Hospitality Indiana Recognizes Industry Stars

INDIANAPOLIS (October 22, 2026) — This week, Hospitality Indiana hosted the annual Stars of the Industry awards ceremony at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. Stars of the Industry is Hospitality Indiana’s annual awards celebration recognizing the outstanding individuals and businesses that make Indiana’s hospitality industry thrive. The event honors excellence, leadership, and service across the restaurant, lodging, and broader hospitality sectors, celebrating the people who make a lasting impact on their teams, communities, and the industry.

This year, 92 individuals were nominated across 10 categories. All 92 honorees were recognized at the event, with winners being announced in real time. 

Please join us in congratulating our 2026 winners:

• Event Planner of the Year: Carley Clark, Clancy’s Hospitality

  • "Carley has played a key role in growing Clancy’s Hospitality’s private events 
    business, helping generate more than $1 million in bookings and contributing to 
    a 10% revenue increase at The Fountain Room. She has coordinated events for 
    major organizations, including Eli Lilly, the Indianapolis Colts, and Salesforce. Her 
    attention to detail was especially evident during the WNBA All-Star festivities, 
    when she successfully coordinated a full venue buyout that earned outstanding 
    client praise. Through her professionalism, creativity, and ability to build lasting 
    relationships, Carley consistently delivers memorable experiences."

• Hospitality Supporting Role of the Year: Luke Holsapple, Cunningham Restaurant Group

  • "Luke plays a critical role in keeping nearly 50 Cunningham Restaurant 
    Group locations operating smoothly, often responding to emergencies at all 
    hours. Since joining the facilities team in 2021, he has developed specialized 
    restaurant maintenance skills, including repairing essential kitchen equipment 
    that might otherwise cause significant downtime. His willingness to work 
    early mornings, late nights, and weekends demonstrates his extraordinary 
    dedication to supporting restaurant teams. Through his resourcefulness, 
    dependability, and problem-solving abilities, Luke helps ensure guests continue 
    receiving exceptional hospitality."

• Lodging Front of the House: Crystal Vicha, Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station

  • "Crystal brings genuine enthusiasm and personal attention to every guest 
    interaction, helping visitors feel connected to both the hotel and the city 
    of Indianapolis. From creating special experiences for families staying in 
    historic train car rooms to sharing personalized local recommendations, she 
    consistently goes beyond expectations. Her kindness extends to coworkers 
    as well, including thoughtful gestures that help colleagues feel supported and 
    appreciated. Crystal’s ability to make people feel remembered, welcomed, and 
    valued captures the true spirit of hospitality."

• Lodging Heart of the House: Leonard King, Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre

  • "For 12 years, Leonard has been a trusted member of the engineering team 
    at Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre, sharing his expertise and training 
    fellow engineers. During a severe winter storm, he brought his personal 
    snowblower to the hotel and spent two days clearing the entrance so guests 
    could travel safely. His specialized repair skills also help the hotel complete 
    projects internally and reduce costs. Leonard’s dedication, generosity, and 
    pride in his work have earned him multiple Associate of the Month honors."

• Lodging Manager of the Year (100 rooms or less): Mayra Castillo, TownePlace Suites Indianapolis Airport

  • "Mayra leads her housekeeping team with dedication, achieving an impressive 
    82% guest satisfaction score for cleanliness, eight points above the brand 
    benchmark. When breakfast satisfaction declined, she stepped outside her 
    regular responsibilities to help improve operations, raising the score from 
    11% to 65% in just one month. Her hands-on leadership, willingness to 
    support other departments, and commitment to guest satisfaction make her 
    an exceptional hospitality professional."

• Lodging Manager of the Year (more than 100 rooms): Michelle Sbai, Courtyard by Marriott Fishers

  • "Michelle has demonstrated exceptional leadership since opening Courtyard 
    by Marriott Fishers five years ago. Under her direction, the hotel achieved 
    the top RevPAR ranking in its competitive set within six months and earned 
    Marriott’s Courtyard Best New Hotel Opening Award. She has successfully 
    guided the property through major operational and ownership changes while 
    maintaining strong performance. Michelle’s commitment to her employees 
    has also helped create one of the company’s lowest turnover rates."

• Restaurant Front of the House: Josiah “Jo” Thibodeau, Modita

  • "Jo brings creativity, knowledge, and a passion for teaching to his role at 
    Modita. For an entire year, he voluntarily led weekly training sessions on 
    mixology, Asian spirits, and sake to help his coworkers grow. His innovative 
    approach to hospitality creates memorable guest experiences, while his 
    talent has earned recognition through the 2025 FOH × Tales of the Cocktail 
    scholarship and a top-three finish at Indianapolis’s 2026 Bar Fight. Jo’s 
    generosity and dedication inspire those around him."

• Restaurant Heart of the House: Juan Reyes, Livery Indianapolis

  • "Since 2018, Juan has been the dependable foundation of Livery’s kitchen, 
    preparing the fresh ingredients, salsas, and guacamole that make each 
    dining experience possible. His precise knife skills, consistent quality, and 
    extraordinary work ethic set the standard for his teammates. He regularly 
    takes on additional responsibilities and has earned a remarkable reputation 
    for reliability. Juan’s dedication behind the scenes helps the entire culinary 
    team succeed and reflects the true spirit of hospitality."

• Restaurant Manager of the Year: Andrew Wilbur, Penn Station Sandwiches (Lebanon)

  • "Andrew has built an exceptional culture of leadership, hospitality, and growth 
    at Penn Station Sandwiches in Lebanon. He has promoted more than a 
    dozen managers while developing future leaders and creating a welcoming 
    environment where regular guests feel at home. Under his leadership, the 
    restaurant has achieved more than 12.5% sales growth in 2026, with catering 
    sales approaching four times the previous year’s total. Andrew’s ability to 
    develop people while delivering outstanding business results makes him an 
    exceptional restaurant leader."

• Rising Star: Zoie Cottrell, Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

  • "Since joining Indianapolis Marriott Downtown in November 2024, Zoie has 
    quickly advanced from Front Office associate to Front Desk Supervisor and 
    then Front Desk Manager. Her eagerness to learn, lead by example, and train 
    fellow associates has made her an invaluable part of the team. She creates 
    such meaningful guest connections that returning visitors call ahead to see 
    if she will be working. Zoie’s initiative, professionalism, and genuine passion 
    for hospitality make her an exceptional rising leader."

And congratulations to our 2026 honorees:

Kellie Adams
Melissa Angelillis
Anthony Armstrong
Naw Thein “Cherry” Aye
Daniel Barrett
Marin Borst
Sandra “Sandy” Bowman
James Bryant
Tara Burgdorf
Kristan Cain
Abby Candor
Jorge Gideon Castro
Yolimar Chambers
Edgar Cortez
Ashley Daniels
Billy Dean
Amber Dennis
Priyangsu Dey
Delaney Dunn
Darling “Maria” Escobar
Juan Esteban
Maddie Fields
Areli Martinez
Yirgalem Ghebreab
Jose Gomez
Carmen Gonzalez
Nicole Graham
Ariel Green
Ernest Guipo
Audrey Hall
Alexander Harris
Brent Harrison
Netrice Hawthorn
Whitney Henry
Kendra Hines
Maya Houston
Morgan Howard
Sally Mayrose Jones
Herminia Juarez
Candace Kavanaugh
Kristie Kenworthy
Amaya Knoll
Laura Koenker
Valerie Kristek
Jill Lydick
Edwin Mateo
Caitlyn Mathew
William McGrew
Maria Membreno
Bryce Miller
Renee Mitchell
Lindsay Monroe
Anlly Ornelas
Damaris Padilla
Kristy Parr
Dhruv Patel
Samantha Pelot
Luis Perez
Bryan Phelps
Maria Guzman Puga
Angela Reynoso
Thomas Robinson
Natalie Rosales
Alex Ruiz
Amanda Ryan
Alex Sanchez
Jose Sanchez
Maxwell Servi
Katie Simon
Cameron Sorensen
Alberto Jorge Soto
Renato Sousa
Mary Stone
Kristin Stonestreet
Union Tuimuk
Ciara Tyndall
Laura Vibbart
Helen Walker
Trish Walker
Jarod Walls
Mike Yaklin
Amanda Zimanski

For more information regarding Stars of the Industry and to view the award categories in depth, click here. Follow @HospitalityIndiana on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more updates.