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Jimmy Blackburn
Maitre D'Hotel
Columbia Club

Jimmy Blackburn, a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, is known as an institution at a downtown Indianapolis institution, the Columbia Club. For 40 years at the Columbia Club (and 50 years in the hospitality industry) Blackburn has displayed a passion for providing exemplary service to generations of Columbia Club clientele. Wrote one member, "service has many levels...Jimmy stands at the summit." From preparing Caesar Salads tableside, to a flawless serving of flaming coffee, to the precise de-boning of a Dover Sole, Blackburn is a man who knows his craft and has mentored others in the profession. And at age 75, he still often arrives at 6:30 in the morning, attired in a tuxedo and prepared to oversee that day’s breakfast and luncheon service.

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Sandra Dillard-Morton
Bus Operator
IndyGo-Indianapolis Public Transportation

One thing was clear in Sandra Dillard-Morton's nomination as a Lifetime Achievement Rose Award honoree. It's her desire to help others, both through her employment at IndyGo and in her performance as a community volunteer. For 27 years, she has been a bus operator on one of the most popular routes, No. 8 on Washington Street, and she treats her riders as guests and customers. One example given was her decision to learn Spanish, she might be able to assist the increasing number of Latinos who on her route. In her volunteer work at the Martin Center, she used the personal tragedy of the loss of her daughter to sickle cell anemia to help other families cope with their loved ones afflicted by the disease. She also volunteers as a mentor in a "Girls to Women" program at her church. Sandra has many other activities with IndyGo, including serving on the IndyGo 20-year club, the Bus Shelter and Bus Stop Committee, the United Way campaign and IndyGo's annual safety banquet for bus operators.

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David Hostetter
Server
St. Elmo Steak House

A long-time hospitality employee and server at St. Elmo Steak House for the past 13 years, David Hostetter is a Lifetime Achievement ROSE Award recipient. Hostetter is recognized for his exceptional service, including developing long-term relationships with local customers. One example cited was, because of a mixup, a planned birthday celebration for a party at the restaurant did not take place. When Hostetter learned of the mixup after the guests had left, he ordered desserts from the St. Elmo kitchen and personally delivered the desserts to their rooms in a nearby hotel. Overall, Hostetter had worked in the hospitality industry for 35 years, with experience as a server for the Ground Round and the Cheese Cellar. He also once owned a restaurant called Essential Edibles. Active in the community, he is a founding member of the Cottage Home Neighborhood Association. His son, Demian, is also a server at St. Elmo.

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Douglas Ferrer
Concierge
Canterbury Hotel

Fellow employees at Canterbury Hotel refer to Ferrer as "Mister Incredible" for his service excellence. Examples of Ferrer's singular dedication include the time when disheveled, non-English speaking person walked into the hotel. Instead of asking the man to leave, Ferrer began to investigate and learned the man was of Hungarian descent. Through several phone calls, he tracked down the man's family in Chicago. The family was astounded to learn of the man's whereabouts, because he had walked out of a retirement home 10 years earlier and had been listed as missing and presumed dead. Ferrer arranged a joyful reunion. Ferrer has been in the hospitality industry for eight years, including the last five at the Canterbury. He is also known for his musical skills, and plays the piano during afternoon tea or on special occasions.

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Danny Hudson
Maintenance Technician
Adam's Mark Hotel

Dependability is the hallmark of Danny Hudson from the Adams Mark Hotel, where he has worked 25 years and is currently a maintenance technician. In his nomination form, Hudson was repeatedly praised for his punctuality, promptness and a positive attitude. He also was recognized for doing more than just maintenance. When a hotel guest's dog escaped Hudson, on his own time, helped the guest in the search, and even printed and distributed flyers in the surrounding neighborhood. On another occasion, a passing motorist crashed his automobile on a nearby roadway. The car caught fire while the injured driver tried to signal for help. Hudson arrived on the scene, comforted the motorist, summoned emergency personnel for help and stayed until the situation was under control. A native of California, Hudson began his career at the Adams Mark in 1980, when he made a whopping $3.35 per hour. He has been recognized on several occasions as the hotel's employee of the month.

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Allen Patterson
Bellman
Hilton Garden Inn

Allen Patterson is recognized for his "whatever-it-takes" attitude in pleasing guests and representing the city of Indianapolis. Patterson has been a part of the downtown hotel scene for more than 30 years. He began his service career in the 1970s at the Hilton on the Circle, now the Radisson. He also has worked for the Crowne Plaza and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. He has been with the Hilton Garden Inn since 2003. The constant in his career has been his commitment, dedication, love for the job and love for other people. One of the truly kind things he does is connect with children. Out of his own pocket, he purchases stuffed animals, and offers them to the children of guests at the hotel.

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Charlie Powell
Host, Tour Guide
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Charlie Powell was cited for his ability to enthusiastically engage and provide vast knowledge to local, national and international visitors to the Speedway. He is considered one of the best-informed and genuinely friendly hosts and guides the Museum has had. Powell is a 20-year veteran of the Indianapolis Police Department who then worked in the security department at Indianapolis Power and Light Company for 20 years. Shortly after retiring, in 1999, he joined the Hall of Fame Museum as a host, then later signed up as a volunteer when the Speedway implemented its grounds tour program. He lives in the town of Speedway.

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Brenda Stone
Lead Bartender
Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort & Inn

A hospitality industry employee for 21 years, Brenda Stone is recognized for her outstanding service as the lead bartender at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort and Inn, where she has been employed for the past eight years. Stone's nominees included four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, who wrote, "As you know, our race team considers Indianapolis our home away from home. That feeling is due in part to people such as Brenda, who make us feel like we never left. She knows our likes, dislikes and always looks after our every need." While Stone works mostly in the Flag Room Lounge, she also has been known to help out at the front desk, clean a hotel room, serve at a banquet event or make sure thirsty golfers have a drink.

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Sheryl Waterman
Lead Utilities Specialist
Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Sheryl Waterman was recognized for cheerful personality and relentless dedication. In addition to overseeing and personally attending to the cleanliness of one of Indianapolis's busiest attractions, Waterman also goes out of her way to engage children and their families, welcoming them and offering directions. She also assists volunteers. Waterman is a life-long Indianapolis resident who has been with the Children's Museum for nine years. She previously has been recognized as a Children's Museum employee of the month.



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Karen Watts
Front Desk Clerk
Residence Inn by Marriott Northwest

Whether it's something as simple as a cheery good morning or leaving a plate of cookies with a note that says, "have a great day," Karen Watts was cited for taking a pro-active role in interaction with guests. A front desk clerk at the Residence Inn for three years, Watts was the Inn's 2005 employee of the year. She was instrumental in helping the hotel achieve Platinum Hotel recognition from Marriott International and figures prominently in the hotel's consistently high guest service scores. An example of Watts' service is the couple who came to Indianapolis in anticipation of adopting a child. Because of a snag in the process, a five-day stay turned into a 15-day stay. During that time, Watts maintained constant contact with the young couple, keeping them informed of incoming messages, and offering them encouragement to offset their frustration. On the day for the adoption arrived and the couple arrived back at the hotel. There they found a welcome basket filled with items for their infant, courtesy of Karen Watts.

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Patricia Weeks
Guest Services Associate
The Fashion Mall at Keystone at the Crossing

High customer service satisfaction is the basis for Patricia Weeks' recognition. Weeks has received a 99 percent favorable rating from "secret shoppers" assigned to rate employees for friendliness, helpfulness and knowledge. Weeks has been known to track down lost credit cards or assist Fashion Mall customers who have had car trouble. Her extensive knowledge of the city also was cited in her nomination. Formerly a floor manager for Blocks Department Store in Indianapolis, Patricia has worked in customer service for 20 years, and has been with the Fashion Mall for the last eight years.


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