norway while in law school. Petter now considers a Central Texas ranch home, with his wife and two rescue dogs, where they own and operate a registered Ultrablack and Brangus Cattle genetics operation focused on improving beef carcass traits. Petter currently holds a global executive role with AIG, focused on developing innovative risk solutions within the specialty insurance industry.

Petter is an avid outdoorsman, a food & wine lover, and also holds board positions with a number of private companies. He served as VP of Southern Smoke from 2019-2020 and Board President from 2020 throughout 2023.