Discover Northwest Nebraska received 7 nominations for its 2nd-annual local Tourism Industry Awards – Business/Attraction of the Year, Frontline Employee of the Year, and Tourism Volunteer of the Year.
Discover Northwest Nebraska director Kerri Rempp says the winners will be revealed two weeks from tomorrow at the 4th-annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest tourism industry workshop at the Dawes County Fairgrounds.
There are two nominees for Business/Attraction of the Year: Chadron State Park and the Runza Restaurant in Chadron.
Four nominations were received for Frontline Employee, including two co-workers at Wild’s in Chadron – Cody Kronhofman and Willow Davies.
     The other nominees are Carrie Frahm of Perk Up Coffee in Crawford and Chadron State Park office manger Debbon ShieldsÂ
The lone person nominated at the Tourism Volunteer of the Year is Randy Kane, who spent 37 years with the National Park Service as a historical interpreter before retiring and who now volunteers at the Museum of the Fur Trade.
Rempp says there’s still room at the Treasure Chest workshop for anyone working in the tourism industry in Dawes and Sioux counties. RSVPs are needed by next Friday, March 29, by emailing director@discovernwnebraska.com or calling 308-432-3006.
Treasure Chest of the Northwest includes a brochure swap, networking, a local business perspective by Valerie Homrighausen of Prairie Agate Rock Shop, a recap of the 2023 tourist season and a preview of 2024 and a presentation on collaboration.
The doors at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Events Center will open at 5:00 on the 29th with the event to start at 5:30.
This year’s award nominees are:
Chadron State Park: Chadron State Park is Nebraska’s first state park, established in 1921. The park celebrated 100 years in 2021 and has a annual celebration each June with music, vendors, food and lots of kid activities. The park attracts an annual visitation of over 400,000 people a year, with roughly half coming from in-state and half out-of-state. The park provides a huge economic impact to the community all year long, hosting hunters in the shoulder seasons and ark visitors for camping and activities during the summer. Chadron State Park is a hidden gem, but we are happy to share it with all visitors.
Runza: I absolutely love going to the Runza Restaurant in Chadron, NE – not only is their food wonderful, but I thoroughly enjoy ALL of their employees. They are super nice, welcoming, always in good moods, and remember me and what I want to order. They are always super helpful and nice to all of those people who visit and order food, no matter if they are local or are visiting “tourists.” It is definitely a place that anyone can stop by and feel like the people who work there “make their day.” Jackson – the manager – really keeps all his people going and in a very positive mood. I look forward to stopping by there even just to say “hi!”
Carrie Frahm: Just stepping into the Perk Up Coffee place – one feels very welcome and wanted. It is such a pleasure to talk to Carrie Frahm whether it is ordering something or letting her know what is going on around the area so that she can share it with her customers, too. The place is great to look around with the historical photos on the wall or when Carrie has an event in there such as during the Crawford Cattle Call. I definitely believe the Carrie deserves the Frontline Employee of the Year Award.
Cody Kronhofman: Cody Kronhofman works at Wild’s and is a fantastic front line staff member. He not only brings a tenacious attitude to the situation, he is quick, he cares about his guests and the business he is working with and it shows by the hospitality that he brings to the table. Cody always remembers exactly what I like to drink for lunch, the additional items that I really enjoy with my meal that I don’t even have to request at this point; he just remembers and makes it happen. He is wonderful at ensuring he greets guests when they arrive and walk into the establishment and treats everyone like a local.
Debbon Shields: Debbon Shields is the new office manager at Chadron State Park. She has been revamping the gift shop with new and improved items, along with making it look great with new paint and carpet. She has been working with local businesses to provide products for our gift shop. Her customer relations is excellent and that is also true for the employees she works with. Debbon has been a huge asset to the park and we are very fortunate to have her.
Willow Davies: Willow Davies, an employee at Wild’s is a wonderful front line worker who shows her diligence through urgency in how she moves within the restaurant that she works. Willow has a great memory and usually does not have to write down your order. Not only that, she is able to remember folks “go to” meal on a regular basis, making us here feel like we have a true local sense of belonging. Willow is very speedy, precise, and detailed. She has great customer service skills that translates over within hospitality and how she works with each guest that come in to dine.
Randy Kane: Randy Kane is an AWESOME volunteer!!! He volunteers out at The Museum of the Fur Trade and every time I go out there, especially with Upward Bound High School Students, he gets them engaged with his presentation and scavenger hunt, throughout the museum including the outside teepee and original site of the Fur Trade Store. Randy is extremely knowledgeable about a great many historical events, people, items – artifacts in the museum that he makes it an adventure every time we visit.