Locals recognized for tourism contributions
The 2014 Proud Residents Involved in Developing Our Economy Award banquet was held May 15 at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, acknowledging those in Shreveport-Bossier City who have displayed exceptional hospitality in customer service and tourism in the past year.
The annual P.R.I.D.E. awards honor employees in more than 20 categories ranging from valet, to food service, to hospitality in the hotel industry.
Each year, a P.R.I.D.E Master Award is given to an outstanding individual in the community. This prestigious and notable honor for 2014 went to Chris Giordano, the president and general manager of the State Fair of Louisiana.
“I was very surprised and honored when I won the Master P.R.I.D.E. Award,” Giordano, said. “It’s very nice to be recognized by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau and my peers and colleagues as a leader in the tourism industry. I appreciate the State Fair of Louisiana board of directors for giving me the opportunity to manage the State Fair and be a partner in tourism.
“The Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau P.R.I.D.E. Awards provides a platform for recognizing the many people that are involved in the tourism industry. It’s great to see the people that work on the frontlines of the industry having their day in the spotlight.
These people are the ‘face’ of Shreveport- Bossier and, in many cases, make the difference in a guest’s experience when visiting us. I’m proud to be associated with the professionals that make up our tourism team in Northwest Louisiana.”
In the future, Giordano hopes to see Shreveport-Bossier City continue to bring in additional tourism through local, regional and national events. “I would also like to see our leaders focus on developing new business and opportunities for our young people to be able to have a career in Northwest Louisiana,” he said.
“My goal for the State Fair is for it to continue to grow and offer a better quality of life for the families of our community and visitors from abroad. I want to work with partners to improve the infrastructure of the fairgrounds so that it will continue to be in a position to bring in a wide variety of events and offer an economic impact into the future.”
Amanda J. Gouthiere, executive director of Shreveport Opera, was awarded the Outstanding Attraction Professional of the Year award. Gouthiere, a graduate of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, has been employed with the Shreveport Opera since 2007.
“I was awarded the Outstanding Attraction Professional of the Year,” Gouthiere said. “I was honored to have just been nominated, and I was surprised and thrilled when I won. I wasn’t expecting it. It is a big honor, and I am very humbled by it.”
Gouthiere was recently selected as a 2014 Circle of Excellence Award Winner by the LSUS Foundation and a 2009 40 Under 40 honoree by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and CityLife magazine. She serves as a board member for the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet and Life Song, a Haven House Leader for Community Renewal International and is an active member of Grace Community United Methodist Church.
One of Gouthiere’s career goals includes wanting to grow the Shreveport Opera Xpress education and outreach program.
“It’s the one program of its kind in the state of Louisiana,” Gouthiere said. “If we can give it two touring arms instead of one, we can reach even more children with the art form of opera.”
She’s grateful for the opportunities Shreveport offers and the recognition of the P.R.I.D.E. awards and what it does for the community.
“There are so many wonderful attractions in our community. I think it’s wonderful that the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau hosts this awards banquet to say thank you to all of organizations, businesses and attractions that work hard to make Shreveport the great city of the South,” Gouthiere said.
– Betsy St. Amant
