2025 Stars of the Industry Honorees & Winners

Congratulations to our 2025 Honorees and Winners!

Click here to view the full nominations for each honoree.

Check back for photos and video!

On Wednesday, October 29th, Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association recognized the individuals that make Indiana’s hospitality industry shine at the 2025 Stars of the Industry awards. 

The event was held at the JW Marriott in Downtown Indianapolis, and featured a cocktail hour with a red carpet, photobooth, ice luge with a seasonal cocktail, an awards ceremony emcee’d by Ryan Ahlwardt of IndyNow, and dinner provided by, diamond sponsor, Meats by Linz. 

After receiving dozens upon dozens of nominations, a third party, unbiased committee selected 11 winners in their respective categories as our 2025 Stars of the Industry. Read more about these winners below: 

Event Planner of the Year: 

Sarah Harding - Marriott IndyPlace

“Sarah Harding has embodied excellence in hospitality as an Event Manager at Marriott Indy Place, and for the past five years, she has led the way in managing the largest and most complex events for Marriott Indy Place. Her combination of precision, adaptability, and warmth has made her a trusted partner to clients and colleagues alike. ” 

Hospitality Supporting Role of the Year

Nicole Bailey - Commission Row

“Since opening the venue in early 2024, Nicole has had a hand in the development and promotion of five Chefs, three FOH Managers and all of the hourly staff in every department.   She leads new hire orientation, property tours, uniform inventory and has become a master of HVAC, Security cameras, furniture maintenance and Septic and recycled grease housing, all with a smile and positivity that sets the tone for the entire team.”

Lodging Front of House

Leo Penaloza - Bottleworks Hotel

“Leo is the kind of person who can move faster than an Olympic sprinter when an event needs him. Always equipped with the latest gadgets and an eagerness to help, he goes above and beyond to ensure every event is seamless. His attention to detail keeps everything running smoothly — from staying on schedule to ensuring food is perfectly timed and event spaces are impeccably set. ”

Lodging Heart of House 

Maribel Alvarez - Hampton Inn & Suites Keystone at the Crossing

“Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to excellence have elevated both guest satisfaction and team morale. In 2025, her department achieved an outstanding 95.9% cleanliness score on Hilton Guest Surveys, including a perfect 100% in July — placing the property among the top 5% of all Hampton Inn & Suites nationwide.” 

Lodging Manager of the Year (100 Rooms or Less)

Gretchen Hineman - Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Whitestown Indianapolis NW

“Gretchen possesses an exceptional background in housekeeping management and has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence. Since joining our team, she has gone above and beyond in every aspect of her role. Her dedication has not only contributed to her own professional growth but has also significantly strengthened our entire housekeeping team.” 

Lodging Manager of the Year (100 Rooms or More)

Juan Rios-Gamboa - Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre

“Juan is the longest tenured manager at the Sheraton, he has seen two decades of managers come and go, yet he remains as a shining light of hospitality and service excellence. Juan has been regarded as the best banquet manager in all of Remington Hotels throughout his career and for 7 years straight he traveled and ran the banquet operations for the Remington's Annual Leadership Conference.”

Restaurant Front of House 

Lindsay Sloan - Commission Row

“Lindsay Sloan opened Commission Row in downtown Indianapolis in early 2024, taking our operation from Hardhat construction to one of the Best Fine Dining Experiences to be found in the Heart of our City.  Transferring within Cunningham Restaurant Group from Modita, Lindsay led the way from interviewing, loading in artwork and restaurant equipment to Sommelier and Fine Dining service for 210 team members.” 

Restaurant Heart of House 

Kahuna Taylor-Austin - HC Tavern + Kitchen

“Kahuna has had an outstanding year, stepping into his new role as Heart of House Supervisor with enthusiasm, accountability, and a genuine commitment to growth. Since his promotion, he has made a significant impact on both the heart of house team and the overall restaurant culture. One of Kahuna’s greatest strengths is his ability to bridge the gap between the kitchen and the front of house team.” 

Restaurant Manager of the Year (4 Units or Less)

Rachel Solano - JW Marriott

“Her impact on the culinary culture within the hotel is profound, having cultivated a welcoming environment rooted in development, teamwork, and pride in the city she serves. Rachel started as a line cook when we opened JW 14 years ago and worked her way up to Executive Chef of the largest JW Marriott in the U.S. Rachel leads with authenticity and confidence.” 

Restaurant Manager of the Year (5 Units or More)

Clair Weyant - Penn Station East Coast Subs

“As a GM, he always earned an Excellent Performance Evaluation score from Corporate. Clair became our 1st Operations Director upon the opening of the 10th store; there are now 32 locations. He worked side by side with the owner, embracing the operations manual as a guide to success while the business grew. He has made thousands of sandwiches, trained countless staff, shared his broad smile and positive energy throughout Indianapolis communities.”

Rising Star Award

Molly Pastor - Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

“Molly has started to lay a strong foundation that will support her future career in hospitality.  After successfully completing White Lodging’s Manager in Training program, Molly stepped into her first leadership role as Bar Manager this July—and she has already made a remarkable impact. In just a few short months, Molly has transformed the bar operation with thoughtful innovation and a clear vision.” 

Congratulations to all winners and honorees! Your dedication to your work is the reason Indiana’s hospitality industry shines!

Honorees: 

Ian Axelberg

Anthony Barrett

Kate Barrier

Holly Bell

Glenda Betancourth

Chloe Bohlander

Bill Brewer

Herbert Brumfield

Michael Burns

Jazmin Cabanas

Lailanie Castaneda

Valerie Clark

Tanner Claiborne

Emmie Cortez

Tommie Cottrell

Erica Deitsch

Roman Dickel

Calana Dukes

Stephanie Ebarb

Jordan Evans
Emmanuel Garcia

Michelle Garcia

Radell Green

Jakob Haley

Alexander Harris

Tyra Harris

Beatriz Hernandez

Olga Hernandez

Courtney Hidalgo

Allyshia Hoffman

Ethan Jones

Betty Kellough

David Kingi

Christopher Knight

Erin Krueger

Phil Landaw

Robert Leal Ransone

Lucas Livolsi

Kaitlin Logsdon

Megan Mann

Tiffany Mann

Andy Martich

Michael Mason

Elana Matlock

Jared May

Maximino Montano

Edilia Morales

Ramatu Naku

Cesar Ocanto

Maria Peña

Patricia Powell

Anna Prokopets

Sheena Punzalan

Juan Reyes

Michelle Romero

Allyson Schneider

Ashley Schuppe

Benjamin Sebring

Jacob Sharp

Karen Shockley

Vee Smith

Alyssa Soria

Stacy Staten

Megan Stoller

Rafael Suarez

Tammy Tenant

Shiloh Trent

Jenna Turner

Guillermina Vasquez

Amy Vaughn

Emily Wagner

Caitlin Wilde

Morgan Wiebers

Maribel Woodard

Betty Yosha