The Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association is pleased to announce the 2021 Stars of the Industry Awards finalists. On Monday, November 8, we will honor each of the finalists and announce the winners at the awards and dinner ceremony. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!
2021 Stars of the Industry Awards Finalists:
Finalists are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Back of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year:
Suzanne Bolton - Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa (Florence)
Sofia Kulakowski - The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
Emily Lahr - The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center
Tommy Pikulski - Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa
Robert Torbert - Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National
Back of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year:
Britany Bohlen - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
Miranda Green - Manci's Antique Club (Daphne)
Arizona Hart - River Nile Cafe (Dothan)
Taylor Padilla - The Lumbar (Birmingham)
Emanual Townsend - Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook (Birmingham)
Front of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year:
Ali Abdullahpour - Westin/Element Huntsville
Alex Burton - Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa
Toni Cohn - The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
Benny Knox - Sheraton Birmingham Hotel
Aspen Prince - The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center
Front of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year:
Debra Chase - Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National
Carli Doyle - The Lumbar (Birmingham)
Stephanie Hadley - Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook
Kelley Land - Ariccia Cucina Italiana (The Hotel at Auburn University)
Madison Miller - Lucy's (Auburn)
Hospitality Department Manager of the Year:
Nancy Byrd - Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa (Florence)
Michael Herzog - The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection (Point Clear)
John Hopkins - The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center
Taylor Liles - Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa Downtown
Lawren Tucker - Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook (Birmingham)
Restaurant Manager of the Year:
Amber Crigler - Squid Ink Eclectic Eats and Drinks (Mobile)
Jaimie Hilyer - O'Dalys Irish Pub (Mobile)
Jason Jewell - Bob Sykes Bar B Q (Bessemer)
Jeb Stuart - Fisher's at Orange Beach Marina
Heather Tuten - The Depot (Auburn)
Small Hotelier of the Year:
Kay French - The Historic Tutwiler Hotel (Birmingham)
Amanda Roberts - Residence Inn Birmingham Downtown at UAB
Toby Wilson - Wilson Hospitality (Tuscaloosa)
Best New Culinarian of the Year:
Tevin Baker - The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection (Point Clear)
Angel Heinkel - Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa (Florence)
Chris Moore - The Yard at Elyton Hotel (Birmingham)
Supplier of the Year:
Trip Cobb - Tito's Handmade Vodka
Bob Crawford - United-Johnson Brothers of AL, LLC
Clayton Taylor - Alabama Insurance Exchange, Inc.
Tourism Promoter of the Year:
Walter Calhoun - Visit Mobile
Keely Law - Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa (Florence)
Anthony Terling - Auburn-Opelika Tourism
Chef of the Year:
Chris Evans - Café Dupont (Birmingham)
Hunter Harris - Sunset Pointe (Fairhope)
David McLain - Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa (Florence)
Eric Rivera - Vintage Hospitality Group (Montgomery)
Scott Simpson - The Depot (Auburn)
Joshua Towney - Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook (Birmingham)
Restaurateur of the Year:
Jud Blount - Vintage Hospitality Group (Montgomery)
Tom Chapman - Nick's Restorante (Huntsville)
Nick Dimario - PP Hospitality Group (Gulf Shores)
Stephanie & Matt Mell - Church Street Hospitality (Huntsville)
Tom Saab - Bocca Ristorante (Birmingham)
Van Sykes - Bob Sykes Bar B Q Restaurant (Bessemer)
Spirit Award:
Shahla Ahmad Barrow - Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National
Eddie Dubose - Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook (Birmingham)
Allen Honeycutt - Squid Ink Eclectic Eats and Drinks (Mobile)
George Pickens - Vulcan Park & Museum (Birmingham)
Wendy Tate - The Historic Tutwiler Hotel (Birmingham)
