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 Resort on January 14, 2020. 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 Auto-Chlor System, Burggraf Disaster Restoration, Clearwater Enterprises, Cox Business Services, Heartland, HDSupply,  McGregor Insurance Group, STR, United Linens & Uniform Services, and US Foods.
 
This year, submissions resulted in over 50 nominees from properties of all sizes among the ten categories – proof of Oklahoma’s outstanding employees and properties. Honorees were each nominated by the owners, General Managers or Human Resource departments of the recipient's property.
 
The Stars of the Industry Award recipients are as follows:
 
Heart of Hospitality
Diana Casler, Aloft Hotel-Bricktown, Oklahoma City
 
Nominees
Jan Korkmaz, Colcord Hotel, Oklahoma City
Cheryl Maydew, WinStar World Casino Hotel, Thackerville
Damain Pacheco, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Victor Stewart, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Tiffany Stonebarger, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa
River Spirit Casino Resort
 
Outstanding Front Desk Employee of the Year
Garris Dennis, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
 
Nominees
Bobby Cather, Ambassador Hotel, Tulsa
Janet Dobbs, SJS Hospitality: TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Broken Arrow
Sonny Leonardi, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Oklahoma City
Angela Milligan, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Jennifer Oulette, Best Western Plus, Weatherford
Will Wester, Aloft Hotel-Bricktown, Oklahoma City
 
Outstanding Food & Beverage Employee of the Year   
Karina Breecher, Hyatt Regency, Tulsa
 
Nominees
Lindsey Boyd, Aloft Hotel-Bricktown, Oklahoma City
Darcie "Dee" White, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Chelsa Gonzales, Best Western Plus, Weatherford
Panos Natsikas, OKC Embassy Suites Medical Center, Oklahoma City
 
Outstanding General Manager of the Year, Large Property
Gerald Rappaport, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City

Outstanding General Manager of  the Year, Small Property   
Rudi Schmiedeskamp, Aloft Hotel-Bricktown, Oklahoma City
 
Nominees
Chase Rollins, Renaissance Waterford, Oklahoma City
Steve Thompson, La Quinta Inn & Suites OKC North Quail Springs, Oklahoma City
Emre Topcu, Colcord Hotel, Oklahoma City
 
Outstanding Roomkeeper of the Year   
Novilyn Booker, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
 
Nominees
Olga Galindo, OKC Embassy Suites Medical Center, Oklahoma City
Shanta Giri, La Quinta Inn & Suites OKC North, Oklahoma City
Emilia Hernandez, Aloft Hotel-Bricktown, Oklahoma City
Tonya Pitman, Best Western Plus, Weatherford
Doris Rusher, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
 
Outstanding Lodging Employee of Year, Large Property   
William McFarlin, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
 
Nominees
Wade Cornelius, OKC Embassy Suites Medical Center, Oklahoma City
Rebecca Fuller, Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown, Oklahoma City
Ivy Maki, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City?
Joseph McCoy, WinStar World Casino Hotel, Thackerville
William McFarlin, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa
Antonio Perez, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa??

Outstanding Lodging Employee of Year, Small Property
Waylon Cook, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
 
Nominees
Stacey Adams, Tulsa Club Hotel, Tulsa
Chloe Coffey, Aloft Hotel-Bricktown, Oklahoma City
Brenda Edwards, Best Western Plus, Weatherford
Don Meredith, Colcord Hotel, Oklahoma City

Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year
Velvet Ward, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
 
Nominees
Ace Barrentine, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Kirsty Bentley, Tulsa Club Hotel, Tulsa
Allyson Gregory, Hyatt Regency, Tulsa
Michelle Iverson, Ambassador Hotel, Tulsa
Phillips Weathers, WinStar World Casino Hotel, Thackerville
Kyle Keohan, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa
Inez Olivo, Embassy Suites, Norman
Timothy Parker, OKC Embassy Suites Medical Center, Oklahoma City
Tracy Paul, Courtyard by Marriott OKC North/Quail Springs, Oklahoma City
Amanda Smith, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa
 
Oklahoma's Women in Lodging (OKWIL) Leader of the Year
Cheryl Jackson, Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
 
Nominees
Caroline Jones, Hyatt Regency, Tulsa
Keleigh Bolinger, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa
 
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 April 2020.