We are proud to announce the Q4 winners of the
2023 Fired Up! Culture Achievement Award!
Presented to organizations that excel and set the standard for workplace culture and engagement, this recognition is awarded to organizations that show impactful action by leadership to get intentional about their workplace culture, prioritize the development of their team members, and foster a healthy and positive environment in their workplace.
How do we award these recipients? This recognition is awarded to the organizations that scored the highest on the Fired Up! Culture Annual Culture Index©. These organizations are setting the standard among their peers when it comes to how engaged their team members are feeling about their workplace culture.
“I am incredibly excited to present the Q4 winners of the 2023 Culture Achievement Award!
These organizations are at the forefront of fostering a workplace culture that empowers their leaders to promote engagement and excellence in performance. Building an exceptional culture requires significant effort—these organizations deserve recognition and should be proud of their remarkable achievements.”
Chris Ihrig, Fired Up! Culture CEO2023 Q4 Winners
CFO By Design
CFO by Design is focused on developing organizational excellence in DMOs and Associations. As a full service executive support firm, CFO by Design provides the foundation and accountability needed to build strong organizations and successful leaders.
President: Julie Hart
Industry: Financial Services
Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees
The Park Board of Trustees’ mission is to promote Galveston Island, its natural resources, attractions, and heritage; to attract visitors to Galveston Island; and to assure that Galveston’s assets, for which the Board of Trustees is responsible, provide visitors and residents with exemplary experiences in an environment that is safe, clean, accessible, fun, and environmentally sensitive.
Chief Executive Officer: Kimberly Danesi
Leadership Team: Susan Keeble, Bryson Frazier, Peter Davis, Sheryl Rozier, Vince Lorefice, Tony Lyle
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“Working with FiredUp! Culture brought us closer as an organization. It gave us a platform to have conversations about our strengths and weaknesses in a way that was productive and insightful. The ability to learn what our teammates need to be successful is an invaluable tool that will create further opportunities for us to continue to grow our culture in the right direction.”
Kimberly Danesi, Chief Executive Officer
Port Aransas Tourism Bureau & Chamber of Commerce
The Port Aransas Tourism Bureau & Chamber of Commerce is a destination marketing and management organization representing the Port Aransas and Mustang Island area along with the rest of the Texas Gulf Coast.
President & CEO: Brett Stawar
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“The humbleness and hard work of our employees is never ending. In a small island town, it’s easy to get distracted or not stick together, but we find a way to lead the charge together, always.”
Brett Stawar, President & CEO
Visit Anaheim
Visit Anaheim is the destination marketing organization representing Anaheim and “The OC” area. Visit Anaheim’s mission is the impact the communities and visitors through the power of travel by inspiring the imagination of every visitor.
Sr. VP of Operations: Christina Dawson
Leadership Team: Ronnie Collins
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“Making sure everyone understands they have a voice builds their confidence as an integral contributor to our organization and their ability to impact change.”
Christina Dawson, Sr. VP of Operations
Visit Corpus Christi
Visit Corpus Christi is a destination management organization contracted by the city of Corpus Christi with a mission to create a better community by sharing Corpus Christi with the world.
CEO: Brett Oetting
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“I am most proud of how much each and every one of my teammates has grown since their time at VCC. Whether multiple years or a few months, they continue to come to work inspired by our mission and vision and give their best every day.”
Brett Oetting, CEO
Visit Temecula Valley
Visit Temecula Valley is the destination marketing organization promoting the wine-plus spirited destination inspired by the vine with several distinct pillars: Southern California Wine Country, outdoor recreation and entertainment, small town atmosphere, an emerging and evolving culinary scene, and its community of Makers.
President & CEO: Scott Wilson
Leadership Team: Annette Brown, Cassidy Lozinsky, Michelle Lindsey
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“To me the biggest impact lies in learning how everyone approaches different situations and the best way to work with both our differences and similarities and have a greater appreciation and respect for each other. This created stronger bonds between the team and a better overall unity.”
Scott Wilson, President
Zenatta Consulting
Zenatta Consulting is a Zoho Premium Partner that specializes in implementing robust systems for companies seeking high operational efficiency.
CEO: Brett Martin
Leadership Team: Greg Belnap, Jordan Poole, Josh Oliver, Tyler Colt
Industry: CRM Agency Provider
“We couldn’t have gotten where we are today without the Fired Up! Culture team. The coaching and guidance have helped us stay on track, and keep us focused.”
Brett Martin, CEO
2023 Q2 Winners
Destination Niagara USA
The mission of Destination Niagara USA is to enhance the economic prosperity of Niagara County, by promoting, selling and marketing the county as a premier destination for meetings, events, conventions, and leisure tourism.
President & CEO: John Percy
Leadership Team: Andrea Czopp
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“We are extremely proud of how professionally and seriously all members of our team approached this process. Everyone entered into it with enthusiasm and open-mindedness.”
John Percy, President & CEO
Palm Springs Convention Center & Bureau of Tourism
Discover the Palm Springs Convention Center. Embark on a journey and experience our clear blue skies, star-filled nights and fresh, clean desert air. Nestled against the 10,000 foot tall Mount San Jacinto, the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains create some of the most amazing sunsets one can imagine. Instilling a sense of well-being and creating a lasting impression of your time spent in Palm Springs.
General Manager: Rob Hampton
Leadership Team: Rick Leson, Mario Irrera, Kristie Dore, Camille Steele, Christian Bayer, Kimber Foster
Industry: Convention Center Management
“The increase in our business pushed the team to work long hours and days. Our team always have each other’s backs, and everyone pulled together to perform high-quality work which resulted in the team exceeding all of our goals.”
Rob Hampton, General Manager
R&A Marketing
R&A Marketing provides expert guidance, connections, and execution to launch, grow, and reinvigorate furniture retailers of all sizes. For over three decades furniture and mattress retailers have used R&A Marketing to manage and grow their business.
CEO & President: Kyle Doran
Leadership Team: Kevin Doran, Karla Reina, Erin Short
Industry: Marketing Agency
“We maintained 100% retention throughout the year in both team members and client partners which is a testament to the resolve of our team.”
Kyle Doran, President & CEO
Visit Tucson
Visit Tucson’s vision is to elevate Tucson as the dynamic outdoor and cultural hub of the Sonoran Desert. We welcome the world to Tucson to strengthen our vibrant community. Visit Tucson is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization that works to attract leisure visitors, group meetings, sports events, travel media, and films, commercials, and photo shoots to the metro Tucson region. We are the official destination marketing organization for the City of Tucson, Pima County, and Town of Oro Valley and partner with nearly 500 business members throughout the community.
President & CEO: Felipe Garcia
Leadership Team: Vanessa Bechtol, Graeme Hughes, Lisa Owens, Mary Rittman, Mary Meade, Lee McLaughlin
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“We believe as an organization that the most important asset we have is our people. We always think and act in ways that recognize that our team members have personal lives. They have challenges and rewards outside work, and we want to be there with them.”
Felipe Garcia, President & CEO
2023 Q1 Winners
Explore Asheville
The Explore Asheville team works to support community partners by promoting Asheville, North Carolina as a top destination. Asheville is a thriving mountain city featuring a funky and eclectic downtown, 30-plus art galleries downtown alone, a burgeoning culinary scene, a thriving live music scene and, of course, the awe-inspiring scenery of the Appalachian Mountains.
President & CEO: Vic Isley
Leadership Team: Marla Tambellini, Mike Kryzanek, Penelope Whitman, Jennifer Kass-Green, Julia Simpson
Industry: Destination Marketing Organization
“I’m most proud of how our work toward workplace culture has truly been an all-team effort. Each person in our organization has been integral in shifting the culture and that positive change continues to feed more positive change. I’m so proud of the work of this team.”
Vic Isley, President & CEO
Ottawa Tourism
Ottawa Tourism provides industry leadership, strategic direction and destination marketing to attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region. Founded in 1971, Ottawa Tourism is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization, with 340 members representing accommodations, attractions, restaurants, outdoor experiences, festivals and entertainment that work together to profile Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region as a diverse and exciting place to visit.
President and CEO: Michael Crockatt
Leadership Team: Glenn Duncan, Catherine Callary, James Harvey, Lesley Mackay, Roslyn Smith, Nicole Picton
Industry: Destination Marketing
“I am proud that our team is proud to work for our organization. Our positive culture is reflected in our high employee net promoter scores, and in the regular feedback we receive from the entire team. The trust level among colleagues is extraordinary.”
Michael Crockatt, President & CEO
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Visit Greater Palm Springs is the official tourism marketing agency for the Coachella Valley. Founded in May 1989 by a Joint Powers Authority comprising the cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio, Visit Greater Palm Springs was created as a public-private partnership to help grow the region’s tourism economy.
President & CEO: Scott White
Leadership Team: Colleen Pace, Bill Judson, Todd Burke, Andy Cloutier, Carolina Viazcan
Industry: Destination Marketing
“Over the past year, the organization has grown significantly and our welcoming culture has helped our new members feel safe and are encouraged to share their ideas. The open communication and collaboration has benefited our organizational work flow, processes and innovation.”
Scott White, President and CEO
