Recipients included: Marnie Ruckman, hotel assistant manager for the White Inn in Fredonia; Scott Mekus, festivals coordinator for the city of Dunkirk; and Sara Edstrom, operations coordinator for the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown. CCVB received nominations from employers, and presented awards at attractions and businesses.

“These recipients do excellent work for their employers and provide visitors with great customer service,” said Andrew Nixon, CCVB president and CEO. “They also share their extensive knowledge of the local area, businesses and attractions. This ensures visitors have the best experience possible in Chautauqua County and supports the entire tourism industry.”

The White Inn’s owners Steve St. George and Devin Jones nominated Ruckman for her award. They wrote in their nomination that Ruckman goes above and beyond for every guest. “She works extremely hard, diligently attending to any need and always providing the most professional service with the brightest smile. Marnie’s work ethic is incredible, and our team functions smoothly because of her hard work and attention to detail. We are so extremely grateful to have her with us at The White Inn.”

Ruckman spoke at CCVB’s annual meeting and luncheon, held in May at the White Inn, providing a detailed history of the hotel as well as an overview of its recent renovation and reopening. She ensured the 70 tourism industry representatives in attendance had a fun and informative meeting and a great lunch, Nixon said.

Submitted Photo The White Inn’s Marnie Ruckma receives her Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau customer service award.

Vince DeJoy, director of planning and development, nominated Mekus for his award, describing him as indispensable for Dunkirk’s festival season.

“Scott Mekus does such a great job organizing events and festivals in Dunkirk, and does a great job promoting the city and region to organizations, businesses, vendors, and most importantly, to visitors that come to the festivals,” DeJoy said. “Scott will meet somebody for the first time at a Thursday Music at the Pier, find out a little about them, and then always give them a guide and encourage them to come to more events. He is always friendly, welcoming, and passionate with every encounter.”

Mekus works closely with CCVB and does an excellent job of providing information on Dunkirk events and businesses, Nixon said.

Mekus was surprised with the award on the Pier Monday morning. Nixon opened a conversation with him about the upcoming Walleye Festival, then suddenly presented the award.

Kate Rinko nominated Edstrom for her award. Rinko said Edstrom exemplifies the gold standard in tourism service and consistently goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer experiences in her role as operations coordinator for the Lucy Desi Museum.

Submitted Photo Sara Edstrom of the Lucy and Desi Museum in Jamestown (center) gets her award. At right is Kate Rinko, the museum’s retail coordinator.

“Whether she’s recommending hidden gems, helping plan museum visits, or offering guidance on lodging and dining, Sara’s thoughtful insights ensure guests make the most of their time in the region,” Rinko said. “Visitors frequently return asking for Sara by name, a testament to the meaningful impact she leaves on everyone she assists. In the retail space, she goes the extra mile to help guests find the perfect souvenir, making the shopping experience an extension of the joy and nostalgia found within the museum itself.”

In her own time, Edstrom has extensively researched Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and I Love Lucy, allowing her to engage guests in conversations that deepen their connection to the exhibits and to Jamestown’s legacy.

“Her deep knowledge of Jamestown and its surrounding areas makes her an invaluable guide, often transforming a simple inquiry into a personalized and enriching itinerary,” Rinko said.

Edstrom received her award Friday.

CCVB created the awards to recognize and foster customer service excellence within the Chautauqua County tourism industry. CCVB plans to present another round of customer service excellence awards in the fall months and will announce a formal nomination timeline to tourism industry businesses.

“We’re proud to present the customer service excellence award to these deserving recipients, and we look forward to honoring more employees soon,” Nixon said.