Hospitality Awards

The Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency held its 2025 Annual Partnership Meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Valley View Farm Venue. During the event, the agency announced the nominees and winners of the 2024 Hospitality Awards. The evening provided an opportunity to review the previous year’s achievements, preview upcoming marketing initiatives, and recognize the well-deserving nominees – all while celebrating tourism and the hospitality industry in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

The meeting also featured a special panel discussion on successful communication. The panel was led by Liz Menhart of First Federal of Greene County and included Carole DeAngelo of Ogden Newspapers and Jamie Summerlin of Guidon Creative.

Special thank you to: Greene County Commissioners, State Representative Bud Cook, Valley View Farm Venue, What’s Smokin’ BBQ, 5 Kidz Kandy Café & Catering, Liz Menhart, Carole DeAngelo, Jamie Summerlin, Jeanine Henry, and the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency Board of Directors. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to next year!

2024 Hospitality Awards

Partner of the Year: 5 Kidz Kandy

• Nominees: EQT REC Center; The Fashion Shoppe; Gloria’s Ceramics & Greene Gifts; Hideaway Candle Bar; The Ice Plant; Mickey’s Men’s Store; Specialty Herbal Products

Event of the Year: 50’s Fest & Car Cruise

• Nominees: Greene County Fair; The Ice Plant’s Annual Car Show; Jacktown Fair; King Coal Show; Lippencott Alpacas National Farm Days

Employee of the Year: Caitlin Morton, Valley View Farm Venue

• Nominees: Mercedes Frye, Blessed Valley Lodging; Nicole Kalka, Embroid’em; Roberta King, Specialty Herbal Products; Jenna Perkins, What’s Smokin’ BBQ; Leigh Ann & Andy Shaner, The Denny House; Sarah Varner, Greene County Chamber of Commerce

Volunteer of the Year: Danielle Crooks, Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful

• Nominees: Lisa Belding, White Covered Bridge Association; Jeanine Henry, Miss Rain Day/Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful

Hospitality Award Winners

Hospitality Employee of the Year

• 2024 | Caitlin Morton, Valley View Farm Venue
• 2023 | Echo Johnson, RGB Coffee
• 2022 | MaChal Forbes, Greene County United Way
• 2021 | Brandon Cooke, 5 Kidz Kandy

Hospitality Volunteer of the Year

• 2024 | Danielle Crooks, Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful
• 2023 | Pat Walko, White Covered Bridge Association
• 2022 | Renee Jones, Waynesburg VFW Post 4793
• 2021 | George “Bly” Blystone, W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop

Event of the Year

• 2024 | 50’s Fest & Car Cruise
• 2023 | Rain Day Festival
• 2022 | White Covered Bridge Festival
• 2021 | Greene County Fair

Partner of the Year

• 2024 | 5 Kidz Kandy
• 2023 | Lippencott Alpacas
• 2022 | Valley View Farm Venue
• 2021 | Thistlethwaite Vineyards

The Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency held our 2024 Annual Partnership Meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Greene County Fairgrounds where we announced the nominees and winners of the 2023 Hospitality Awards. The evening allows us an opportunity to provide an overview of the previous year, upcoming marketing initiatives, and a chance to acknowledge each of the well deserving nominees – all while celebrating tourism and the hospitality industry in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Special thank you to: Greene County Commissioners, Kiln to Table, 5 Kidz Kandy Café & Catering, RGB Coffee, 4 Seasons Lawn & Garden, West Greene FFA, Lucien, Ben McMillen, and the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency Board of Directors. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to next year!

2023 Hospitality Awards

Partner of the Year: Lippencott Alpacas

• Nominees: The Denny House; Warrior Trail Association; Cornerstone Genealogical Society; Miss Rain Day Scholarship

Event of the Year: Rain Day Festival

• Nominees: Legendary Con; Jacktown Fair; 50’s Fest & Car Cruise; Waynesburg Christmas Parade

Employee of the Year: Echo Johnson, RGB Coffee

• Nominees: Cassandra “Casse” Criss, Ryerson Station State Park; Matthew Cumberledge, Greene County Historical Society; Fred McConn, Harden Family Farm

Volunteer of the Year: Pat Walko, White Covered Bridge Association

2024 Hospitality Awards

The Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency is hosting its 4th annual Hospitality Awards to honor outstanding partners and their employees or volunteers. The four award categories recognize dedication, service, and community involvement. All tourism partners are eligible to nominate individuals or businesses/events deserving of these prestigious awards. Nominees and winners will be celebrated at the annual partnership meeting on March 11th. Nominations are due by 10am on Monday, February 24, 2025.

Hospitality Employee of the Year
Honors an employee who goes above and beyond normal job responsibilities in a hospitality business or organization. Nominees are judged by a committee on outstanding service to their place of employment, community, and visitors. Submit Nomination

Hospitality Volunteer of the Year
Honors a volunteer who goes above and beyond normal volunteer responsibilities in a hospitality business or organization. Nominees are judged by a committee on outstanding service to their place of volunteering, community, and visitors. Submit Nomination

Event of the Year
Recognizes an exceptional event that exemplifies the best of travel and tourism in Greene County.  Nominees are judged by a committee and tourism partner vote with input from the public via social media. Submit Nomination

Partner of the Year
Recognizes an exceptional business or organization that exemplifies the best of travel and tourism in Greene County.  Nominees are judged by a committee and tourism partner vote with input from the public via social media. Submit Nomination

Only complete nomination forms will be considered. All nominees must represent a hospitality business or organization in Greene County that is a current partner of Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Examples include lodging properties, campgrounds, restaurants, bars, attractions, retailers, event organizers, etc. If you have questions about the nomination process, please call 724-627-8687 or email [email protected].