County tourism group recognizes local leaders

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Experience Olympia and Beyond, the county’s official tourism and destination marketing organization, held its annual meeting yesterday, June 1, giving out awards and hosting a Hollywood Squares-style gameshow featuring local personalities answering Thurston-county trivia questions.

Bucoda Mayor Steve Purcell won the group’s Tourism Trailblazer award, given to individuals who “brought new ideas and innovative ways of attracting visitors to Thurston County”, for leading his town’s Boo-Coda Spooktacular, in which his town hostsseveral Halloween-themed events throughout the month of October,.

Justin Bourdon of Wild Heart Sipping Vinegars and Sandstone Distillery out of Tenino won the Excellence in Hospitality award because he, as the events’ website described the award, “during the past 12 months, made all guests feel welcome, and typified the attributes of a gracious and knowledgeable host.”

Meanwhile, local historian Don Trosper received the Patrick Knutson Tourism Legend award, because he “exemplified the characteristics of leadership, innovation and stewardship in hospitality over his or her lifetime.”

After the awarding ceremony, the attendees watched a local, stage version of Hollywood Squares, made up of:

  • Olympia Economic Development Director Mike Reid
  • Tumwater Parks and Recreation director Chuck Denney
  • Lacey Deputy Mayor Malcolm Miller, Rainier Councilman George Johnson
  • Thurston County Rural Program Manager George Sharp
  • Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto
  • Grand Mound Rochester Chamber of Commerce President Joe Barth
  • Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia
  • Bocoda Mayor Steve Purcell

The event was sponsored by the Port of Olympia and had about 100 attendees.

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