Stars of the Industry

Sonoma County Tourism will celebrate the best and brightest in the tourism and hospitality industry at the 2026 Stars of the Industry Awards on Wednesday, June 10 at Graton Casino & Resort. The event is designed to celebrate businesses that contribute to the wellbeing of our community and make Sonoma County a vibrant vacation destination, as well as the unsung hospitality workforce that goes above and beyond in service to our visitors.

Ticket sales opening soon.

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2025 Stars of the Industry Finalist

Front of House - Manager Finalists

Benjamin Lenhard, Assistant Front Office Manager, The Lodge at Bodega Bay (Winner)
Kat Prescott, Tasting Room Manager, Head Events Coordinator & Facilitator of Fun, Griffo Distillery
Travis Schimmer, Estate Sales Manager, Croix Estate

Front of House - Non-Manager Finalists

Teresita "Tess" Coffill, Front Desk Associate, Courtyard Marriott Santa Rosa (Winner)
Kenneth “KJ” Johnson, Banquet Captain, Montage Healdsburg
Season Leef, Wine Ambassador, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards

Heart of House - Manager Finalists

Garrett Fogle, Director of Property Operations, DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country
Ed Loftesnes, Maintenance Manager, Timber Cove Resort (Winner)
Tyler Osburg-Head, Estate & Sales Manager, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery

Heart of House - Non-Manager Finalists

Guillermo Medina, Busser, Cattlemens (Winner)
Floridalma Recibis, Housekeeper, The Astro Motel
Janet Sheehan, Sous Chef, Hamel Family Wines

Rising Star Finalists

Julianne Culley, Manager of Membership & Visitor Experience, Sonoma Botanical Garden (Winner)
Annabel Nygard, Private Events Sales Director, Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club
Whitney Sargis, Hospitality Associate, Bella Vineyards + Wine Caves

Customer Experience Finalists

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
Snoopy’s Home Ice (Winner)
W.C. Lodging - a family-owned vacation rental management company

Lodging Property of the Year Finalists

AutoCamp Sonoma
Flamingo Resort & Spa (Winner)
Timber Cove Resort

Community Enrichment Finalists

Goodness Gracious Catering
Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Club
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards (Winner)

Best Tourism Partnership Finalists

J Vineyards & Winery and grantLOVE (Winner)
Santa Rosa Beer Passport
Taste West County

Champion of the Industry Finalists

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport
Duskie Estes
Mitote Food Park (Winner)

Visitor Center Program of the Year Finalists

Armstrong Woods State Natural Reserve Visitor Center (Winner)
California Welcome Center Santa Rosa
Sonoma Coast Visitors Center

Visitor Center Volunteer/Staff Member of the Year Finalists

Al Ferrando, Petaluma Visitor Center
Alice Hunter, Russian River Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center (Winner)
Janice Stites, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau

2024 Stars of the Industry Finalists

Front of the House Finalists

Allyson Etherington, Server, The Red Grape
Liam Richardson, Host/Busser/Greeter/Buddy, Torches (Winner)
Rob Saccuzzo, Tap Room Manager, Old Caz Beer

Heart of the House Finalists

Jorge Garcia, Banquet Set-Up Houseman, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country (Winner)
Kim Navarro, Skating Director, Snoopy’s Home Ice
Eddie Poli, Director of Engineering, Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country