Fired Up! Culture is proud to announce our Culture Achievement Award recipients for the second half of 2024!
This award celebrates organizations that exemplify excellence in workplace culture and team engagement, as measured by the Fired Up! Culture Annual Culture Index™. It honors teams that actively foster a thriving, positive environment by investing in the growth and success of their team members.
We celebrate these organizations as they lead the way in workplace culture and team engagement and are honored to recognize those who intentionally create a supportive and dynamic environment by prioritizing team member development and a strong workplace experience.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the recipients of the 2024 Culture Achievement Award!
These organizations have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering a workplace where engagement, heathly relationships, and excellence thrive. Creating an outstanding culture takes dedication, and these honorees should be proud of their incredible accomplishments.”
Chris Ihrig, Fired Up! Culture CEOGreater Miami CVB
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is the official destination marketing organization for Miami and Miami Beach, Florida. It promotes tourism, conventions, and events in the region, working to attract visitors, meetings, and business opportunities. The GMCVB collaborates with local businesses, hospitality partners, and community leaders to enhance Miami’s appeal as a top global destination.
President & CEO: David Whitaker
Industry: Destination Organization
“I’m appreciative and pleased with the high engagement levels we’re seeing across the organization but I’m most proud of the buy-in from our team associates. This survey has evolved into a key management tool for us.”
David Whitaker, President & CEO
Visit Corpus Christi
Visit Corpus Christi is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Corpus Christi, Texas. It promotes tourism, events, and hospitality services to attract visitors and enhance the local economy. The organization works with businesses, hotels, and attractions to showcase Corpus Christi’s beaches, cultural sites, outdoor activities, and unique coastal experiences.
Interim President & CEO: Meredith Darden
Leadership Team: Emily Zertuche, Nicole Olivares
Industry: Destination Organization
“I am most proud of the team’s collective willingness to contribute to and take ownership of our workplace culture. This work isn’t done by the leadership team alone—every individual in the organization plays an integral role in shaping the environment we work in.”
Meredith Darden, Interim President & CEO
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Visit Greater Palm Springs is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the Greater Palm Springs area. It promotes tourism, events, and hospitality by showcasing the region’s nine cities, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage. The organization focuses on attracting visitors through marketing, partnerships, and initiatives highlighting the area’s resorts, outdoor adventures, wellness experiences, and vibrant arts and culture scene.
President & CEO: Scott White
Leadership Team: Andy Cloutier, Bill Judson, Carolina Viazcan, Colleen Pace, Davis Meyer, Todd Burke
Industry: Destination Organization
“The entire team is dedicated to improving our organization through open communication, collaboration, and innovation. The work we do with Fired Up! helps us keep our team motivated, inspired, and confident.”
Scott White, President & CEO
Visit Rapid City
Visit Rapid City is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Rapid City, South Dakota. It promotes tourism by highlighting the city’s attractions, outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and proximity to iconic destinations like Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and Custer State Park. The organization works to attract visitors, support local businesses, and enhance the economic impact of tourism in the region.
President & CEO: Brook Kaufman
Industry: Destination Organization
“We all acknowledged at the beginning there was a lot of opportunity for growth. The work hasn’t been easy but we’ve been committed to doing it together. 18 months later I look back and where we started and think, “Thank goodness we took the leap.” We wouldn’t be the organization we are today without Fired Up!.”
Brook Kaufman, President & CEO
Visit Shreveport-Bossier
Visit Shreveport-Bossier is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana. It promotes tourism by showcasing the area’s attractions, entertainment, festivals, casinos, outdoor adventures, and culinary experiences. The organization works to attract visitors, support local businesses, and boost the region’s economy through marketing, events, and partnerships.
President: Stacy Brown
Leadership Team: Aaron Bronson, Alex Einerson, Charlie Rice, David Bradley, Karen Barnes, Sara Nelms, Serena Gray, and Wade Marshall
Industry: Destination Organization
“The staff finds utilizing the culture work as a fun challenge, often discussing who is in what “color” to determine the approach to an issue or better understand someone’s input. This has led to more effective problem-solving and a more harmonious work environment.”
Stacy Brown, President
Zenatta Consulting
Zenatta Consulting is a Premium Zoho Partner specializing in implementing robust systems for companies seeking high operational efficiency. They offer a range of services, including Zoho consulting and implementation, Zoho Creator services, Zoho Finance services, training programs, marketplace extensions, and web services.
President: Brett Martin
Leadership Team: Josh Oliver, Tyler Colt
Industry: CRM Consulting
“Building a great culture is a journey, not a destination. FiredUp! Culture has helped us navigate this journey with clarity and purpose, and we’re grateful for the impact it has had on our team.”
Brett Martin, President
Q1 and Q2 2024 Recipients
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: Mike Kryzanek, Penelope Whitman, Jennifer Kass-Green, Dodie Stephens
Industry: Destination Organization
“The organization and leadership came under some intense scrutiny locally. Our culture, work, and time together helped us have some difficult and important dialogue. We commit time to do the work. Carving out time to dedicate to one another through Fired Up! demonstrates our commitment to team members.”
Vic Isley, President & CEO
SearchWide Global
SearchWide Global is a full service executive search firm primarily for companies in Destination Organizations / Hotels & Resorts / Venue Management / Experiential Marketing, Tradeshow & Exhibition / Industry Associations / Sports & Entertainment. Specializing in C-Level and Director level executive searches for companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 corporations to mid-sized public and private companies and associations.
President & CEO: Mike Gamble
Industry: Executive Search
“I’ve said it many times before, but I can’t express enough how proud I am that our entire team truly takes ownership of our culture. Every person on our team exemplifies our culture and values in everything they do.”
Mike Gamble, President & CEO
See Monterey
The See Monterey team is the destination organization representing Monterey, California. Imagine a destination that invigorates and inspires your attendees inside and outside of the meeting space – a location that is unmatched in terms of nature’s design with a vast array of unique places and extraordinary spaces to create life and business enriching moments.
CEO: Rob O’Keefe
Industry: Destination Organization
“Like many organizations, the team and Board have experienced a tremendous amount of tumultuous change in the past few years. But rather than it tearing away at the fabric of our workplace culture, it has actually made us stronger, more engaged and more collaborative.”
Rob O'Keefe, CEO
