Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Governor's Awards for Travel and Tourism. Honorees were recognized during the Governor's Awards Luncheon on April 17.
- Behind the Scenes Tourism Employee - Daniel Rodriguez, AALTOS Garden Café located inside Canad Inns Destination Center, Grand Forks
- Event of the Year - Big Iron Farm Show, Red River Valley Fairgrounds, West Fargo
- Best Package - Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Packages, Medora
- Front Line Tourism Employee - Jayne Rieth, Fargo-Moorhead CVB
- International Award - Pembina State Museum, Pembina
- Organization of the Year - Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway
- Attraction of the Year - Red River Zoo, Fargo
- Travel and Tourism Leader - Troy White, Bonanzaville USA, West Fargo
- Wade Westin Award for Marketing - Julie Rygg, Greater Grand Forks CVB
Past winners of the Governor's Awards for Travel and Tourism have also included:
Travel Industry Leader
2012: Kyle Blanchfield, Woodland Resort
2011: Wendy Howe, Minot CVB
2010: Carla Borlaug, Hazen CVB
2009: Julie Rygg, Grand Forks CVB
2008: Kathy Stremick, Walhalla
2007: Cole Carley, Fargo-Moorhead CVB
2006: Marty Anderson, Nature Tourism
2005: Tracy Potter, Fort Lincoln Foundation
2004: Jeff Altizer, Williston CVB
2003: Terri Thiel, Dickinson CVB
2002: Sara Otte Coleman, Bismarck-Mandan CVB
2001: Kristie Frieze, Lewis-Clark Interpretive Center
2000: Carl Bloomquist, Devils Lake
1999: Phyllis Hodnefield, Minot CVB
1998: David Borlaug, Lewis-Clark Interpretive Center
1997: Carrol Juven, Fargo
1996: Terry Harzinski, Bismarck-Mandan CVB
Tourism Organization of the Year
2012: Fargo Moorhead CVB
2011: Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
2010: Bismarck-Mandan CVB
2009: Greater Grand Forks CVB
2008: Dickinson CVB
2007: Lewis-Clark Fort Mandan Foundation
2006: McKenzie County Tourism
Private Entity
2005: Beaver Creek Pumpkin Festival, Linton
2004: Roosevelt Inn and Suites, Watford City
2003: Lone Butte Ranch, Grassy Butte
2002: Lund’s Landing, Ray
2001: BirdWoman Canoe Adventures, Washburn
2000: Rockin’ the Hills, Bottineau
1999: MotorMania, Minot
1998: Knife River Ranch, Golden Valley
1997: Dakota Zoo, Bismarck
1996: Red Mike Golf Course, Ray
Front Line Employee of the Year
2012: Peggy Rixen-Kuntz, Dickinson CVB
2011:Tiffany Rolfstad, Minot Sleep Inn and Suites
2010: Pat Kiamia, El Rancho, Williston
2009: Krissy Schwartz, Fargo-Moorhead CVB
2008: Kathy Diekman, Chahinkapa Zoo, Wahpeton
2007: Analene Torgerson, Lund’s Landing, Ray
2006: Shelly Wagendorf, Greater Grand Forks CVB
2005: Tammy Weiler, Dickinson CVB
2004: Mark Kenneweg, Fort Lincoln Foundation
2003: Richard Horner, Grahams Island SP, Devils Lake
2002: Jan Kuchera, Beach Visitors Center
2001: Reese and Margaret Hawkins, Louis L’Amour, Jamestown
2000: Lyle Glass, Medora
1999: Michael Bailey, Pembina State Museum
1998: Lonnie Halverson, Prairie Rose Carousel, Wahpeton
1997: Wanda Dvorak
1996: Al Meier, Dickinson
Behind the Scenes
2012: Bobbi Clark, Williston CVB
2011: John Hild, TR Medora Foundation
2010: Jim Cote, Williston Parks and Rec
2009: Rod Lagerquist, International Peace Garden, Dunseith
2008: Karen Meier, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake
2007: Donna Schouweiler, State Parks and Rec
2006: Kinley Slaughter, Burning Hills Amphitheater, Medora
2005: Karen Summers, Seven Seas, Mandan
International
2012: Dakota Cyclery, Medora
2011: Gary Schluter, Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours
2010: Cole Carley, Fargo-Moorhead CVB
2009: Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Tribes
2008: United Tribes International Powwow, Bismarck
2007: Chester Reiten, Norsk Hostfest, Minot
2006: Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks
2005: Knife River Ranch, Golden Valley
2004: Terry Harzinski, Bismarck-Mandan CVB
Attraction of the Year
2012: Medora Musical
2011: Dakota Zoo
2010: Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile SHS, Cooperstown
2009: The Enchanted Highway, Regent
2008: North Dakota Heritage Center, Bismarck
2007: North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, Medora
2006: Lewis & Clark Riverboat, Bismarck
Public/Non-Profit
2005: Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway
2004: West River Regional Tourism
2003: Dickens Village Festival, Garrison
2002: International Peace Garden, Dunseith
2001: Scandinavian Heritage Center, Minot
2000: Taylor Horsefest
1999: Three Tribes Museum, New Town
1998: North Dakota Buffalo Foundation, Jamestown
1997: Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, Mandan
1996: Garrison Chamber of Commerce
Event of the Year
2012: Norsk Hostfest, Minot
2011: Fargo Marathon
2010: Sam McQuade Charity Softball Tournament, Bismarck
2009: James River Rodeo, Jamestown
2008: North Dakota State Fair, Minot
2007: Grand Cities Arts Fest, Grand Forks
2006: CANDISC, Garrison
Sodbuster Award
1998: Lewis & Clark Canoe Rental, Washburn
1997: Little Knife Outfitters, Watford City
1996: Cally Marsh, Dickinson
Best Package
2012: Rolling Plains Adventure, McKenzie
2011: Canoeing, Cooking & Campfire: A Women’s Weekend on the Red
2010: Becoming and Outdoors-Woman, Bottineau
2009: Burnin’ Daylight Adventures, Killdeer
2008: Bismarck Awesome Stay & Play
2007: Southwest Golf Getaway
2006: Perch Express, Devils Lake
2005: Knife River Ranch Vacations, Golden Valley
Wade Westin Marketing Award
2012: Brian Matson, Fargo-Moorhead CVB
