Stillmans Win First CTA Employer Award

The Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB) announced the winner of the first ever Certified Tourism Ambassador Employer of the Year award on Sept. 24 in front of a crowd of 135 people during the countywide tourism marketing organization’s 89th annual meeting at Gordon Lodge Resort near Baileys Harbor.

Jack Moneypenny, president/CEO of the DCVB, presented the award to Denise and Greg Stillman, owners of Foremost Management Services, for their support and dedication to Door County’s Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program during the past five years.

“They have consistently certified additional staff members each year, with more than 20 certified since 2009,” Moneypenny said of Foremost Management Services during the award presentation. “They also recognize the importance of maintaining this industry-specific professional designation for their staff by earning an impressive 70 percent renewal rate for those staff members.”

While the DCVB has selected an individual or couple as CTA of the Year for the last four years, this is the first time an employer has been bestowed with a CTA award. Employers are a key component to the customer service initiative as they are responsible for sending their employees through the program. To recognize the importance of employers, starting this year the DCVB decided to begin giving out an employer of the year award at its annual fall meeting.

Door County’s CTA program is a multi-faceted program that serves to increase regional tourism by inspiring front-line employees and volunteers to turn each visitor encounter into a positive experience. The DCVB-managed program, which features six to eight classes per year, demonstrates the county’s dedication to promoting Door County as a premier destination with a high level of commitment to customer service for visitors. Since the first class in March of 2009, a total of 631 people have earned the designation of CTA.

The official business of the night took place when new board members Kim Jensen, Sarah Sawyer and Bill Brown along with second-term board members Ken Glasheen, Dave Maier, Karyn Stroschein and Cheryl Tieman were voted in by those members present to the organization’s board of directors for terms beginning in January 2015. Additionally, members unanimously approved an organizational by-laws revision extending officer term limits.

After dinner the DCVB held its Spirit of Door County raffle drawing, with the Egg Harbor Lodge winning the grand prize of DCVB services valued at more than $3,200. Two other businesses also won free DCVB membership for a year. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets is being used to support the Carole Counard Scholarship Fund, which will award two $1,000 scholarships to eligible Door County residents pursuing higher education in the spring of 2015 at the DCVB’s annual tourism breakfast.