Visit Lake Charles celebrates the outstanding individuals who make Southwest Louisiana’s hospitality industry shine. The ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards is an annual ceremony during National Travel and Tourism Week, where we honor the dedication and hard work of those who go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for locals and visitors to Southwest Louisiana.
Each year, Visit Lake Charles recognizes tourism industry professionals who make powerful contributions to Southwest Louisiana through the Legacy Awards. The work of these leaders ranges from community development and cultural programming to hosting events or playing integral roles in strengthening the tourism industry as a whole.
Outstanding Culinary Professional
Outstanding Hotel Sales Professional
Outstanding Casino Floor Professional
Outstanding Culinary Service Professional
Outstanding Banquet/Catering Professional
Outstanding Transportation Professional
Outstanding Guest Services Professional
Outstanding Valet/Bellmen Professional
Outstanding Housekeeping Professional
Outstanding Bartending Professional
Hospitality Arts & Tourism
2025 Shelly Buller and Kelli Cooley, Calcasieu Theatrical Arts
2024 Lisa Reed - Owner of Flock of Five
2023 Paige Vidrine
2022 Randy Partin
2019 Sean Ardoin
2018 Flock of Five Gift & Art Emporium
2017 Huber "Mikey" Smith, Jr.
2016 Candice Alexander
2015 Denver Kaufman
2014 Chris Miller
2013 Erica McCreedy
2012 Mary Kay Hopkins
2011 Matt Young
2010 Dan Ellender - Children's Museum
2009 Susan Reed
2008 Poor Pony, Inc.
2002 Lee English
2002 Gloria English
Lasting Impression
2025 Rebekah Hoffpauir, Head Chef/Owner of The Bekery
2024 Gus Garden, Chef/Owner of Area 337
2023 Smoke & Barrel, Nathaniel Allured & Adam Fontenot
2022 Sam Moore
2019 Matt Young
2019 Erica McCreedy
2018 Big Daddy's - Jerry LeBlanc
2017 David Papania - Seafood Palace
2017 Chef Lyle Broussard
2017 Chef Kevin Thompson
2016 Rusty Metoyer
Public Service
2025 John Ieyoub, Former District D City Councilman
2024 Louisiana State Senator Jeremy Stine, District 27
2023 Heath Allen, Executive Director of the Lake Charles Regional Airport
2022 Ronnie Johns
2019 Lake Charles Police Department - Transportation Division
2018 Congressman Clay Higgins
2017 Representative Mike Danahay
2016 Todd Landry
2015 James Mayo
2014 Scott Stearns - JRTC & Fort Polk
2013 Dr. Philip C. Williams
2012 Chuck Kleckley
2012 Mayor Chris Duncan - City of Sulphur
2011 Willie Mount
2011 Robert Hennigan
2010 Mark McMurry
2010 Mayor Lawrence Henagan
2009 Sheriff Tony Mancuso
2008 Joey Alcede - Ward 3 Marshal's Office
2008 LOT - Chuck Morse
2002 Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco
Tourism Lifetime Service
2025 Stella Miller, Founding Executive Director of the Black Heritage Gallery
2024 Willie Mount, Former Mayor of Lake Charles and Louisiana State Senator
2023 Adley Cormier and the late Melinda Antoon Cormier
2022 Mayor Bob Hardey
2019 Shelley Johnson
2018 Mickael K. Dees
2017 Mayor Randy Roach
2016 Peggy Patin
2016 Gary Cooper
2015 Faye Blackwell
2015 Joe Toups
2015 Victor Monsour
2014 Elton Louviere
2013 Rufus Fruge
2012 William Kushner
2011 Sandra Treme
2010 Brooks Gregg
2009 Frank Landry
2008 Captain Sammie Faulk
2002 Johnny Suydam
Sports Partner of the Year
2025 Aaron Castete, Director of Operations for the Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators
2024 Heath Schroyer, Director of Athletics at McNeese State University
2023 Hunter Bower with Geaux Preps
2022 Joey Odom
2019 Jean Evans
2018 Keith Alexander - LHSAA
2017 Robert Barrentine - Sulphur High School
2017 Jeff Wainwright - Sulphur High School
2017 Rodney Trahan - Sulphur High School
2016 Pam Ledoux
2016 Charles Allen
Chair's Cup
2025 Bryan Beam, Former Parish Administrator of Calcasieu Parish
2024 Dr. Daryl Burckel, McNeese State University's Seventh President
2023 Dr. Neil Aspinwall
2022 Larry Avery
2019 Nora Popillion
2018 Mary Jo Bayles
2017 Dr. Philip Williams - McNeese State University
2016 Tab Finchum
Shelley Johnson Tourism Leadership
2025 Sam Wilkinson, President and CEO of First Federal Bank of Louisiana
2024 Rick Richard, Philanthropist and President of Empire of the Seed Consultants
2023 Sara Judson
2022 Jill Kidder
2019 Mayor Nic Hunter
2018 Michael Davis - Golden Nugget
2017 Adley Cormier
2016 Jill Kidder
2016 Darienne Mobley
2015 Kyle Edmiston
Tourism Champion
2025 Larry Howard, LHSAA Marsh Madness Basketball
2024 Lake Area Adventures & City of Lake Charles Public Works Department
2023 Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser
