2018 Stars of the Industry Awards and 2019 Board of Directors Election

New Haven, CT – October 3, 2018 – The Connecticut Lodging Association (CLA) held their 114th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on October 2nd, 2018 at the Delamar Southport.

Announcing Connecticut's 2018 Stars of the Industry Awards The CLA's "Stars of the Industry" awards were created to recognize outstanding achievements in Connecticut's lodging community. Nominated by members of the CLA, the winners on the state level automatically compete at the national level in the American Hotel & Lodging Association's (AH&LA) Stars of the Industry Awards in spring, 2019.

2018 Employee of the Year Awards:

  • Outstanding Front Desk Associate: Cherene Cotter, Hilton Hartford
  • Outstanding Housekeeping Associate: WilMarie Vazquez, Hartford Windsor Marriott
  • Outstanding Sales Associate: Timothy Grant, Hartford Windsor Marriott
  • Food & Beverage Associate: Joyce Perry Wright, Hartford Windsor Marriott
  • Manager of the Year: Brianna Griffing, Hyatt House Windsor
  • General Manager of the Year, 150 rooms or less: Traci Lashomb, Microtel Inn & Suites
  • General Manager of the Year, 151 rooms or more: Steve Matiatos, Courtyard by Marriott New Haven at Yale

* Images of awardees are available upon request. [email protected]

Announcing 2019 CLA Officers & Directors President Jeff Muthersbaugh, Nehemiah Brainerd Bed & Breakfast, Haddam Vice President: Steve Matiatos, Courtyard by Marriott at Yale Secretary: Lynn Dell, Doubletree Bristol Treasurer: Jon Norton, Omar Coffee Company Immediate Past President: Victor Antico Jr., Holiday Inn Express, Vernon Past President: Michael Trosin, Marriott Hartford/Windsor

Term Ending 2019 Mike Ferguson, Courtyard by Marriott, Orange John Lombardo, Saybrook Point Inn, Marina and Spa Michael Marques, Hampton Inn Shelton Duane Schroder, Waterford Hotel Group

Term Ending 2020 Terri Almond, Hilton Mystic Brian Hunt, Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa Traci LaShomb, CHA, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham, Uncasville Dinu Patel, Rodeway Inn & Suites Branford

Term Ending 2020 Mark Graham, Homewood Suites Hartford Dustin Kovats, Marriott Hartford Nick Lorusso, Hilton Hartford David Mattesen, Hyatt Windsor Ted McCallum, Hilton Stamford Fernando Solis, New Haven Village Suites Win Smith III, Greenwich Hospitality

Non-Voting Scott Phelps – CVB Representative of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau Bud O'Donnell – Allied Representative of Siegel, O'Connor, O'Donnell & Beck, PC Bob Forcier – Education Representative of Mitchell College