2022 Stars Award Winners

Meet the 2022 Stars of the Industry Award Winners

Back of the House Hospitality Award:
Sarina White - Ithaka Hospitality Partners, Auburn

In 2021, Sarina White was promoted to Laundry Supervisor from the position of Room Attendant. The Laundry Department was understaffed and not meeting production standards. In a short time, Sarina greatly improved the production and organization of the department and maintained those standards including 100% staffing. When The Laurel Hotel and Spa opened, Sarina has been able to lead her team to keep up with the linen and terry demands for two hotels, and stay in front of the banquet and restaurant needs of The Hotel at Auburn University and The Laurel Hotel and Spa. Sarina is a outstanding employee and well deserving of this honor.

Back of the House Restaurant Award:
John King - Panini Pete's, Fairhope

John King was hired as a part-time slicer at Panini Pete’s in 2010. When he was a teenager, John sustained a head injury in a terrible car accident. The accieent also caused him to go blind in one eye and these circumstances limit his ability to switch positions. Repetition is best for him and he performs his slicing duties well with constant attention and focus. Recently, PP Hospitality scheduled shifts for John to assist in prep for their new concept Panini Pete’s Pizza and Pasta and he has taken such pride in this new role. John is very reliable and a very hard worker. His dedication and loyalty make him an excellent employee to have on staff.

Front of the House Hospitality Award:
Brittany Roberston - Perdido Beach Resort

Brittany joined Perdido Beach Resort in 2013 and after serving in several positions early on, she realized her interest in a career in Events Management. With her attention to detail, commitment to deadlines and a positive attitude, she eventually took on the role as an Event Manager. She grew and matured in that role and was later promoted to Senior Event Manager. Brittany is connected to her clients and very adept at understanding their needs. She is a mentor to others and is responsible for some of the hotel's most complicated groups and functions. Her kind personality along with her strong work ethic and professional knowledge has earned her high respect from her Group contacts.

Front of the House Restaurant Award:
Jesse McKinney - Sunset Pointe, Fairhope

Jesse McKinney joined the staff at Sunset Pointe in 2017 as a server. He quickly was recognized as leader in customer service and hospitality by both the customers and staff. Since then, he has continued to build his knowledge and education in the hospitality industry by taking courses on his own time. Jesse was eventually promoted to Lead Bartender/ Mixologist. Jesse is reliable and dedicated and is to the go-to contact for special events and catering at Sunset Pointe. He also competes in bartending/mixology contests throughout the state. Jesse has been asked to consider a management opportunity, however he prefers to do what he does best which is take care of his customers and be a hospitality guru!

Hospitality Departement Manager of the Year Award:
Jennifer Cammarata - Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, Florence (PCH Hotels & Resorts)

Jennifer Cammarata is an Event Manager at Marriott Shoals. In late 2021, her manager took a sudden leave of absence from the property and she took charge of the circumstances. Jennifer took on the many groups on the hotel’s books. She learned how to manage the catering forecast, communication plans and worked to cultivate a positive atmosphere amongst the teams.
When we were able to hire another event manager, Jennifer put together a training plan based on Marriott standards and the things she had learned over the years. She also excelled in her personal development plans--achieving her CMP in the Spring of 2022 and taking her first step to certification with the National Association for Catering and Events in the summer of 2022. Jennifer takes pride in her work and while many would have shrugged their shoulders at handling the unknown, she took this as a learning and growing opportunity!

Restaurant Manager of the Year Award:
Michael Goana - Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach

Michael Goana has only been with the Perdido Beach Resort since 2019, but in has become a leader and game-changer in a short period of time. He joined the staff as an Outlet Manager and has since become involved in all aspects of the hotel's food and beverage outlet. Michael is dedicated on training and development to enhance customer service and guest satisfaction throughout the hotel. He has also focused on food and beverage costs and by paying close attention to high demand items and negotiating better pricing from vendors, he has truly made a difference on the bottom line revenue. One of Michael's most significant accomplishments has been growing the wine program exponentially. He has increased the number of wines available by over 100 varietals and he has increased sales by 95% during that same period of time. He has also implemented wine training with all staff members in Voyagers to ensure the staff is knowledgeable and able to discuss with guests the perfect wine to accompany their meals. Michael's commitment to excellence and the significant accomplishments he has had since joining Perdido Beach Resort makes him a star

Best New Culinarian of the Year:
Andrew Kimbrell - 360 Grille (Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa), Florence (PCH Hotels & Resorts)

Andrew is the Sous Chef at Marriott Shoals’ 360 Grille. He joined the staff while the chef was out on leave and didn’t hesitate to take the reins during unparalleled growth at the restaurant, helping to maintain the resort as a top ten properties in the brand, as well as number one in fine dining in the State. Andrew has helped turned the 360 Grille into one of the most impressive dining experiences in the company, and his influence resonates within every aspect of the restaurant. Whether it's formatting recipes into the accounting software, balancing the food costs of their incredible fine dining entrees, or simply wading into the orchestrated chaos to push out orders with the line cooks on a nightly basis, Andrew gives it his all. Day after day, he exemplifies his passion to his craft and his dedication to the success of the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa.

Humanitarian Award:
Pete Blohme - PP Hospitality Group, Mobile

He’s known as Panini Pete, owner of several Gulf Coast restaurants, but Pete Blohme is also a person who enjoys giving back and serving his community. He’s a founding member of The Messlords, a non-profit organization of celebrity chefs dedicated to boosting morale of United States military servicemen and women through culinary training and of course, eating. The Messlords travel to military bases, aircraft carriers and submarines all over the world. He’s also a co-founder of The PR Foundation, an organization focusing on helping military charities, special needs organizations and no-kill animal shelters. Pete also deserves recognition for his interest in helping those with special needs by offering them jobs that are tailored for their individual abilities. He truly enriches their lives by offering career choices and a purpose in his life. His Home Sweet Home project with the PR Foundation has raised close to $100k from the community and from his restaurants by donating a portion of sales to a project that is very dear to him. This special project involves renovating a home for a Fairhope couple who could use the extra help and is also a 15-year employee of Panini Pete’s. Both Pete and Nick, co-owners of PP Hospitality, are always available to share their passion and speak to local high school students about hospitality careers. Pete is an invaluable voice for the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Tourism Promoter of the Year:
Brooke Kastner - Auburn-Opelika Tourism

Brooke has over 15 years’ experience in the hospitality and tourism industry and currently serves as the director of sales & service for Auburn-Opelika Tourism. She joined the staff in 2020 after over a decade serving in multiple positions at the Marriott Resort & Spa at Grand National. Brooke demonstrates excellence in everything she does. Since joining Auburn-Opelika Tourism in 2020, at the height of Covid, she has elevated the sales efforts of the team, streamlining processes and implementing new and ever-expanding goals. She is also responsible for single-handedly taking on the entire Auburn University Athletics event management account after they eliminated their years-long vendor. Brooke has been involved with numerous civic and nonprofit organizations including the Junior League of Lee County, Opelika Chamber Women’s Business Council, United Way of Lee County, and more. Brooke is also a recent past chair of the board of directors of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of Leadership Lee County as well.

Bartender of the Year:
Carla Irene - Bar La Fete

Although Carla has only been bartending for six years, she is no stranger to the creative side of making cocktails. Beginning with her first bartending position at The Hound in Auburn, she has always had a strong focus in what makes a cocktail balanced and cohesive. She began working at craft cocktail bars and this really allowed her to develop her skills in creating drinks with the speed and quality that prepared her for this competition. “The new competition format was a test in how far I have come as a professional bartender, but also reminded me how much fun it is being in an environment where you are forced to completely trust your instinct. This has been an incredible experience for me and I cannot wait to continue on this path,” said Carla.

Supplier of the Year:
Brown-Forman Corporation

The Brown-Forman Corporation, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky is the largest whiskey, wine and distilled spirit maker in North America. Founded in 1870, the company now produces over 57 brands, labels and variations of Bourbon and North American whiskey. Brown-Forman's brands are supported by approximately 4,700 employees and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. Old Forester has been the premier sponsor of the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association's Bartender of the Year Competition for the last eight years. The competition consists of four regional contests that take place in Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile, and the overall state competition. In addition, Old Forester provided significant donations to Covid-response funds to aid hospitality industry workers during the pandemic.

Chef of the Year:
Eric Rivera - Vintage Hospitality Group, Montgomery

Chef Eric Rivera is the co-owner and executive chef of Vintage Hospitality Group’s Ravello Ristorante. Chef Eric enriches Alabama’s culinary industry by creating unmatched experiences for guests and career building opportunities for those who aspire to work in
his restaurants.

After gaining a wealth of experience by opening and reviving restaurants in Denver, Colorado and Birmingham, Alabama, he moved to Montgomery where he expanded the area’s culinary scene by reigniting local passion for the beloved fine dining restaurant, Vintage Year. Soon after, he led the launch of Vintage Café, a concept that provides convenient, fresh and locally sourced daytime options, and developed the MGM Greens project, an ultra-urban container farm that supplies produce for VHG’s restaurants. Throughout these pursuits, Rivera was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Leader for his sustainable seafood sourcing and was a grand prize winner of the Blended Burger Contest, among other industry and local accolades.

Rivera’s vision, entrepreneurial drive and leadership capacity were essential to bringing Vintage Hospitality Group’s newest endeavor, Ravello Ristorante, to fruition despite the persistent and monumental obstacles posed by the pandemic. The Italian fine dining restaurant opened this spring to feverish enthusiasm and month-long wait lists for reservations. Within weeks, Wine Spectator Magazine recognized the restaurant for its expertly crafted wine program, and since opening earlier this year, the restaurant has hosted almost 15,000 reservations, established a thriving meetings and events venue program, launched a chef’s table experience and will soon open the city’s first rooftop bar atop the restaurant called Bar Attico. In addition to his work inside Vintage Hospitality Group’s restaurants, Rivera supports his community through donating to numerous non-profits, serving as a judge for ARHA’s Pro Start program and leading the culinary arts exchange program with Montgomery’s sister city of Pietrasanta, Italy.

Small Hotelier of the Year:
Jorg Wesche - Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook

Jorg Wesche is the General Manager at the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Spa. Jorg’s energy and commitment to the hotel and his team shines thru everyday. Jorg takes a personal interest in helping others grow in
their career path and is appreciated a great leader at the hotel. He was a huge supporter of the 2022 World Games held in Birmingham. Jorg displays integrity inside and out of the workplace.

Hotelier of the Year:
Margo Gilbert - The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa (PCH Hotels & Resorts)

Margo Gilbert is the General Manager of The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa. Under her leadership in 2022 the property has exceeded all expectations in: guest satisfaction surveys, employee opinion surveys, financial performance, and market share. Notably, guest satisfaction ranks #3 of 88 Renaissance properties in North America. Margo exemplifies the core values PCH Hotels & Resorts strives to execute upon every day, recognizing the value of relationships and people. When Margo was notified that a local program serving young adults with special needs urgently needed a new host site, she responded immediately. The Renaissance Battle House partnered with Project Search last year, providing internships to 15 young adults to learn skills and gain employment at the conclusion of the program. Margo also supports the educational community through service at the University of South Alabama, creating a golf tournament to help fund scholarships for USA Hospitality Tourism and Management students. When Margo is not a work, she is devoted to many organizations helping the community. She is a co-chair of the Mobile Moon Pie Drop and also serves as VP of the Visit Mobile Board of Directors and sits on the board of The Mobile Downtown Alliance and ARHA.

Restaurateur of the Year:
Nick Dimario - PP Hospitality Group, Mobile

Nick is the operating partner and co-owner of PP Hospitality Group. Along with “Panini” Pete Blohme, he owns and operates Ed’s Seafood Shed, Panini Pete’s of Fairhope, Squid Ink, and Sunset Pointe. Nick is the behind-the-scenes man that is the glue of the company. Since his partnership with Pete began in September of 2013, he has established a systems-based operational structure within all of the restaurants. He also recently established a strong relationship and internship program with the University of South Alabama and Auburn University offering fall or spring restaurant accounting/operational internships, which have led to actual jobs within the company. Nick is also an active guest speaker for the hospitality department at the University of South Alabama. His goal is to inspire more people to work in the restaurant industry, and in turn learn more about the new workforce. Reaching the next generation of hospitality leadership has been his goal from day one. He is currently an active participant in setting up a culinary exchange program with the University of Ecuador and the University of South Alabama. Nick recently spoke at ARHA’s Fall Educator Workshop. Nick also currently serves on several local high school advisory committees. He is
compassionate and caring for all his staff, he treats his employees as an
investment. Nick is a practice what you preach kind of leader, which we can agree is an exceptional quality. He has spent countless hours coaching the staff, as well as finding opportunities for operational and personal growth. Nick is truly one of a kind – His passion for the restaurant and hospitality industry is truly inspiring.

Spirit Award:
Johnny Stewart - Panini Pete's, Fairhope

Johnny Stewart was born with a developmental disability. He grew up in Fairhope very close to Panini Pete’s. When the restaurant first opened, he would come by daily after school. The staff all got to know him, and he became part of their restaurant family! His father was a double amputee, vet from the Vietnam War and had severe mental challenges and his mother was also developmentally disabled. He had to learn how to take care of himself and his parents until both passed away. After he graduated high school, Panini Pete’s offered Johnny a job as a basket cleaner and busser. He then started making local deliveries to businesses and has worked for Panini Pete’s since 2010. Part of his routine is to go to each local business and tell them what their specials are for the day! His voice mail also say’s “He’s Pete’s right-hand man”! He is limited in what he can do because of his disability, however he recently took over organizing and putting up the restaurant’s weekly food truck delivery. Johnny rotates, labels and dates everything! He is so dedicated and enthusiastic about working at Panini Pete’s! Since the staff first met Johnny over 15 years ago, he has gotten married and the Fairhope community and the PR Foundation is currently helping to build the couple a much needed home.

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Don Staley

Don Staley’s career has been marked by success on the soccer field and as well as in the tourism industry. Since 2017, Don served as the President & CEO of Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports until his retirement in August of this year. But let’s start at the beginning. Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Radford University in 1992 and spent the next 23 years as the men’s and women’s head soccer coach at Virginia’s Radford University.

After leaving the coaching ranks, Staley helped form the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation in 2007, becoming the commission’s Executive Director of Sports from 2010 to 2014. His major achievement during his tenure was to lure the Super Six High School Football Championships to Bryant Denny Stadium in 2009. The event delivered a profound economic impact to the community, which alternated host cities with Auburn every year since until 2021. This served as a major revenue producer for both cities by boosting lodging, dining, and retail sales.

In 2014, Don left Tuscaloosa to serve as Executive Director of the Foley Sports Tourism Complex. There, he helped guide the branding and implementation of the $32 million venue into a national sporting event destination.
In 2017, Staley returned to Tuscaloosa. He was elected President and CEO of the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission. In the years since his return, Staley and his team have produced innovative new projects such as The Druid City Music Festival and The Tuscaloosa Virtual Music Experience. The group has significantly grown existing events such as The Druid Arts Festival and has lent its support to major projects such as Tuscaloosa’s Bicentennial Celebration and The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail. In addition, the organization has successfully recruited other conferences and sporting events to significantly expand the economic impact to the community.

For his efforts, the Alabama House of Representatives recognized Staley in 2014 for his outstanding record of public service in the sports and tourism industry. He was also recognized as Sports Tourism Executive of the Year in 2015, by the National Association of Sports Commissions.

Currently, Don Staley is the President and Founder of Southeastern Network of Athletic Professionals – SNAP headquartered in Leesburg, Florida.