The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce and Flint & Genesee Convention and Visitors Bureau will recognize business excellence and community leadership with the sixth-annual Art of Achievement Awards. More than 70 businesses and organizations, along with 113 individuals, have been nominated for recognition at the sold-out presentation gala Nov. 7 at the Flint Institute Arts.
“We’ve seen an increase in nominations on the hospitality side and greater excitement expressed in the nominations submitted,” said CVB Director Alaina Wiens.
Member Services Director Steven Elkins agreed. “We’ve also received lots of great nominations in the business category and we’re already sold out. We’re looking forward to another great evening!”
The following individuals and companies are nominees in the business category:
CEO Business Award – Any company with 50 or more employees.
- Jimmy John’s
- Regional Medical Imaging (RMI)
- Geronimo Energy
- McLaren Flint
- NorthGate
- Teachout Security Solutions
- TGI Direct
- View Newspapers Group
Small Business Award – Any company with less than 50 employees.
- 3Sixty Interactive
- Borneman & Peterson, Inc.
- Brown & Brown of Michigan, Inc.
- Brown Consulting Group
- Christenson & Fiederlein, PC
- Country Home Creations
- Flint Crepe Co.
- Great Lakes Smoothie Co. & Eatery
- Halo Burger
- I.N.C. Systems
- Kim Rose Fashions
- Krystal Jo’s Diner
- Refinery Hair Co.
- Skaff Furniture Carpet One
- Spud Software
- The Good Beans Café
- The Sugar Mermaid
- WhenuPray
Minority Owned Business Award – Any minority-owned business in the community.
- Artistic Visions Enterprise
- Brown Consulting Group
- Creative Hair School of Cosmetology
- Eight Ten Nail Bar
- Elle Jae Essentials
- Glam Brands LLC
- King’s Catering & Banquet Center
- Mr. Prince Gourmet
- Spectacular Spudz
- Tee’s Plentiful Salads
Nonprofit Impact Award – Any charity, church or nonprofit making great strides to positively impact any facet of the Flint and Genesee community.
- Bethel United Methodist Church
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint
- Fenton Center of Hope
- Flint Children’s Museum
- Flint Institute of Arts
- Flint Public Art Project
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Greater Flint Health Coalition
- Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Healing Through Art Program
- King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church
- Re-Connections
- Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village
- The Chosen Few Arts Council
- The Disability Network
- Valley Area Agency on Aging
- Voices for Children Advocacy Center
- Well of Hope
Young Professional Leader Award – Any young professional 40 or younger making great strides to benefit their company and/or the community.
- Brandon Corder, Beats x Beers
- Brian Caine, Miracle League of Greater Flint
- Claudnyse Holloman, Voices for Children Advocacy Center
- DeWaun Robinson, Artistic Visions Enterprise
- Elisabeth Saab, Sorensen Gross Construction Services
- Hannah Schubring, Student
- Katie Kiacz, Mott Community College
- Nikki Rogers, PMC Works
- Olivia Ross, Halo Burger
- Quentin Groce, MLive Media Group
- Shareka Howard, Genesee County Parks
- Steve Wolbert, Social Impact Philanthropy & Investment
- Terry Katzur, ELGA Credit Union
Claire M. White Award – Honoring a woman working for the betterment of Flint & Genesee in community, career or someone else’s life.
- April Cook-Hawkins, Alternative Solutions for Women
- Ashley Strozier, Flint Community Schools
- Claudnyse Holloman, Voices for Children
- Davin Pierson Torre, Flint School of Performing Arts
- Desiree Duell, Desiree Duell Art
- Dionna Ross, Westwood Heights Schools
- Kathleen Gazall, Gazall, Lewis & Associates
- Linda Gibson, Genesee Health Plan
- Lisa Scott, Regional Medical Imaging
- Mindy Williams, Whaley’s Children Center
- Semaj Brown, Flint’s Poet Laureate
- TaWanna Anderson, WhenuPray
- Theresa Stephens-Lock, Mott Community College
The following companies and individuals are nominees in the hospitality category:
Hotel of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County hotel for its outstanding service, comfort and attention to hotel guests, providing an excellent overall experience.
- Best Western Plus Flint Airport Inn & Suites
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Fenton
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Grand Blanc
- Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
- Holiday Inn Flint-Grand Blanc Area
- Hyatt Place Flint
- Knights Inn Flint
- Knob Hill Bed & Breakfast
- Quality Inn Grand Blanc
Restaurant of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County restaurant for their outstanding service, menu and overall experience of the customer.
- Andiamo Fenton
- Bear Soup Deli
- Billy’s Pine Run Inn
- Blondie’s Food & Spirits
- Charlie’s Smokin BBQ
- Churchill’s Food & Spirits
- Cork on Saginaw
- Don Felipe Mexican Restaurant
- El Potrero Mexican Restauant
- Fenton Winery & Brewery
- Flint Crepe Co.
- Hoffman’s Deco Deli & Café
- Italia Gardens
- Soggy Bottom
- Spectacular Spudz
- Totem Books Café
Entertainment Venue of the Year – Recognizes an entertainment or live performing arts venue that continues to raise the bar, offering an array of top-notch entertainment to the community and visitors.
- Applewood: The Charles Stewart Mott Estate
- Fenton Community and Cultural Center
- Great Escape Gaming
Frontline Ambassador Award – Recognizes a hospitality worker (front desk staff, host/hostess, housekeeper, guest services and maintenance) in a Genesee County hotel who provides outstanding service to guests staying at their establishment. The nominees are:
Baymont Inn & Suites
- Maimoun Alsrihin
- Rhonda Assaf
- Ahmad Bakr
- Carol Fields
- Jozlynn McMillion
- Sarah McWhirter
- Christopher Miller
- Elias Najjar
Best Western Flint Airport Inn & Suites
- Jeanette Anderson, CTA
- Diana Baricska, CTA
- Andrew Charles
- Deniesha Coulter
- Rebecca Fortune
- Avante Hatter, CTA
- Matt Hensel
- Charbel Massoud
- Elizabeth Morris, CTA
- Mykal Oyler
- Jack Sheroski
- Dominique Redmond
- Kayla Simmons
- Keniesha Spencer, CTA
Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Fenton
- Telakia Martin
Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Grand Blanc
- Jazzmyn Blackwell
- Andrea Clay
- Allen Davis
- Jason Keenan
- Victoria Leonard, CTA
- Linda Pryor
- Autwan Roland
- Theresa Sharpe
Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
- Breanna Bettencourt
- Justin Franklin
- Geraldine Geske
- Katelynne Ide
- Lettie Lane
- Kit Lenox
Holiday Inn Flint-Grand Blanc Area
- Sheryl Champine
- Pete Clifton
- Mike Clinton
- Travis Diadiun
- Krista Mayhew
- Tammy Ranaldi
- Charles Ross
- Mary Trombley
Knights Inn-Flint
- Crystal Law
- Melissa Lewis, CTA
- Rhonda Myers
- Chris Simpson
Quality Inn Grand Blanc
- Lin Becker
- Michelle Dunlap
- Nicholas Montalvo
- Jenaye O’Steen
- Sheila Williams
- Traci Wing, CTA
Quality Inn & Suites Airport
- Ann Wiseman
Residence Inn by Marriott Flint-Grand Blanc
- Tyeisha Dukes
- TyRon Roberts
Hospitality Ambassador Award – Recognizes exemplary customer service in the non-hotel areas of food service, bartender, transportation, business, etc.
- James Yates, Ascension Genesys Conference & Banquet Center
- Lisa Blondell, Blondie’s Food & Spirits
- Brian Barnett, Cork on Saginaw
- Marge Murphy, Cork on Saginaw
- Darci Racette, Cork on Saginaw
- Ann Reith, Cork on Saginaw
- Drew Thornton, Cork on Saginaw
- Angela Winford, Cork on Saginaw
- Ellen Bailey, J. Porters/Holiday Inn Flint-Grand Blanc Area
- Jacob Prevost, J. Porters/Holiday Inn Flint-Grand Blanc Area
- Joshua Drobney, Thai Nation Bistro
- Nolan Ward, Torch Bar & Grill
Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) of the Year Award – Recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to promote the region, bring awareness to attractions, spread a hospitality-driven culture and grow the CTA network.
- Crystal Pepperdine, CTA
- David Martin, CTA
In addition, the Chamber will present several special honors at the Nov. 7 gala, including:
- Community Champion Award – Recognizes an individual or organization who brings a meeting, convention or business to Flint & Genesee that directly impacts the perception of our region and our local hospitality economy.
- Economic Development Project of the Year Award – Recognizes and celebrates an innovative economic development project from the past year.
- Gloria DeHart Award – Recognizes an individual or organization who has worked to improve Flint & Genesee in the eyes of the hospitality community.
- Art A. Hurand Award – Recognizes an individual or organization that exemplifies outstanding community spirit.
- Charles Stewart Mott Award – Honors a citizen of the greater Flint community who has made significant contributions to the advancement and well-being of the community and, by his or her actions, carries on the traditions of Charles Stewart Mott.
An hors d’oeuvres reception will follow the awards presentation, with music provided by the local jazz band Sound Language. The event runs from 5:30-9 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m.