2026 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.
Nominations for the 2026 DMAs have closed and nominees have been announced!
Nominations are 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 25, 2026, at the Overture Center for the Arts. Award winners will be announced live at the event. View previous DMA recipients here.
Jump to award categories
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.
NOMINEES
Kevin Braun
Lead Bartender
DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East
Gary Breedlove
Sales Lead/Owner
Blue Plate Catering
Samantha Buth
Complex Sales Manager
Legacy Ventures Hospitality
Stephen Cobb
Assistant General Manager
Breese Stevens Field
Michael Collins
Floor Manager
One Prime Steakhouse
Sarah Davidson
Director of Special Events
Frank Productions
Christian Horrighs
Front Office Manager
Fairfield Inn & Suites Madison West/Middleton
Robin Kraszka
Sales Manager
Hampton Inn and Suites Madison/Downtown
Will LaFoe
Hospitality Lead
Fromagination
Bradley McKercher
Cheesemonger
Fromagination
Joe Murray
Regional Group Manager
Hampton Inn & Suites Madison - West/Tru by Hilton Madison West
Marilyn Olk
Fromagination Class Coordinator
Fromagination
Gil Richardson
Head Usher
Alliant Energy Center
Ian Stark
Bartender
Moxy Madison Downtown
Rachel Tatge
Assistant Director of Events
UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment
Chet Wright
Guest Services Representative
DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East
Javier Zarate Morales
Guest Services Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
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 service excellence, integrity, commitment to their role and employer, and performance-related accomplishments.
Nominees
Aristotle Bautista
Operations Manager
Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown
Hana Davis
Back of House Coordinator
Fromagination
Brad Degler
Chief Engineer
Madison Marriott South
Mario Garcia
Kitchen Manager
Best Western Premier Park Hotel
Carlos Gonzalez
Room Inspector
AC Hotel Madison Downtown
Karen Kosloske
Complex Controller
Fairfield Inn & Suites Madison South/Madison Marriott South
Paul Lenhart
Director of Facilities
Hotel Indigo Madison/Palette Bar & Grill
Julio Lopez
Chief Maintenance Engineer
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
Rose Mariel Lopez
Executive Housekeeper
DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East
John McDonald
AV Technician
UW–Madison Conferences & Events
Kelsey Morrisson
Manager of Event Services
Overture Center for the Arts
Betsy Mullally
Cheeseboard Curator
Fromagination
Lorena Osorio
Executive Housekeeping Manager
Home2 Suites by Hilton Madison Central Alliant Energy Center
Jim Schrader
Facilities Manager
Madison Children's Museum
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.
Nominees
Kiera Austin
Store Leader
Faherty Brand—Hilldale
Scott Chehak
Senior Executive Director of Building Services
Madison Metropolitan School District
Anya Firszt
General Manager
Willy Street Co-op
Lauren Foegen
Marketing Manager
Festival Foods
Kaitlyn Ganz
Marketing Manager
KleenMark
Erika & Jessica Jones
Owners
Giant Jones Brewing
Nick Martin
Managing Partner, Owner
Ian's Pizza Madison
Tim (Pio) Piotrowski
Chief Beer Officer
Delta Beer Lab
Laura Serrato
Owner
Alice Good Specialty Coffee
Sasha Stone
CEO
Green Life Trading Co.
Caitlin Suemnicht
Vice President of Business Development
Food Fight Restaurant Group
Claire Webber
Director of Merchandise and Retail Operations
Madison Mallards & Madison Night Mares
MASC SPORTS CHAMPION AWARD
The MASC Sports Champion Award recognizes an individual or organization that has significantly contributed to the growth and development of sports participation, access to sports or helping to bring events to the Madison community. Ideally, the recipient has supported the Madison Area Sports Commission in building its high-profile host history and the local economy. The recipient of this award should have a passion for sports within our community, resulting in a lasting impact on the lives of our residents and visitors.
Nominees
Shane Burgess
Assistant AD for Event Operations
Wisconsin Athletics
Deborah (Deb) Jenks
Founder, Vice President, Director of Special Events
Dairyland Sports
Joel Marshall
Director of Operations
Verona Ice Arena
Kevin McPherson
President
Capital Area Pickleball Association
Afan Ottenheimer
Vice Commadore
Mendota Yacht Club
Nate Pokrass
Director
American Family Insurance
ARTS + CULTURE IMPACT AWARD
The Arts + Culture Impact Award recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates exceptional leadership in advancing arts and culture within the community. The recipient of this award should exemplify the integration of creativity, collaboration, cultural impact and accessibility—elevating the destination through meaningful visual, literary and/or performing arts experiences.
Nominees
Paul Baker Prindle
Gabriele Haberland Director
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Pacal Bayley
DJ Pain 1
Joanne Grassman
Owner
Grand Inspired
Shannon Heibler
Presenting Manager
Overture Center for the Arts
Ria Hodgson
Music Makers Director
Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras
Isthmus Dance Collective
Alyssa Jendusa
President
Isthmus Dance Collective
Rita Mae Reese
Co-Director
Arts + Literature Laboratory
Malissa Repinski
Music Event Coordinator/Bar Manager
The Rigby
Sheila Robertson
Owner
Monkey Business Institute
Jane Rotonda
Wisconsin Book Festival Director
Madison Public Library Foundation
Elizabeth Snodgrass
Director
Wisconsin Union Theater
Iva Ugrcic
CEO & Artistic Director, Founder
LunART
Lena Ugren
Owner/Artist
ChromaWallz
Sharon Vanorny
Photographer
SV Heart Photography
Kylie West
Community Development Support Specialist
Village of Waunakee
Sara Young
Managing Director
American Players Theatre
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.
Nominees
Sandra Apkarian
Front Desk Agent
Courtyard by Marriott Madison East
Sam Brown
Owner
On Regent Hospitality—Fabiola's/Greenbush/Leopold's
Terry Halverson
Manager
The Rigby
Barry Levenson
Curator
National Mustard Museum
Michael Luehrs
General Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
Ranette Maurer
General Manager
AC Hotel Madison Downtown
Andrew Pollard
General Manager
Hampton Inn & Suites Madison/Downtown
Geoffrey Sandler
Owner/Emcee
Celebrations Entertainment
Adam Schomaker
General Manager
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Madison
Krystal Stoikes
Director of Sales
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
Lindsay Temple
Complex Senior Sales Manager
Legacy Ventures Hospitality
Mel Trudeau
Director of Events, Health and Hospitality
Overture Center for the Arts
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
Madeline Bonham
Guest Experience Manager
Saunaday
Sarah Branch
CEO & Founder
Crash Box Therapy
Alexander Burger
Assistant General Manager
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madison Central
Anna Garcia-Menocal
Manager of Guest Services
Overture Center for the Arts
Taylor Hartman Strpko
Managing Director
Bartell Theatre
Katie Hinze
Guest Service Representative
DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East
Mike Jaula
Sales Coordinator
Hampton Inn & Suites Madison Downtown
Silvia Liberatore
Guest Service Representative
Hampton Inn and Suites Madison Downtown
Shahayra Majumder
Owner
Hydrate IV Bar
Alexis O'Connell
Manager of Guest Services
Overture Center for the Arts
Kris O'Kane
Sales Manager
Best Western Premier Park Hotel
Bob Patel
Executive Management
Sleep Inn & Suites
Arturo Perez
Maintenance Engineer
Madison Marriott South
Julia Peterson
Assistant General Manager
Frank Productions
Vidushi Sharma
Guest Services Representative
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
Norys Tomala
Front Desk Supervisor
Homewood Suites by Hilton Madison West
Jorge Vera
Sous Chef
Hotel Indigo Madison/Palette Bar & Grill
Jules Viste
Food and Beverage Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
Mary Wagenhoffer
Sales Marketing Manager
The Edgewater
Javier Zarate Morales
Guest Services Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
Current Destination Madison staff are not eligible to nominate or be nominated.
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 the nominator if the 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 volunteer industry professionals.
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