Northwest Indiana gathered to celebrate incredible frontline workers in the hospitality industry. Hosted by South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA), the R.O.S.E. and R.I.S.E. Hospitality Service Awards recognize the unsung heroes of the Region.
There were over 150 applicants for these awards which an anonymous committee narrowed the field to the top 38. R.O.S.E. stands for Recognition of Service Excellence and the award serves as a way to thank non-managerial or hourly employees for going above and beyond the call of duty. R.I.S.E. stands for Recognition of Industry Success and Excellence, and the award celebrates managerial employees and past R.O.S.E. winners.
David Uran, President/CEO of South Shore CVA described why going the extra mile to recognize people like this in the community is essential.
“First impressions,” said Uran. “If you’re a visitor you want to have a great first impression. You want to be able to say that the people who surround the area gave us first-class treatment. We want to recognize frontline workers in the hospitality industry for doing it right each and every day.”
Sam Michel, Sports Director for WJOB/JEDtv, co-hosted the awards ceremony with Uran. Michel explained how special the people honored are and how their service makes living in this area a better place.
“You see some special people here,” said Michel. “The people that we are honoring today are the people that make it possible to work with short staffs and make businesses run efficiently. These are the people that I think have become, unfortunately, a little bit rare today, and that’s why we are honoring them.”
GreatNews.Life is proud that one of its own was nominated for a R.O.S.E. award. Partnership & Office Coordinator Kami Tupiak was recognized for her great attitude and her ability to always take care of people. Tupiak described what being nominated meant to her.
“I’ve always worked in customer service or dealt with people,” said Tupiak. “I’m the kind of person who's going to talk to somebody in the checkout line because it’s who I am. Being recognized and honored for who I am and the fact that people notice that I do go out of my way to take care of people is great.”
Candas Geinosky works with Luke Brands and was a R.I.S.E. awards finalist. She was excited to be honored and she shared what led her to be nominated.
“I was just being myself,” said Geinosky. “I try to treat people like how I want to be treated.”
Congratulations to all nine of the R.O.S.E. award winners–Brian Daniels, Tanisha Empederado, Yolanda Holden, Gregg Luttrell, Kelli Nissan, Beverly Rodgers, Marija Sljepcevic, Emily Totten, and Haley Webb-Bunde.
Webb-Bunde received the most nominations for a single person in the 16-year history of these awards. She shared what it meant to be recognized for her work.
“It’s really cool,” said Webb-Bunde. “I wasn’t expecting it, and I just really enjoy what I do, and to get an award for it was like, ‘Oh, really? Is that okay?’”
Congratulations to all six of the R.I.S.E. award winners - Karla Dunn, Keith Evans, Martina Marko, Hailee Norton, Debbie Teeuws, and Patrick Wozny.
Nominations are now open for the 2023 awards. To go rose-awards.com to learn more.
To learn more about South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, visit its website here.
