Gold trophy with stars on a green background with sparkles and the text ‘Hospitality Awards

2025 Hospitality Awards

The Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency is proud to host the 5th Annual Hospitality Awards. These four award categories celebrate our tourism partners—and their employees and volunteers—who consistently deliver exceptional hospitality and visitor experiences.

All tourism partners are invited to submit nominations honoring individuals or businesses/events whose exceptional hospitality and service made an impact in 2025. Nominees and award recipients will be recognized at the Annual Partnership Meeting (Date TBA).

Nominations must be submitted by Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Hospitality Employee of the Year
Celebrates an outstanding employee who exceeds expectations and goes above and beyond their role within a hospitality business or organization. Nominees are judged by a committee on their exceptional service to their place of employment and their commitment to delivering outstanding hospitality to 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 their exceptional service to their organization and their commitment to delivering outstanding hospitality to visitors. Submit Nomination

Event of the Year
Celebrates an exceptional event that highlights the best of Greene County’s travel and tourism experience. Nominees are judged through a combination of committee review, tourism partner voting, and public input via social media. Submit Nomination

Partner of the Year
Recognizes an exceptional business or organization whose dedication, impact, and partnership help advance and strengthen travel and tourism in Greene County. Nominees are judged through a combination of committee review, tourism partner voting, and public input 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 the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Eligible partners include, but are not limited to, lodging properties, campgrounds, restaurants, bars, attractions, retailers, and event organizers.

The Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency Board of Directors reserves the discretion to review and approve nominations.

If you have questions about the nomination process, please call 724-627-8687 or email tourism@greenecountypa.gov.

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

2024 Hospitality Awards

Photograph of the audience looking at the panel discussion on stage during the 2025 Annual Partnership Meeting.
Photograph of Panelists Carole DeAngelo, Liz Menhart, and Jamie Summerlin with Greene County Tourism Director JoAnne Marshall at the 2025 Annual Partnership Meeting
Photograph of audience at the 2025 Annual Partnership Meeting at Valley View Farm Venue
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Volunteer of the Year Award Winner: Danielle Crooks, Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Employee of the Year Award Winner: Caitlin Morton, Valley View Farm Venue
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Partner of the Year Winner: Kristy Vliet with 5 Kidz Kandy
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Event of the Year Winner: 50's Fest & Car Cruise
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Volunteer of the Year Nominee: Lisa Belding, White Covered Bridge Association
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Volunteer of the Year Nominee: Jeanine Henry, Miss Rain Day and Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Employee of the Year Nominee: Mercedes Frye, Blessed Valley Lodging
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Employee of the Year Nominee: Roberta King, Specialty Herbal Products
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Employee of the Year Nominee: Jenna Perkins, What's Smokin' BBQ
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Employee of the Year Nominee: Leigh Ann & Andy Shaner, The Denny House
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Employee of the Year Nominee: Sarah Varner, Greene County Chamber of Commerce
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Partner of the Year Nominee: Patty Rohanna with Gloria's Ceramics & Greene Gifts
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Partner of the Year Nominee: Lisa Miller with The Ice Plant
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Partner of the Year Nominee: Victoria and Valentina Bruno with Mickey's Men's Store
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Partner of the Year Nominee: Lee Ann and Brian King with Specialty Herbal Products
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Event of the Year Nominee: Greene County Fair
Photograph of 2024 Hospitality Event of the Year Nominee: The Ice Plant Annual Car Show
Photograph of Greene County Commissioner Jared Edgreen
Photograph of State Representative Bud Cook
Photograph of Panelists Carole DeAngelo, Liz Menhart, and Jamie Summerlin at the 2025 Annual Partnership Meeting
Photograph of the audience looking at the panel discussion on stage during the 2025 Annual Partnership Meeting.

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

2023 Hospitality Awards

Two people stand together at an indoor awards event, smiling at the camera. The person on the right holds a glass award and gestures excitedly toward it, while a presentation screen with images and text is visible in the background.
Three people posing with an award and certificate for “Event of the Year.”
Two women smiling indoors; one holds a glass award while the other holds a certificate for Volunteer of the Year
Two women smiling at an indoor event; one holds a glass award.
Greene County Commissioners Betsy McClure, Jared Edgreen and Blair Zimmerman
Greene County Commissioner Jared Edgreen
Greene County Commissioner Betsy McClure
A man in a gray blazer speaks into a handheld microphone during an indoor event, with two attendees standing behind him listening attentively.
Woman speaking into a microphone while reading from a paper at an indoor event.
A woman speaks into a microphone at a table with a “Visit Greene” banner during an annual partnership meeting, with a projected slide of a covered bridge behind her and several awards and small flower arrangements displayed on the table.
A woman stands at a microphone speaking during an indoor event, wearing a black sleeveless dress and large earrings. She faces the audience while holding the mic, with a small floral arrangement visible in the foreground and a presentation screen behind her.
A woman stands at the front of a room holding a microphone and giving a presentation, with a projected slide behind her titled “Advertising Publications | 2023” showing various magazine covers. A small audience is seated in front, and a vase of yellow flowers sits nearby.
Three people stand together at an indoor awards event, smiling at the camera. The person in the center holds a certificate and plaque labeled “Event of the Year,” while the others stand on either side. A presentation screen with event photos is visible in the background.
Three women stand side by side at an indoor awards event, smiling at the camera. The woman in the center holds a certificate and plaque labeled “Event of the Year,” while the two women beside her stand close in support. A presentation screen with event images is visible in the background.
Two women stand together at an indoor event, smiling while holding a “Partner of the Year” nomination certificate, with a presentation screen in the background.
Two women smile at an indoor event while holding a “Partner of the Year” nomination certificate, with a presentation screen visible in the background.
Three people stand side by side at an indoor event, with the person in the center holding a “Partner of the Year” nomination certificate. A presentation screen with photos is visible in the background.
Two people smiling at an awards event; the woman holds a “Partner of the Year” nomination certificate while standing beside a man with a name tag, with a presentation screen in the background.
A man holds a “Partner of the Year” nomination certificate while standing beside a woman at an awards event, with a presentation screen in the background displaying community initiatives.
Two women smiling at an awards event; one presents a glass trophy to the other, with a projected screen in the background displaying scholarship information.
Two people stand together at an indoor awards event, smiling at the camera. The person on the right holds an “Employee of the Year” certificate and a gold award ribbon, while a presentation screen with blurred names and photos appears in the background.
Two people stand side by side at an indoor event, smiling at the camera. The person on the right holds a certificate reading “Employee of the Year” and a gold award ribbon, while a presentation screen with blurred names and photos is visible in the background.
Attendees sit at round tables with green tablecloths in a community hall, facing a presentation screen displaying “2023 Hospitality Awards” as two presenters stand at the front of the room.
Four adults standing side by side and smiling at the camera in an indoor event space, wearing business-casual attire and name badges.
Eight adults smiling and posing together in an indoor event space, with seven standing side by side and one person lying playfully on the floor in front, all facing the camera.
A group of eight adults posing together at an indoor event space, with seven standing in a line and one person playfully lying on the floor in front of them, smiling.
A smiling middle-aged woman and a young man stand side by side behind a counter, posing together in a casual indoor setting with food service equipment and stacked chairs visible in the background.
A smiling woman sits beside a table with a green tablecloth, resting her head on her hand, with papers, a phone, a bowl, and a vase of yellow flowers arranged on the table.

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

2021 Hospitality Awards

Seven people pose on an outdoor stage at a community event, with two individuals holding framed awards. A young woman wearing a tiara and sash stands at the end, while a musician plays guitar in the background and fall decorations, balloons, and flowers surround the stage.
Three people standing outdoors, smiling, as a man in the center holds a plaque reading “Visit Greene Hospitality Volunteer of the Year 2021,” flanked by a woman and a young woman wearing a tiara and a “Miss Rain Day 2021” sash.
A group of five adults and a young woman wearing a tiara and sash stand on a small outdoor stage during a community event, with two people holding framed awards. A musician plays guitar in the background, and fall decorations like pumpkins and flowers are arranged near the stage.
A head-and-shoulders portrait of a teenage boy with short brown hair wearing a gray T-shirt, looking at the camera against a wood-paneled background.