(FLINT, Mich., Oct. 28, 2024) The nominations are in for the Flint & Genesee Group’s Art of Achievement Awards. More than 80 businesses and organizations and 125 individuals are contenders for 14 awards that will be presented Thursday, Nov. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the FIM Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint.
Now in its 10th year, the annual awards celebration will also include the presentation of additional special honors, including the Art Hurand Award and Charles Stewart Mott Award.
“As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Art of Achievement Awards, we celebrate not only a decade of honoring excellence in Flint & Genesee but also the remarkable individuals and businesses that continue to drive growth and innovation in our community,” said Tim Herman, CEO of the Flint & Genesee Group. “This year’s nominees reflect the passion, dedication, and commitment that make our region stronger.”
Red carpet arrival will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the awards program at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now for $10 and may be purchased online by visiting FlintandGenesee.org.
The following individuals and companies are nominees in the business category:
Business Impact Award – Recognizes a company with 50 or more employees making a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.
- Biggby Coffee
- Insight
- McLaren Flint
- Miller Industries, LLC
- Patriot Ambulance Service
- Shea Automotive Group
Claire M. White Award – Honors a woman working for the betterment of Flint & Genesee in community, career, or someone else’s life.
- Joanna Bird, CTA
- Stacy Daul
- Emily Doerr
- Sara Dubey
- Debra Gibes
- Annette Hughes
- DeAndra Larkin
- AshleyCae Lee
- Tina Martinez
- Rebecca Millsap
- Crissy Mitchell
- Tara Moreno-Wallen
- Paula Nas
- Rebecca Pettengill
- Qiana Towns Williams
Diversity, Inclusion & Equity (DEI) Award – Recognizes a business or organization that has demonstrated leadership in helping make Flint & Genesee a place of opportunity and inclusion for those who live and work in the county.
- Crim Fitness Foundation
- Financial Plus Credit Union
- Sunny Patch Learning Center
- YMCA of Greater Flint
Minority-Owned Business Award – Recognizes a minority-owned business making a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.
- For The Love of Dance Studio
- Dantzler Designs
- Harris Family Health
- Healthy Just Feels Right
- Prestige Promotions, LLC
- Renaissance Burton Chiropractic Spine & Injury Center
- Sunny Patch Learning Center
- TGI Direct
Nonprofit Impact Award – Recognizes a charity, church, or nonprofit making great strides to positively impact any facet of the Flint & Genesee community.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint
- Bridging Boundaries
- Catholic Charities of Shiawassee & Genesee Counties
- Communities First, Inc.
- Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative
- Flint Rocks Youth Empowerment
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Friends of McFarlan Park
- Genesee County Free Medical Clinic
- Genesee County Habitat for Humanity
- Genesee Health Plan
- Goodwill Mid-Michigan
- Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church
- Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce
- Impact100 Genesee County
- Insight Research Institute
- Kettering University
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- Sunshine Family Cares, Inc.
- The Way Coffee Co.
- Total Life Prosperity Community Development Corporation
- The What’s Up Downtown Project
Small Business Award – Recognizes a company with fewer than 50 employees making a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.
- 810 Fashion Shows
- A&J Janitorial Service
- Beauty Mark Salon
- Curtis Flower Shop
- Dort Financial Center
- Eight Ten Nail Bar
- Entech Staffing Solutions
- Family Auto Sales, LLC
- Fenton Winery & Brewery/Dream Machine Distillery
- Flint Optical
- For The Love Of Dance Studio
- Great Harvest Bread Company – Grand Blanc
- Healthy Just Feels Right
- Heart of Worship Dance Studio
- M & M Travel and Tours
- Robella Haynie’s Catering
- Security First Benefits Corp – The Micah Widder Group
- Sunny Patch Learning Center
- Walker Electric, Inc.
Young Professional Leader Award – Recognizes a young professional 40 or younger making great strides to benefit their company and/or the community.
- Amir E. Abu-Aita
- Ciarra Adams
- Molly Baskin
- Dan Buccilli
- Porcha Clemons
- Alexandria Dawson
- Jakob Doans
- Dallas Dunlap
- Kelly Garcia
- Eric Gasper
- Addisyn Goss
- Amanda Hemeyer
- Brandon Houston
- Shan Jackson
- Tim Jones
- Nikki Koliopoulos, CTA
- Joseph G. Mounger
- Nicholas Prescott
- Jerin Sage, CTA
- Levi Todd
- Amanda Williams
The following companies and individuals are nominees in the hospitality category:
Attraction of the Year – Recognizes a venue or attraction that continues to raise the bar, offering top notch entertainment or programming to the community and visitors.
- 810 Day
- Back to the Bricks
- CANUSA Games
- Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad “Curious at Crossroads Oddities Fest”
- Dort Financial Center and the “Flint Firebirds”
- Flint ARTWALK
- Flint Drop Fest
- Genesee County Parks
- The Flint Children’s Museum
- The Machine Shop Concert Lounge
- The New McCree Theatre
CTA of the Year – Recognizes an individual Flint & Genesee Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) who has gone above and beyond to promote the region, bring awareness to attractions, spread a hospitality-driven culture, and grow the CTA network.
- Diana Baricska, CTA
- Tracy Butcher, CTA
- Jacky Metcalfe, CTA
Frontline Ambassador of the Year – Recognizes outstanding customer service in the non-hotel areas of food service, bartender, transportation, business, etc.
- Gregory Ahejew, CTA
- James Burkhart
- Tina Duvall
- Collene Eller
- LeighAnn Kourtjian
- Leigh LaForest, CTA
- Rodney Ott
- Amanda Sauvie
- Zach Smithingell
Hotel of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County hotel for outstanding service, comfort, and attention to hotel guests, providing an excellent overall experience.
- Comfort Inn & Suites Fenton
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Grand Blanc
- Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
- Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Grand Blanc/Flint
- Hyatt Place Flint/Grand Blanc
- Knob Hill Bed & Breakfast
Bryant “BB” Nolden Community Champion Award – Recognizes an individual or organization who improves Flint & Genesee through community collaboration, advocacy, and engagement.
- Lyric Amodia
- Brenda Nicholson-Anderson
- James Avery, CTA
- Percy Glover
- Megan Heyza
- Shan Jackson
- Leigh LaForest, CTA
- Maryum Rasool
- Jeff Yorke
Restaurant of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County restaurant for outstanding service, menu, and overall experience of the customer.
- Brothers Brunch House
- Estelle Public House
- Grand Blanc Tap Bar & Grill
- Joe & Lewie’s Penalty Box
- The Laundry
- Prince Gourmet
- North End Coffee Cafe Bake
- Railyard Fenton
- Spectacular Spudz
- The Pig and The Hen
Hotel Ambassador of the Year – Recognizes a hospitality worker who provided outstanding service in areas including, but is not limited to, front desk, host, hostess, housekeeper, guest services, hotel restaurant, and maintenance.
Best Western Plus Flint Airport Inn & Suites
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- Jeanette Anderson, CTA
- Diana Baricska, CTA
- Venessa Barton
- Tyler Blackburn
- Zachary Blackburn
- Karen Boyd, CTA
- Kinya Eldridge
- Shelby Ferguson
- Matthew Hensel, CTA
- Keniesha Harris
- Blake Johnson, CTA
- Kyle McMillan
- Asharee Powells
- Lucia Qazaha, CTA
- Dominique Redmond, CTA
Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Grand Blanc
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- Susanna Biddinger
- Genell Crain-Reeves
- Darrell Hagy
- Trevon Johnson
- Marissa McCollum
- Sonja McIntyre
- Elizabeth Morris, CTA
- Ebony Robinson
- Karen Sehl
- Barbara Smith
- Karla Turner, CTA
- Olivia Vanochten
- Emily Wright
Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
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- Geri Geske
- Tajana James
- Ashleigh Lamson
- Melissa Mancour
Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
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- Ellen Bailey
- Tina Bausick, CTA
- Tamara Beasley
- Nevaeh Bernard
- MaryLynn Bingham
- Candice Champine
- Sheryl Champine, CTA
- Dwayne Corder
- Briana Crane-Jackson
- Kayla Harper
- Kathryn Hinman
- Christopher Inman
- Ethan Irish
- Dion Lewis
- Michael Magby
- Melea Mitchell
- Alexandra Price
- Tammy Ranaldi
- Tyler Shaw
- Shakia Singleton
- Jarett Ward
- Linze Wilkerson
- Chimere Williams
- James Young
- Taryn Young
Home2 Suites by Hilton Grand Blanc/Flint
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- Megan Clayton
- Tracy Connor
- Cheryl Finkbeiner
- Abbey Forrester
- Gina Grasso
- Lisa Grasso
- Elisha Jackson
- Alex Kattoula
- Theresa Sharpe
Hyatt Place Flint/Grand Blanc
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- Melanie Cieslinski
- Tegan Glasco
- Lois Witek
Knob Hill Bed & Breakfast
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- Diana Phillips