The winners of the 2015 Stars of the Industry awards were recently announced at the Sheraton Hotel Birmingham. Over 300 guest attended the 16th annual awards dinner hosted by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance (ARHA). The Stars of the Industry awards honor the “best of the best” in Alabama’s lodging, tourism, and restaurant industry.
The event began with an elegant reception while the finalists competed in the state Bartender of the Year competition. Guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner prepared by Executive Chef John Melton with a wine bar compliments of Maraella Winery.
Eunice Elliot, traffic reporter for NBC 13 Birmingham and stand-up comedian, served as the emcee for the evening and the Shaun Pezant duet provided live musical entertainment.
The Stars awards are peer-nominated and winners are selected by the Stars committee. There were over 80 nominations submitted and the winners in each of the fifteen categories were presented with trophies by ARHA Board Chairman Brandt Tucker at the dinner.
The winners in each category are as follows:
Front of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year -- Marlena Gillis, The Hotel at Auburn University
Front of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year -- Payton Thorton, Bob's Victory Grille, Auburn
Back of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year -- Charles Smith, The Hotel at Auburn University
Back of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year -- Curtis Clark, Baumhower's, Huntsville
Hospitality Department Manager of the Year -- Jennifer McIntire, Perdido Beach Resort
Restaurant Manager of the Year -- Lydia Mee, Lucy Buffet's LuLu's, Gulf Shores
Legislator of the Year -- Representative Arnold Mooney, House District 43
Educator of Excellence -- Karen Rodriguez, The Huntsville Center for Technology
Humanitarian Award -- Natalie Bickel, OSI Outback Steakhouse
Tourism Promoter of the Year -- Carmen Bishop, Dothan Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Bartender of the Year -- Jean Gresham, Central Restaurant, Montgomery
Chef of the Year -- Robert Kamm, Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort
Supplier of the Year -- Bill Truxal, Heartland
Restaurateur of the Year -- Betsy McAtee, Dreamland Holding
Hotelier of the Year -- Rick Smith, Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort
Spirit Award -- Gabrielle Griffin, Gabby's Tortilla's, Foley
Lifetime Achievement Award (hotel) -- Nancy Meadlock, Perdido Beach Resort
Lifetime Achievement Award (restaurant) -- Joe Roszkowski & David Dekle, Original Oyster House
Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from this event goes to the ARHA Foundation.
The event began with an elegant reception while the finalists competed in the state Bartender of the Year competition. Guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner prepared by Executive Chef John Melton with a wine bar compliments of Maraella Winery.
Eunice Elliot, traffic reporter for NBC 13 Birmingham and stand-up comedian, served as the emcee for the evening and the Shaun Pezant duet provided live musical entertainment.
The Stars awards are peer-nominated and winners are selected by the Stars committee. There were over 80 nominations submitted and the winners in each of the fifteen categories were presented with trophies by ARHA Board Chairman Brandt Tucker at the dinner.
The winners in each category are as follows:
Front of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year -- Marlena Gillis, The Hotel at Auburn University
Front of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year -- Payton Thorton, Bob's Victory Grille, Auburn
Back of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year -- Charles Smith, The Hotel at Auburn University
Back of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year -- Curtis Clark, Baumhower's, Huntsville
Hospitality Department Manager of the Year -- Jennifer McIntire, Perdido Beach Resort
Restaurant Manager of the Year -- Lydia Mee, Lucy Buffet's LuLu's, Gulf Shores
Legislator of the Year -- Representative Arnold Mooney, House District 43
Educator of Excellence -- Karen Rodriguez, The Huntsville Center for Technology
Humanitarian Award -- Natalie Bickel, OSI Outback Steakhouse
Tourism Promoter of the Year -- Carmen Bishop, Dothan Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Bartender of the Year -- Jean Gresham, Central Restaurant, Montgomery
Chef of the Year -- Robert Kamm, Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort
Supplier of the Year -- Bill Truxal, Heartland
Restaurateur of the Year -- Betsy McAtee, Dreamland Holding
Hotelier of the Year -- Rick Smith, Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort
Spirit Award -- Gabrielle Griffin, Gabby's Tortilla's, Foley
Lifetime Achievement Award (hotel) -- Nancy Meadlock, Perdido Beach Resort
Lifetime Achievement Award (restaurant) -- Joe Roszkowski & David Dekle, Original Oyster House
Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from this event goes to the ARHA Foundation.
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