Stars of the Industry Award Winners Announced
Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association Honors Outstanding Lodging Employees and Properties
The Annual Stars of the Industry Awards was held at the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa on January 17, 2017. This program, presented by the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association, is designed to honor Oklahoma's outstanding hospitality professionals for their service and commitment to the guest service and hospitality industry. Our partners in support of this lodging award program include AAHOA, Auto-Chlor System, Clearwater Enterprises, Cox Business Services, HDSupply, Heartland, McGregor Insurance Group, STR, and US Foods.
This year, submissions resulted in nearly 50 nominees from properties of all sizes among the 10 categories – proof of Oklahoma’s outstanding employees and properties. Merits and accomplishments were realized for the calendar year 2016. Honorees were each nominated by the owners, General Managers, or Human Resource departments of the recipient's property.
This year’s Stars of the Industry Award recipients are as follows:
Outstanding Community Service of the Year
Courtyard Marriott OKC Downtown, Oklahoma City
Additional Nominees:
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Catoosa
The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Outstanding Food & Beverage Employee of the Year
Briona Williams - Courtyard Marriott OKC Downtown, Oklahoma City
Additional Nominees:
Roderick Carter - The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Sharon Hunter - NCED Marriott Conference Center and Hotel, Norman
Outstanding Front Desk Employee of the Year
Casey Petrunak - Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Tulsa
Additional Nominees:
Jennifer Condiff - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Catoosa
Lilianna Hill - The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Chelsea Hubbard - Residence Inn Bricktown, Oklahoma City
Jesika Johnson - Courtyard Marriott OKC Downtown, Oklahoma City
Maria Loera - NCED Marriott Conference Center and Hotel, Norman
Renee Williams - Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Outstanding General Manager of the Year - Small & Large Property
James Cunningham - Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Tulsa
Steve Fischer - Fairfield Inn and Suites Tulsa, Tulsa
Additional Nominees:
Christian Harris - Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Downtown/Medical Center, Oklahoma City
Josh Jennings - Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center, Sulphur
Outstanding Lodging Employee of Year - Large Property
Kelsey Huber - The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Additional Nominees:
Carlos Alarcon - Residence Inn Bricktown, Oklahoma City
David Batchelder - NCED Marriott Conference Center and Hotel, Norman
Casey Carlton - Oklahoma City Renaissance Convention Center Hotel, Oklahoma City
LeRoy Cummisky - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Catoosa
Antonio Gilbert - Courtyard Marriott OKC Downtown, Oklahoma City
Angela Harding - Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Tulsa
Diane Lavendusky - Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, Tulsa
Juan Ruiz - Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Downtown/Medical Center, Oklahoma City
Outstanding Lodging Employee of Year - Small Property
Lisa Francis - Fairfield Inn and Suites Tulsa, Tulsa
Additional Nominees:
Juana Hernandez - Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Twyla Johnson - Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center, Sulphur
William Kendall - Northwest Inn, Woodward
Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year
Jeffery Cole - Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City
Additional Nominees:
Jennifer Henson - Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, Tulsa
Mark Keener - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Catoosa
Missy Kopischke - NCED Marriott Conference Center and Hotel, Norman
Jessica Nightingale - Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Tulsa
Jimmy Pacheco - Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Jean Savoia - Oklahoma City Renaissance Convention Center Hotel, Oklahoma City
Beatrice Silva - The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Stephanie Wood - Artesian Hotel, Sulphur
Outstanding Roomkeeper of the Year
Maria Doss - Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Additional Nominees:
Kerri Davis - The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Laura Duty - Artesian Hotel, Sulphur
Danielle Jackson - Courtyard Marriott OKC Downtown, Oklahoma City
Judy Jetton - Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Tulsa
Lacie Ketcher - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Catoosa
Norma Sue Smith - NCED Marriott Conference Center and Hotel, Norman
Outstanding WIL Connect Leader of the Year
Lyn Putnam - OSU,The School of Hotel & Restaurant Management, Stillwater
Oklahoma award recipients will be submitted to the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) to compete in the national Stars of the Industry Awards competition. National winners will be honored during the AH&LA Summit in May 2017.
###
