The St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau recently recognized the finalists in the 2023 St. Johns County’s Tourism and Hospitality Employee of the Year awards. Each winner was recognized at his or her place of business in a celebration with their co-workers.
Susan Phillips, president and CEO of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB), and Jason Kerns, general manager, Embassy Suites Oceanfront Resort at St. Augustine Beach and chairman of the board of the VCB, presented the top awards in five categories: retail, attractions, government, accommodations and restaurants with individuals nominated for their service in St. Johns County largest industry: tourism and hospitality.
The winners for each category are:
“Each one of the nominees for the top recognition as Tourism Employee of the Year is very deserving,” said Kerns. “All of the hospitality workers on Florida’s Historic Coast are what makes this one of the best Florida destinations, and the VCB is pleased to honor and recognize these stand-out individuals for their hard work and dedication.”
The additional hospitality workers nominated for the recognition are:
Ariel Brestin, tour guide/dummer camp coordinator, Colonial Quarter; Betsy Speer, retail assistant manager, St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum; Charlyne Biggs, concierge, Casa Monica Resort & Spa; Corry Connors, retail manager, Whetstone Chocolates;
Darrell Bordley, restaurant supervisor, Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort; Diana Tucker, banquet supervisor; Renaissance St Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel; Elizabeth Dunn, sales associate, St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum; Ellie Rose Schultze, executive chef, Chez L’Amour; Elvin Pearce Yarbrough, server, Columbia Restaurant;
Emanuel Shockley, interpreter, Fountain of Youth Archeological Park; Grayson Stuber, tour guide, After Dark Investigations; Gretchen Willingham, manager/bartender, Raintree Restaurant; Heather Benzal, wedding sales manager, Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort; Joseph Higgins, head tour guide, Whetstone Chocolates;
Julian Payne, line cook, St. Augustine Seafood Company; Kory Crockett, front office manager, Holiday Inn Express St. Augustine Vilano Beach; Laura Morey, corporate tour manager, The Tasting Tours, LLC; Margaret Gomez, vice president, St. Augustine Wild Reserve;
Mel DeLoach, beverage manager/bartender, Bull & Crown Publick House; Miles Henley, visitor services associate, Lightner Museum; Shirley Mitri, front desk supervisor, Courtyard by Marriott St. Augustine; Sunny Stephens, banquet manager, Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort; Taneisha Johnson, supervisor in housekeeping, Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort;
Tara Galvin, sales & executive admin, Casa Monica Resort & Spa; Terran McGinnis, facility historian/ manager of community development/social media coordinator, Marineland Dolphin Adventure; Terry Livingston, night auditor; DoubleTree St. Augustine;
Tory Byerly, food & beverage manager, Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort; Toste Muniz, office manager, St Augustine Sailing; Vera Brown, COO, City Gate Spirits; and Yisel Oliveira Mora, housekeeping supervisor, Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach.
Tourism is the largest industry in St. Johns County and supports more than 33,000 tourism-related jobs.
Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Road Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach.
For advance travel information, call 800-653-2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
