Record turnout for the region’s premier awards event
Flint & Genesee Group today presented Art of Achievement Awards to 16 exemplary businesses, community leaders and hospitality professionals for their significant contributions to the region’s success in 2021.
A record crowd of more than 450 people filled the historic Capitol Theatre – with COVID-19 safety protocols in place – where Master of Ceremonies Leanne Panduren presented the awards to this year’s honorees. Now in its seventh year, the event is a community-wide celebration of the accomplishments that are helping to move Flint & Genesee forward.
“The Art of Achievement Awards provide the perfect opportunity to publicly recognize some of the many contributors to our region’s economic growth and strong sense of community,” said Panduren, president and CEO of ROWE Professional Services Co. and chair of Flint & Genesee Group’s Board of Directors. “The award recipients are the individuals, businesses and hospitality professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.”
The event included the honorees of the Art Hurand and Claire M. White awards, which recognize exceptional community leadership, as well as the presentation of the first-ever Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award.
“These awards recognize outstanding business and community leadership and the unique ways in which their successes are achieved,” said Group CEO Tim Herman. “The great positive stories that we heard during the event is continued evidence of why we are optimistic about the future of Flint and Genesee County.”
The 7th Annual Art of Achievement Awards honored the following businesses and individuals:
- Hotel of the Year – Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
- Frontline Ambassador of the Year Award – Antoinetta Green, of McFarlan Villages
- Restaurants of the Year – Barley & Vine and The Laundry
- Hotel Ambassador of the Year Award – Geri Geske, Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
- Attraction of the Year Award – Flint Public Art Project
- Gloria DeHart Community Champion Award – Jack Stock, Kettering University
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion – Clearview Building Maintenance
- Business Impact Award – SERVPRO of Northwest Genesee County & Fenton
- Economic Development Project of the Year Award – Allegiant Air
- Small Business Award – Great Harvest Bread Co.
- Minority Owned Business Award – Breads & Threads Handmade
- Nonprofit Impact Award – Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Young Professional Leader Award – Tauzzari Robinson, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint
- Claire M. White Award – Reta Stanley, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint & Genesee County
- Art Hurand Award – Greg Viener, Huntington Bank Mid-Michigan Region
- Charles Stewart Mott Award – Sister Carol Weber and Sister Judy Blake, St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center
“Although we continue to navigate challenges stemming from the pandemic, there are signs of recovery in this region,” Herman said. “There are companies, entrepreneurs and hospitality organizations that are making their way back to normalcy. We’re seeing expansion projects, new alliances and innovative ways of serving customers. I also see small businesses coming together to create more prosperous neighborhoods and leaders partnering to reduce disparities among races to create equitable opportunities and outcomes for businesses and individuals. In other words, we’re working toward a more prosperous, inclusive Genesee County.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network of Michigan was the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Art of Achievement Awards; Al Serra Auto Plaza the Red Carpet Sponsor; McLaren Flint the Photography Sponsor; and Skypoint Ventures the Dessert Sponsor.
Individual awards sponsors: Back to the Bricks; Bishop International Airport; Chase; Communities First; Community Foundation of Greater Flint; ELGA Credit Union; Food Bank of Eastern Michigan; Health Alliance Plan (HAP); Huntington National Bank; Mass Transportation Authority; MLive Media Group; United Way of Genesee County; and University of Michigan-Flint.