Spirit of Hospitality Awards

Lodging Employee of the Year
	Winner - Bessie Green, The Hilton Inn at Penn Bessie Green is a concierge at the Hilton Inn at Penn in Philadelphia. From the beginning of her employment with the Inn, Bessie distinguished herself as an employee who stands out from the rest. Within her first year with the establishment, she earned the Employee of the Month Award and ended that year by taking home the Employee of the Year honor. In 2004, she won the hotel's Spirit of Pride Award for extraordinary service and commitment to both the guests and staff members of the hotel. She has earned these honors for her ability to go above and beyond basic concierge services, whether it's retrieving a guest's cell phone from a taxi, delivery a lost wallet to a guest or finding a doctor for an ill guest. With the hotel set on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, she has created a housekeeping service for the dorms, picks up and delivers groceries for students who are too ill to go out, and acts as post office for parents sending packages to their children. She is also dedicated to guests who have family members staying in the nearby Children's Hospital and buys stuffed animals, balloons and cards for patients there. In all she does, she never misses an opportunity to help someone else-whether it's a guest or a staff member in need.
	Finalist - Irina Bugariu, Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia Irina Bugariu is a cocktail waitress for the Hotel Sofitel, Philadelphia. Irina has been working for the hotel since 2004. Through the years, she has made an impression on both guests and staff members for her positive attitude and can-do spirit. She doesn't just serve her tables; she offers an experience to her guests and makes sure they are truly cared for. She's hard working, honest and reliable, and above all, she's personable-a quality that sets the exemplary cocktail waitress apart from the average one. Even though she's a full-time student, she still gives 100 percent to the job, working wherever she is needed and offering a unique ability to think outside the box and take initiative to please the customer. Her ability to exercise excellent judgment and think quickly has made her a go-to person for hotel staff members, while her upbeat and charismatic personality has made her a favorite among customers.
	Finalist - Jermaine Brunson, The Hilton Inn at Penn Jermaine Brunson is a Steward for the Hilton Inn at Penn, Philadelphia. Jermaine is a prime example of taking an opportunity and turning it into a path for success. He grew up in a rough neighborhood and came to his job with a record, having been convicted of a crime he committed when he was younger. Proving he has learned from his mistakes, he has gone on to win praise and positive feedback from everyone who knows him at the inn. While he may not have face-to-face time with guests, they still reap the rewards of his hard work, from a clean kitchen to fully stocked restaurant supplies and service of a quality product. He also consistently volunteers to help other departments and has been named Employee of the Month each year that he's been employed by the Inn. In 2005, he was the Inn's Employee of the Year. Knowing how important opportunity is to at-risk youth, he currently mentors young people from his neighborhood, coaching basketball three nights a week and treating them to bowling or video games. Through his hard work and determination to turn his life around, Jermaine is a positive role model for everyone.

Department Manager of the Year
	Winner - Christie Gumble, Great Wolf Lodge Christie Gumble is the Spa Director for Great Wolf Lodge, Scotrun. Christie joined the organization in 2006 as a nail technician but quickly rose through the ranks thanks to her passion, drive and enthusiasm for the industry. Not only does she motivate her staff with her own work ethic, but she has also created a new benchmark and productivity program that resulted in dramatic increases in revenue for the spa. A positive leader for her department, Christie scored the highest in the Lodge's employee satisfaction survey, and her department has the lowest turnover rate in the organization. Not content to rest on her laurels, Christie has gone above and beyond the requirements for a Spa Director and has been awarded the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce “Save Our Planet” honor for the spa's use of environmentally friendly operations. She works closely with the Aveda Corp. in its clean water campaign and is active in the Lodge's green initiatives. After battling breast cancer for the second time, Christie founded her own non-profit, the inspiration foundation, to assist women undergoing breast cancer treatment by paying for medication and bills and lending an understanding ear.
	Finalist - Charlie Gipe, Hershey Entertainment Charlie Gipe is the Executive Chef of the Hershey Entertainment Complex, of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. Charlie's official title may be Executive Chef, but through everything he does, he serves as much more to the Resort. He sets an example for others to emulate his professionalism, support of his community and dedication to his craft. Charlie oversees the Giant Center kitchen, which produces food for Hershey Bears Hockey Games, large-scale concerts and private catered events. He also provides support to Hersheypark restaurant and catering areas through menu planning, staffing, quality control and food production. A natural teacher, he is passionate about passing along his skills to students and he leads by example-arriving early, working late and pitching in wherever he's needed. He has served as a chef instructor at local culinary schools and is mentor to those just starting out in the industry. In his community, he is active with Share our Strength/Taste of the Nation Charity fundraisers to combat hunger, the diabetes “Tour de Cure” Event, the West Shore Fire Co. and many other organizations.
	Finalist - Edward T. Shimanski, Hershey Lodge Edward T. Shimanski is the Front Office Manager of the Hershey Lodge. In his current position, he is directly responsible for organizing, hiring, training, scheduling and directing operations of the Lodge's front office, and for supervising guest service managers and staff members. He has developed a reputation for his natural and authentic management style that showcases his leadership abilities and his ability to think quickly to find solutions to potential problems. He supports his staff by communicating effectively and offering support and empathy when needed. Beyond his office, he contributes to his community as well, working with the Lebanon Valley County Domestic Violence Shelter, serving as the Lodge's United Way Chairperson and working as a fundraiser for Relay For Life. He has served as Chair of the Lodge's “Adopt a Family” Program, where his hands-on efforts have ensured a special holiday experience for the chosen family. He also demonstrates a high level of enthusiasm and energy, organizing wellness runs twice a week and supervising touch football games among his employees.

General Manager of the Year
	Winner - Eric DeStefano, Omni William Penn Hotel Eric De'Stefano is the General Manager and Area Managing Director of Omni William Penn, Pittsburgh. Everyday, Eric draws on his many years of experience in the hotel industry as well as his love for his hometown of Pittsburgh to create an establishment that focuses on customer service and quality accommodations. Since taking the reigns as general manager in 2006, Eric has received high guest-satisfaction scores, achieved excellent financial results for the hotel and has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues. He is relentless in focusing on the needs of employees, guests and the owner and truly believes in the hotel's “mirror image,” meaning that interactions with associates and staff members must mirror interactions with guests. The result is a work force that's happy and motivated, providing a hotel that runs smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, he serves as a mentor and inspiration to others in the industry, offering high expectations and drive that promotes and fosters learning at all levels.
	Finalist - Rob Howell, The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort Rob Howell is the General Manager of the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Shawnee on Delaware. Rob treats every employee and guest as a member of his family, working tirelessly to provide excellent customer service and exemplary working conditions. To help keep staff members motivated, he created an employee incentive program, while at the same he focused on improving the financial returns of the business. Last year, under Rob's direction, the Resort had a record-breaking year with higher revenues than any other year in its history. Rob is as dedicated to his community as he is to the Resort, and he has supervised the Inn's participation in numerous charity events, including Toys for Tots and The United Way. Creativity also plays a part in Rob's management of the hotel; he has had a direct hand in adding unique guest touches like blankets on the veranda and s'mores cookies instead of mints on guest pillows at night. His leadership skills and creativity combine on a daily basis to make the resort a top-notch location for visitors.
	Finalist - Michael Ritter, The Historic Strasburg Inn Michael Ritter is the General Manager of The Historic Strasburg Inn, Strasburg. As General Manager of the Inn, Michael was presented with the difficult task of helping the small-town business reinvent itself. Since March 2005, he has worked non-stop to help transform the former Netherlands Inn & Spa into The Historic Strasburg Inn, weathering the loss of a close friend and business associate and enduring the exit of several staff members in the process. Through it all, he remained focused on the goal: making the smooth transition to the new name, helping to re-brand the hotel and concentrating on the needs of both the guest and employees. Even in the most difficult times, he kept a positive attitude, rallying the staff to promote the Inn and its customer service and overseeing more than 20 major catering events, all while managing five other department heads and the property itself. With his tireless energy and vision for the future, Michael has helped a business that has witnessed some down days turn itself around to face a promising tomorrow.

Innkeeper of the Year
	Nancy Noll, The Queen, A Victorian Bed & Breakfast For Nancy Noll, owner of The Queen, a Victorian Bed & Breakfast in Bellefonte, and a day off is a rarity. She's always on duty, attending to guests' needs or keeping things running smoothly at the establishment. Since opening her doors in the early '90s, Nancy has developed a reputation for exemplary customer service, a positive attitude and a can-do spirit. That spirit has never waned, despite facing multiple health problems over the years. Believing in helping others, Nancy has also dedicated her time and talents to numerous community organizations, including serving as a member of the Disaster Action Team of the Red Cross, when she traveled to Southern California to help victims of the state's wildfires. Her commitment to the Red Cross has also included training to become a disaster instructor specializing in client casework and assistance, where she will train other volunteers to respond when needed. She does all of this while also running a successful and time-consuming bed and breakfast that is known for its impeccable style and beauty.

Community Service Award
	Great Wolf Lodge Great Wolf Lodge believes in giving back to the community that supports its successful business. Since 2006, the company has worked with The United Way and other local organizations in desperate need of funding. Last year, the Lodge held a spring and fall campaign to open its indoor water park to the community and raise money for the United Way's 24 partnering agencies, as well as the Central Pocono Ambulance, the Pocono Area Recreation Commission and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The combined campaigns raised more than $180,000 last year alone, with more than $300,000 raised since the Lodge began its community service programs. In addition to these community days, the Lodge sent a team to compete in the BG Challenge, a three-day event that raises money for St.. Jude's Children's Hospital. The Lodge's outreach has also included awarding 500 free water-park passes to less-fortunate girls in the state through the Girl Scouts of America and participating in two fishing derbies for kids, to benefit the Monroe County Sportsmen's Federation and the Knights of Columbus.

Guest Relations Award
	PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau At the PA Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lancaster, quality customer service is at the heart of their business, no exception. To further the customer-service skills of its employees, the company and its Director of Membership, Cheryl Deaven, crafted a program called “Basic Training-The Guest.” the program featured a customer-service training seminar, offered at no cost to all members of the organization. Due to the success of the program, Cheryl was asked to offer the training to groups beyond the organization, focusing on employees who have a direct impact on patrons who will be coming to Lancaster's new Convention Center. The organization's goal is to offer the training to anyone in Lancaster, including non-organization members, to arm them with the basics of customer service and to emphasize how important tourism is to the businesses in Lancaster County.

Student of the Year
	Angelo Blakey, The Pennsylvania State University Angelo Blakey is a student of the School of Hospitality Management at Penn State University and employed at the Holiday Inn Express, State College, as a housekeeper. In all he does, he demonstrates a positive work ethic, whether in the classroom or on the job. In his role as housekeeper, he has developed a reputation for his sunny disposition, for always being on time and for working long and hard hours. Working since age 14, Angelo has held jobs at a fruit stand, at a restaurant and at a hotel. In his current position, he does whatever it takes to get the job done-nothing is too big or too small for him to handle. Unlike most students, Angelo also has the added responsibility of a family to support. He provides for himself, his wife and their 2-year-old daughter, all while attending school and working. The first member of his family to attend college, Angelo has set the bar high. He currently has a 3.7 GPA with a perfect 4.0 in his major. Described by his nominators as “full of potential,” Angelo says he would one day like to own and operate a hotel. It's a reasonable goal for a student who has won not one, but two American Hotel and Lodging Educational Management scholarships, given to the best candidate in the nation.
	Jackie Kluger, Courtyard By Marriott Philadelphia As a student in the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at Purdue University in Indiana, Jackie Kluger is required to obtain a paid internship, with a minimum of 400 completed hours. In her role as housekeeping and sales intern with Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, Jackie has demonstrated commitment, dedication and drive. She began as housekeeper and next learned the ins and outs of other hourly positions, including guest server's runner and public space attendant. She earned the respect and admiration of the housekeeping staff with her hands-on approach and willingness to do whatever the job required. After mastering the housekeeping positions, Jackie worked closely with the Director of Services and learned first-hand about the administrative and supervisory opportunities at the hotel. She also took an active role in improving the department by creating a spreadsheet program to track productivity that is still being used by the hotel today. Jackie then moved on to the Sales and Marketing Department, where she put her enthusiasm and keen attention to detail to good use. Throughout all her positions as an intern, Jackie made friends with her quick wit and positive attitude, as well as her ability to get the job done well.

Teacher of the Year
	Robert Craft, Erie County Technical School Mr. Robert Craft has served as the instructor for the schools Tourism & Hospitality Management program at Erie County Technical School since the program started in 2001-2002. Mr. Craft's passion for the hospitality industry is reflected in his ability to build the enrollment of Erie's hospitality program from 12 students in 2001-2002 to over 40 students in 2007-2008. His commitment to the program, from the start, is further evidenced by his efforts to secure the use of one of Erie's leading hoteliers Scott Enterprises, to provide internships for the technical school's tourism and hospitality students. The students in the Erie County Technical School's hospitality program regularly benefit from the 25-plus years of experience Mr. Craft has in the industry. He has held various positions, from maitre'd to general manager, including reputable restaurants in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Mr. Craft has also been a restaurant owner for over 15 years. In the last six years, Mr. Craft has taken the Erie County Technical School's Lodging Management Program from a start-up to state and national recognition. Students from his program have achieved state and national recognition, including a gold medal at the first-ever Lodging Management Program national competition in 2004. As a senior-only program, Mr. Craft guides his students through a two-year curriculum in just one year. Four of every five students pass the national certification exams. Mr. Craft has demonstrated his dedication to the lodging management program and its continued success through his willingness to share with others. He is a Certified Hospitality Instructor (CHI) and new hospitality instructors from across the Commonwealth call on him regularly to assist with program design and delivery. He has assisted the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute with its hospitality management test. He also serves on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Hospitality Foundation.

Click here for a List of Past Recipients