Breaking news: Art of Achievement Award recipients announced Nov. 4 before a record crowd
The nominations are in and judging is underway for the Flint & Genesee Group’s seventh-annual Art of Achievement Awards, which recognize business excellence and community leadership in Flint and Genesee County.
Over 60 businesses and organizations along with more than 70 individuals are contenders for 16 awards that will be presented Nov. 4, from 6-9 p.m., at the historic Capitol Theatre. The Group will also present several special honors at the celebration, including the Economic Development Project of the Year; Diversity Equity & Inclusion Champion; Art Hurand Award; and Charles Stewart Mott Award.
The following individuals and companies are nominees in the business category:
Business Impact Award – Any company with 50 or more employees working to have a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.
- Automation Movers International
- Financial Plus Credit Union
- Peckham, Inc.
- PrintComm
- SERVPRO of Northwest Genesee County & Fenton
- Shea Automotive
Small Business Award – Any company with fewer than 50 employees working to have a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.
- Bovan Floral Group
- CIB Planning
- Commercial Graphics of Michigan
- Flint United Basketball Club
- Great Harvest Bread Co.
- PMC Staffing
- Stephens Wealth Management Group
- Sunny Patch Learning Center
- The Funny Spot
- The John L Group
Minority Owned Business Award – Any minority-owned business working to have a positive impact in Flint & Genesee.
- 810 Tacos
- B.I.C./Business Investment Coalition
- Breads and Threads
- Flint United Basketball Club
- Harambee Wellness
- Horizon Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
- Ryals-Massey Group
- Sunny Patch Learning Center
Nonprofit Impact Award – Any charity, church or nonprofit making great strides to positively impact any facet of the Flint & Genesee community.
- Catholic Charities of Genesee & Shiawassee Counties
- Communities First, Inc.
- Flint Soup
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Genesee County Crisis Intervention Team
- Genesee Health Systems
- James-Moorehouse, Inc.
- Keep Genesee County Beautiful
- Mass Transportation Authority
- My Brother’s Keeper
- Peckham, Inc.
- Rebecca’s Reason
- The Disability Network
- Voices for Children
Young Professional Leader Award – Any young professional 40 or younger making great strides to benefit their company and/or the community.
- Ashley Herriman
- Christina Zerka
- Claudnyse Holloman
- Craig Kelley, Jr.
- Geoff Woodcox
- Jennie Bauder
- Kevin Mays
- Marquita Adams
- Nicole Randt
- Ray Tyler
- Tauzzari Robinson
Claire M. White Award – Honoring a woman working for the betterment of Flint & Genesee in community, career or someone else’s life.
- Amber Taylor
- Cathy Gentry
- Claudnyse Holloman
- DeAnna Wallace
- Joan O’Sullivan-Butler
- Kara Ross
- LaShanda Jackson
- Linda D’Appolonia Knecht
- Lori Hawk
- Lottie Ferguson
- Nancy Edwards
- Nikki Koliopoulos
- Reta Stanley
- Shannon L. Garrett
- Traci Davis
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
- Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
- Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
- Home 2 Suites by Hilton Grand Blanc Flint
Restaurant of the Year – Recognizes a Genesee County restaurant for their outstanding service, menu and overall experience of the customer.
- Barley & Vine
- Blondie’s Food & Spirits
- Cork on Saginaw
- The Fenton Hotel Tavern and Grille
- The Laundry
- Pesto’s
- Sauce Italian American Kitchen
- Steady Eddy’s Café
- Tee’s Plentiful Salads & Catering
- Whitey’s Restaurant
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.
- Flint Drop Fest
- Flint Public Art Project
Gloria DeHart Community Champion – Recognizes an individual or organization who has worked to improve Flint & Genesee in the eyes of the hospitality community.
- The Disability Network
- Jack Stock
Frontline Ambassador Award of the Year – Recognizes outstanding customer service in the non-hotel areas of food service, bartender, transportation, business, etc.
- Antionetta Green, McFarlan Villages
- Will Mason, Coffee Beanery
- Elizabeth Refice, Italia Gardens Grand Blanc
- Antwain Trimble, Chef & Owner, Robella Haynie’s Catering
- Samuel Walton, McFarlan Court Street Village
Hotel Ambassador of the Year – Recognizes a hospitality worker who provided outstanding service. This may include, but is not limited to front desk, host, hostess, housekeeper, guest services, hotel restaurant and maintenance.
Best Western Plus Flint Airport Inn & Suites
- Jeanette Anderson, Director of Sales/Manager
- Deniesha Coulter, Front Desk Agent
- Shelby Ferguson, Front Desk Agent
- Trishayla Gipson, Front Desk Agent
- Keniesha Harris, Front Desk Supervisor & Housekeeping Supervisor
- Matt Hensel, Front Desk Manager
- Drea Jewell, Front Desk Agent
- Amanda Montgomery, Front Desk Agent
- Lucia Qazaha, Front Desk Agent
Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Grand Blanc
- Autwan Roland, Assistant General Manager
- Marlis Settles, Shuttle Driver
- Toya Smith, Front Desk Agent
- Karla Turner, Sales Manager
Hampton Inn & Suites Flint/Grand Blanc
- Geri Geske, Breakfast Attendant
- Ashleigh Lamson, Front Office Supervisor
- Melissa Mancour, Guest Service Representative
Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
- Gregory Ahejew, Catering Sales Manager
- Ellen Bailey, Lead Server
- Ted Berlin, Chief Engineer
- Candice Champine, Banquet Captain
- Sheryl Champine, Director of Sales
- Megan Convis, Barista
- Alyssa Dicicco, Assistant General Manager
- Latanya Hardy, Front Desk Agent
- Katie Hinman, Front Office Manager
- Chris Inman, Front Desk Agent
- Ethan Irish, Front Desk Agent
- Jamie Isaacson, Server
- Melea Mitchell, Barista
- Chasity Raines, Bartender
- Jeff Stableford, General Manager
- John Stenimetz, Lead Bartender
- Daniel Tait, Front Desk Agent
- Dan Wright, General Manager of Food & Beverage
Home 2 Suites by Hilton Grand Blanc Flint
- Ashley Bradley, Executive Housekeeper (was just promoted to AGM)
- Zach Castillo, Maintenance Supervisor
- Kelly Grant, Front Desk Agent
- Traci Wing, General Manager
Tickets are on sale now for $10 and may be purchased online by visiting flintandgenesee.org/art-of-achievement.