NCRLA

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association

Congratulations to Our 2021 Winners

Restaurateurs of the Year | Charles Winston Jr. & Wil O’Neal, Winston’s Grille
Restaurant Manager of the Year | Terriann Biagi, The Raleigh Times
Restaurant Employee of the Year | Mai Nguyen, Sitti
Lodging Operator of the Year | Tiffany Tucker, Canopy by Hilton Southpark
Lodging Manager of the Year | Christina McCall, Pinehurst Resort
Lodging Employee of the Year | Marie Mosoti, Omni Charlotte Hotel
Hospitality Supplier of the Year | Kevin Osterman & Wayne Hilston, Employers
Charitable Champion | Emily Ballard, Emily Ballard Photography
Hospitality Champion, House | Representative Julia Howard, NC General Assembly
Hospitality Champion, Senate | Senator Chuck Edwards, NC General Assembly
Griff & June Glover Award | Steve Thanhauser, Angus Barn
Ken Conrad Award | The Huebner Family, F & D Huebner

Award category descriptions are as follows:

Nominees must be restaurant members in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a restaurant owner or company that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his or her fellow operators, employees and the community. Other areas of consideration include the nominee’s ability as an operator and his/her community involvement. In addition, nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics, and have enhanced the overall image of the foodservice industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the foodservice industry. Previous winners.
Two awards will be given in this category to celebrate deserving employees at the management level and line level. Please feel free to nominate more than one deserving employee accordingly. Nominees must display outstanding service and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. Nominees must have been employed at a member restaurant for one year, and carry themselves with professionalism and display leadership abilities. Previous winners.
Nominees must be lodging members in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a hotel owner or a company that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his or her fellow operators, employees, and the community. Other areas of consideration include the nominee’s ability as an operator and his/her community involvement. In addition, nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics, and have enhanced the overall image of the lodging industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the hospitality industry. General managers, management company executives and property owners are eligible. Previous winners.
Two awards will be given in this category to celebrate deserving employees at the management level and line level. Please feel free to nominate more than one deserving employee accordingly. Nominees must display outstanding service and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. Nominees must have been employed at a member lodging establishment for one year, and carry themselves with professionalism and display leadership abilities. Previous winners.
Nominees must be individuals working for allied members of the hospitality industry and must be in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a company or representative that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his/her fellow operators, employees and the community. Nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics and have contributed to the overall image of the hospitality industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the hospitality industry. Previous winners.
This award honors an NCRLA member who has gone above and beyond in their service to the association. The nominee should be someone who has contributed significant time and energy to help NCRLA accomplish its mission. The award is named after longtime members Griff and June Glover of Pizza Inn and Diversified Foods. Previous winners.
This award honors the state legislator who has made the most legislative headway for the hospitality in the preceding legislative session. Previous winners.
This award will be given when appropriate to a member who has achieved significant success in the North Carolina hospitality industry. Previous winners.
This award honors members who make significant charitable impacts within their communities. Previous winners.

Click here for photos of the evening from 2021. Photo Credit: Eamon Queeney
Click here to view the live stream of the event. Produced by Meetings on Cue and Atlas Production Group.

The fine print: All entrants must be NCRLA members in good standing. All submitted materials become the property of NCRLA and will not be returned. Previous winners are ineligible to be reconsidered for the same category, but may be nominated for a different category. Self-nominations are not permitted.