2011 AWARD WINNERS

Summaries of 2011 E-Awards category winners’ stories

HONOR OF DISTINCTION

MICHAEL GARBE, with the Castaways Beach and Bay Cottages

Excellent work ethic.” said a 91-year old nominator. “Especially during the horrible 3-day storm in May when we couldn’t leave.”

“Very honest, kind, and considerate. When he did a job he was all there, and did his work excellently,” said another.

Good reasons. But then we received the following nomination story. “My daughter, 12, and her friend, 13, wanted to go kayaking, so we rented kayaks and off they went… They disappeared behind the island but I didn’t initially worry because I assumed they would reappear on the other side. When there was still no sign of them 30 minutes later, I became concerned. My husband borrowed another kayak and went out looking for them. About the same time, my nominee arrived at the marina and offered to help, setting off immediately in a canoe, but not before promising to find the girls. It was now after 5 pm and getting dark. My husband had circled the small island twice and there was no sign of the girls so I called 911, who called the police, the Sheriff’s department, and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard said they would send a boat but it would take over 25 minutes. Needless to say, I was becoming frantic.

Thirty minutes later we got word the girls had been found and I can’t tell you how relieved we were! Soon they appeared from behind the island, our nominee rowing, the girls in the canoe, the kayaks towed behind. As promised, he delivered them back to me. They were cold and embarrassed but otherwise unharmed.
We will never forget our nominee’s kindness in a very difficult moment. There are no words to express my gratitude for what he did, but at least I can make others aware of his heroic actions.

Please share our story with your co-workers so they too can know what a good man they work with. A good deed is a reflection of a person’s soul and you are lucky to have him at your resort.”

As a final bit of info about this story, we found out that the nominee had been off work and about to go fishing when he saw the mother crying on the dock.

When he was told what happened, he didn’t hesitate to take action. And when he found the girls, aground on a oyster bed over two miles from the island due to the current, he made them sit in the canoe while he used his maintenance radio to call in. Though transmission was bad, the front desk staff heard him. Then he began the difficult paddle back to safety, with the kayaks attached, against the current. When they finally made it back, in this nominee’s typical caring manner, all he asked the mom to do was to not ground the girls.

As another nominator who was involved in this situation said, “this is truly an example of the right person being in the right place at the right time!”

Sometimes we forget that it’s moments like we described above that show the real difference between someone just doing their job, marking time, waiting till quitting time with their head not really into their work, and someone who is committed to excellence, to caring, to looking out for others because they take their duties, responsibilities, and genuine concern for others to the next level of customer service perfection and professionalism. This Honor of Distinction winner is that kind of person.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

TOSHA WOLLNEY, with the Resort at Marina Village

“This dedicated professional is the best,” said one nominator from Ohio, who went on to say that they had held a destination wedding at her location and it was months and months of work, with no complaints from this nominee. “She gives 120%,” she continued, and on the wedding day, “she was there at 9 am and I saw her again at midnight—she had never left. My daughter’s wedding will be a day to remember, most of it due to my nominee’s efforts. She is simply amazing, and your company is extremely lucky to have her on your staff.”

As another nominator from Georgia said well, “she went the extra mile, start to finish. I can’t begin to put it all into words. What an asset she is to your hotel. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

This wonderful nominee worked from the heart the day he helped make a guest’s stay extraordinary. “A wheelchair bound guest wanted to go on the beach,” said the nominator. “She called my nominee—just a regular server passing by--and without a moment’s hesitation he provided a makeshift ramp in order for the guest to access the water. He stayed with her the entire time as she enjoyed the peace and freedom of the beach. Then she asked if he would help her into the water so she could wade. He didn’t blink an eye but helped her literally into the Gulf, getting soaking wet himself in the process. The experience was not only inspirational, as the guest said, but my nominee said he couldn’t believe how wonderful it made him feel too, to know his simple acts could be so important to someone. Upon her return home, the guest called to let the nominee’s boss know that this had been the first time she had been on the beach and in the ocean since 1991. She went on to say that she will be forever grateful to the nominee and the time he spent with her. As she simply said, “the experience was magical”.

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GOOD SAMARITAN

BARBARA & ROBERT CARDOOS, with Café Pignoli

The nominator sent in this nomination and it’s heartwarming. As he stated, “This nomination is about humanity, selflessness and caring. Last year during a major holiday, my nominee closed their restaurant on the busiest day of the year to help feed those in need of a home-cooked meal. In my nominee’s words—we have no limitations. If 1,000 people come, they’ll all be fed.

Well, over 1,000 families showed up. Then they added an additional element to making dinner available to the community—those who could not get to the location simply needed to call and a fresh meal would be delivered to their home! Unbelievable.

My nominees’ generosity and graciousness know no bounds.”

As another grateful recipient said via email, “I read about the dinner but wasn’t sure I would go, and one of my sons was embarrassed about it. We finally worked up enough nerve to go and were made to feel so welcome….I had no idea how I was going to feed my sons that day and then YOU all put on a free dinner! What a blessing you are. Thank you.”

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OTHER BUSINESSES/SERVICES

KATHRYN CIMATO, of Forever-Green Ace Hardware

“A breath of fresh air!” is what a nominator called this person. “More than steps up to the plate.” The nominator went on to say that, when her business ran low on an item that was much needed, her nominee not only brought the items right over, but drove off-island to purchase more, drove them back, and delivered them within two hours. “A smile on her face…amazement on mine,” continued the nominator. “This is only one of many incidences. This person is never “put out”, is always eager to please, and always willing to help. People like her make my life on the job simple and carefree. Words can’t describe my appreciation for her great service and pleasing personality. She is a credit to her organization.”

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RESTAURANTS

BRANDI WALLACE, of the Gasparilla Inn & Club

It’s moments like the following that make this nominee stand out. As the nominator said, “One evening my nominee was taking care of a mom and her son for dinner, making small talk with everyone by asking how their vacation was going so far. The child mentioned that he had been searching every day on the beach for a conch shell and had had no luck. Realizing the chances of finding a conch on the beach were slim, my nominee got the mom’s attention after dinner and told her a secret: she said to meet her on the beach in the morning at 8 am, that she would have a pink hat on, and that a conch shell would be partially buried a few feet in front of her. The next morning the mom and son arrived for their typical morning stroll, and when the mom saw my nominee in her pink hat she steered her son toward her. As they approached, my nominee slipped away but not before noticing the boy’s excitement as he began to dig, and then “found” the conch shell. Needless to say, the boy was beyond happy. I think my nominee absolutely went above and beyond and feel she truly made a difference.”

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TRANSPORTATION

JOHN ZANGARI , with Standard Parking

Here’s a story that will tell you why this person is a category winner, and is best said in the nominator’s words. “Last week a driver was in the lot at the end of his shift, when a gentleman stops him and asks if he could use the restroom because he had had an accident. Now I am sure it was embarrassing for both the customer and the driver, but the driver took it in stride and got the man back on the bus and drove him to the office. After giving him time in the restroom, he went to check on him. The man said he needed a change of clothes. My nominee said not to worry and went back to the bus to get the man’s luggage, then found him a change of clothes and took them to him. More time passed, so the driver checked on the man again, only to find out that the restroom only had electric hand dryers and no towels, which the man needed. So off he went to find towels so the man could properly dress.

The whole time the nominee made every effort to minimize the embarrassing situation by acting like it happens every day and that it was no big deal, just to make it easier on the customer.

When I asked my nominee what was going on, all he said was “a man needed to use the restroom.” I didn’t learn until the next day what had actually happened.”
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ATTRACTIONS

TYLER HAAS, with South Seas Island Resort

A nominator expressed the spirit of this category winner well—“I want to let you know you have the most amazing employee. My son has a passion for fishing and I’m not a fisherman at all. As we went out Tuesday to catch just one fish to make his vacation memorable, we met my nominee. He helped us bait the hook, then showed my son how to practice from the dock. Three fish later, my son’s joy and excitement were unbelievable. My nominee was so helpful and patient with my son and made his day. This went on the whole vacation—every time my son and I were on the dock my nominee wasn’t far away to lend a helping hand. I could not be more thankful to him for his patience and for making this summer family trip one my son will NOT forget.”

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