On May 8, the Omaha Metropolitan Area (OMA) Tourism Awards took place at the Mid-America Center. Pottawattamie County was proud to have 40 of their front-line tourism employees nominated for an award at the annual luncheon.
The OMA Tourism Awards are hosted as a team effort between the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Omaha, and Sarpy County Tourism. The awards honor employees from Pottawattamie, Douglas, and Sarpy County who work in hotel, restaurant/catering, attractions, and retail industries.
Pottawattamie County Nominees
Ana Amaral – Holiday Inn @ Ameristar
Ruby Bentley – Bentley East Inc., Macedonia Tourism
Tami Cull – 712 Eat & Drink
Pati Diaz-Martinez – Holiday Inn Express Council Bluffs
Eunice Dzodzomenyo – Best Western Plus Omaha Airport Inn
Jon Fenner – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Dave Fischer – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Kathy Fiscus – Pottawattamie Countywide Tourism Committee, Watta Way
Mike Fox – Ameristar Casino and Hotel
Jeff Franco – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Pat Gallagher – Mid-America Center
Chad Graeve – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Jay Hartong – Barley’s
Shannon Henson – Buck Snort
Oscar Hernandez – 712 Eat & Drink
Gordon D. Hitchcock – Gordon Hitchcock Massage
Tiffeny Hodtwalker – Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Cody Hytrek – Barley’s
Chad Kunze – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Rheanna Lauffer – Courtyard by Marriott
Jean Lien – Mid-America Center
Cathy Nielsen – Caesars at Mid-America Center
Sharon Oamek – Honey Creek Creamery
Christine Patterson – Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Ryan Penney – Pottawattamie County Conservation
George Poulos – Pizza King
Joe Prine – Mid-America Center
Elly Reed – Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Nancy Schomburg – The Olive Branch
Jodi Schunning – Glory Days
Mark Shoemaker – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Kate Simmons – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Gayle Strickland
Rene Stroud – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Susana Tapia-Mejia – Best Western Plus Omaha Airport Inn
Joe Volquartsen – Mid-America Center
Brandon Vorthmann – Mid-America Center
Becca Wiggins – Dusted Charm
Macee Wise – Holiday Inn Express Council Bluffs
Kody Wohlers – Pottawattamie County Conservation
Pottawattamie County Finalists
Ana Amaral – Finalist for Hotels – Outstanding Guest Services award
Jean Lien – Finalist for Attractions – Outstanding Guest Services award
George Poulos – Finalist for Restaurants/Catering – Best Front of the House award
Susana Tapia-Mejia – Finalist for Outstanding Service in Hotels Operations award
Brandon Vorthmann – Finalist for Outstanding Service in Attraction Operations award
Becca Wiggins – Finalist for Retail Outlets – Outstanding Customer Service
Pottawattamie County Award Winners
Congratulations to Christine Patterson and Gayle Strickland who won awards in their nomination categories of Outstanding Manager of the Year and Outstanding Volunteer, respectively.
If you know any of these amazing folks, be sure to congratulate them on all their hard work. We are so proud of our county’s amazing tourism employees.
Didn’t see a nominee from your favorite hotel, restaurant, or attraction? Be sure to vote next year! Follow OMA Tourism Awards on Facebook for updates.