2025 Destination Madison Awards
The Destination Madison Awards (DMAs) are the highlight of our year—a chance for the community to come together to honor the brightest stars in Madison’s hospitality industry.
This year, we are accepting nominations in six categories:
Rising Star Award
Destination Host Award
Behind the Scenes Service Award
Distinguished Achievement Award
MASC Sports Champion Award
Sustainability Excellence Award
Nominations for the 2025 DMAs have closed. See this year's list of nominees below.
Nominations will be reviewed individually by a selection committee comprised of a cross-section of industry professionals. Finalists will be chosen per category by the selection committee, and will be recognized at the Summer Summit + DMAs event on June 26, 2025, at the Memorial Union. Award winners will be announced live at the event.
Jump to award categories
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award recognizes individuals who have been in the industry for fewer than five years and consistently achieve excellence in their current role while demonstrating the potential to become a pivotal figure in Madison’s hospitality industry. Nominations will be evaluated on examples of leadership, going above and beyond to create exceptional experiences and performance-related accomplishments.
Nominees
Vincent Anzivino
Accounts Receivable Manager
The Edgewater Hotel
Rhea Bradley
Area Director of Sales
Great Lakes Management Group
Sarah Branch
CEO
Earthly Temptation Wellness & Crash Box Therapy
Kyle Chisholm
Marketing Director
Madison Mallards/Madison Night Mares
Cassi Doering
Payroll & Benefits Manager
The Edgewater Hotel
Emily Erdahl
Guest Service Representative
Hampton Inn and Suites Madison Downtown
Mitch Fladger
Breakfast Attendant & Maintenance Tech
Fairfield Inn & Suites Madison South
Sophia Georges
Wine Steward
Cento
Heather Gillespie
Event Services Specialist
Madison Public Library
Ethan Hanzel
Event Planner
WYSO Center for Music
Amy Krebs
Spa Operations Supervisor
The Edgewater Hotel
William Lafoe
Manager
Fromagination
Keely Liska
Group Room Coordinator
AC Marriott Madison Downtown
Danicca Mendez
Sales Manager
Embassy Suites Madison Downtown
Alex Montes
Chief Engineer
Homewood Suites Madison West
Alora Newberry
Assistant General Manager
Canteen
Korinne O'Lantern
Volunteer Coordinator
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Tate Phillip
Assistant General Manager
Cave of the Mounds
Breanna Roberts
Front Desk Agent
Sheraton Madison Hotel
Johana Rojas
Pastry Assistant
Short Stack Eatery
Natalie Vaessen
Account Executive
Event Essentials
Raquelle Pratt VandenBoom
Assistant General Manager & Director of Events
PinSeekers DeForest
Juremail "Jules" Viste
Food & Beverage Manager
Embassy Suites Madison Downtown
Destination Host Award
The Destination Host Award recognizes the dedication and service excellence of employees in Madison’s hospitality industry who provide service directly to guests. Nominations will be evaluated on examples of customer service excellence, integrity, commitment to their role and employer, and performance-related accomplishments.
Craig Amacker
Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor
Madison Fly Fishing Company
Terrance Barrett
General Manager
Mansion Hill Inn
Osman Galo
Senior Field Leader
Event Essentials
Katharine Hillman
Co-Owner
Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
Andrea Hillsey
Owner
Square Wine Co.
Marc Antoine Laporte
Captain
Harvey House
Tracy Lomax
Guest Service Agent
Fairfield Inn and Suites Madison South
Lisa Loup
Event Director
Food Fight
Marilyn Olk
Class Coordinator
Fromagination
Ryan Olson
Guest Services Supervisor
The Edgewater Hotel
Laura Richards
Associate Director of Conference and Registration Services
Wisconsin Union - UW Conferences & Events
John Shaub
Bellman & Guest Service Agent
Sheraton Madison Hotel
Jaclyn Thompson
Wedding Coordinator & Catering Manager
Park Hotel
Genevieve Visse
Dining Captain
Rare Steakhouse
Behind the Scenes Service Award
The Behind the Scenes Service Award recognizes the dedication and service excellence of employees in Madison’s hospitality industry who work out of public view. Nominations will be evaluated on examples of customer service excellence, integrity, commitment to their role and employer, and performance-related accomplishments.
Tim Albrecht
Chief Engineer
The Edgewater Hotel
Trygve Chinander
Director of Stadium Operations
Breese Stevens Field - Forward Madison FC
Mandy Davis
Corporate Director of Revenue Management
NCG Hospitality
Jeanene Ennis
Facility & Event Scheduling Coordinator
Verona Area School District
Donald Fobar
Assistant General Manager
Staybridge Suites Madison East
Claudia Gutierrez
Executive Housekeeper
Embassy Suites Madison Downtown
CC Jacob
Art Director
Food Fight
Chris Keale
Banquet Setup Supervisor
Sheraton Madison Hotel
Isaac May
Co-Owner & General Manager
Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
Maria Montes
Executive Housekeeper
Hampton Inn and Suites Madison Downtown
Francisco Ocelotl
Banquet Supervisor
The Edgewater Hotel
Maria Santos Ocelotl
Assistant Executive Housekeeper
Home2 Suites Madison Central
Tomasz Pajor
Director of Air Service Development
Dane County Regional Airport
John Russell
Brewmaster
The Lone Girl Brewing Company
Allie D'Amato Stoddard
Director of Operations
Ancora Cafe + Bakery
Sheri Straka
Regional Director of Operations
NCG Hospitality
Hannah Stubitsch
Catering and Gifting Manager
Fromagination
Lobsang Wangmo
Director of Housekeeping
Hotel Indigo Madison Downtown & Holiday Inn Express
David Zuniga
Dishwasher
Short Stack Eatery
Distinguished Achievement Award
The Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has distinguished themselves in Madison’s hospitality industry by exemplifying the highest level of leadership and service. Nominations will be evaluated on examples of professional excellence, values and integrity, and outstanding achievements that represent the best of the best in our destination.
Kathryn Alioto
Area Director of Sales
Aimbridge Hospitality
Terry Halverson
Manager/Bartender
The Rigby Pub and Grill
Jen Hlavachek
Regional Sales Manager
NCG Hospitality
Barry Levenson
Curator and Chief Mustard Officer
National Mustard Museum
Michael Luehrs
General Manager
Embassy Suites Madison Downtown
Peter McElvanna
Proprietor
The Coopers Tavern
Giovanni Novella
Proprietor and Chef
Bar Corallini
Erin Rasmussen
Owner
American Wine Project
Sarah Sarbacker
Owner
Cherry Blossom Events/Christkindlmarket Paoli
Andrew Sewell
Music Director
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
Krystal Stoikes
Director of Sales
Embassy Suites Madison Downtown
Lisa Wadzinske
Catering Director
Wisconsin Union
William Zeinemann
Associate Director - Marketing and Events
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
The Sustainability Excellence Award
The Sustainability Excellence Award recognizes an individual or business within the hospitality industry that demonstrates exceptional commitment to sustainable practices. This recipient should exemplify the fusion of environmental consciousness, social responsibility, and economic viability.
John Biondi & Deirdre Birmingham
Proprietor & CEO Orchardist
The Cider Farm
Alex Booker
Founder
Booker Botanicals
Cara Erickson
Director of Marketing & Communications
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Mary Ann McKenzie
Owner
Four Winds Farm
Sara Serrato, Laura Serrato & Ralph Stern
Owners
Alice Good
Kirk Smock
Owner/Baker
ORIGIN Breads
Tony Wantoch
Director of Facilities
Overture Center for the Arts
MASC SPORTS CHAMPION AWARD
This award recognizes an individual or organization who has significantly contributed to the growth and development of sports participation, access or helping to bring events to the Madison community. The recipient of this award has supported the Madison Area Sports Commission in building its high-profile host history and the local economy. In addition, the recipient’s passion for sports within our community has had a lasting impact on the lives of our residents and visitors.
Steve Cohan
Director
Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships
Andrew Joudrey
President & CEO
Legacy 20 and Madison Capitols Hockey Club (USHL)
LOVB
League One Volleyball - Madison
Mike Monger & Liz Horning
Brand Events Manager, Events Manager
Trek Bicycles
Yahya Radman
Head Dive Coach
University of Wisconsin Athletics
Current Destination Madison staff are not eligible.
Upon receipt, submissions will be reviewed by Destination Madison staff for eligibility and completeness. Nominations should include specific examples of how the nominee meets the stated award criteria. Destination Madison staff will contact nominator if nomination is incomplete and request additional information to support the nomination. If no additional information is received, the nomination will not be reviewed by the selection committee.
Nominations are reviewed individually by a selection committee comprised of a cross-section of industry professionals.
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