Blue Ribbon Awards presented on Thursday during ceremony and dinner

From quality shopping, accommodations, recreation and dining options to the myriad service providers and businesses, the Blue Ribbon Awards honor all that business should be. This important awards program salutes those businesses that are making significant contributions to the South Shore economy.

Each year, Tahoe Chamber solicits nominations in the seven key categories that represent the breadth of business on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Each nomination is carefully considered by the Blue Ribbon Awards Task Force and after a series of discussions, eight award winners are chosen to receive one of several awards.

This year's awards ceremony is on November 10 and will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with a cocktail hour. The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m., as will dinner.

Tickets are on sale through Wednesday, November 9. They are $55 per person and includes dinner.

The following people and businesses have been nominated:

Geotourim Award – Sponsored by Bike the West
· Cruise Tahoe
· Heavenly Epic Adventure
· Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition
· Lake Tahoe Boat Rides
· Lake Tahoe History Museum
· Lake Tahoe Yoga
· Tahoe Rim Trail
· Taylor Creek Visitors Center, United States Forest Service
· Zephyr Cove Resort | Lake Tahoe Cruises

Tourism Award – Sponsored by Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
· Coachman Hotel
· Getaway Reno/Tahoe
· Lake Tahoe Paint and Sip Studio
· Lake Tahoe Television
· Lights on the Lake Fireworks, Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority
· SnowGlobe Music Festival
· The Loft

Experience Award – Sponsored by Marriott Grand Residence Club
· Alpine Sierra Tours
· Contiki Paddlesurf Company
· Treat Street, KRLT/KOWL
· Lake Tahoe Epic Curling
· Lake Tahoe Yoga
· Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa
· Round Hill Pines Beach Resort
· Still Water Yoga Lake Tahoe
· Tahoe Tot Spot
· Zephyr Cove Resort | Lake Tahoe Cruises

Entrepreneur Award – Sponsored by Getaway Reno/Tahoe
· Debbie Brown, Coldwater Brewery and Grill
· Cassy Burnside, FATCO
· Domi and Katy Chavarria, Verde Mexican Rotisserie
· Nancy, Dick, Kelly and Rick Gardner, Red Hut Café
· Steve Harness, KRLT 9.39 The Lake and KOWL 1490 The Owl
· Matt and Melody Levitt, Tahoe Blue Vodka
· Shannon Liebel, Still Water Yoga Lake Tahoe
· Shelly McMillin, L’Atelier Hair Studio
· Dr. Neil Powell, Blue Lake Animal Care Center

Customer Service (Business) Award – Sponsored by Heavenly & Kirkwood
· Connie Phillips, Sierra Athletic Club
· Dallas Burns, Getaway Reno/Tahoe
· Darrell Schue, Accurate Audio Video
· Diane Goth, The Getaway Cafe
· Irma Salazar, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
· Jamie Harness, Ken’s Tire Center
· Kimberly Templeton, Hard Rock Cafe Lake Tahoe
· Matt Smithmier, Eloise Automotive & Alignment
· Mel Alpaugh, CVS Pharmacy
· Melissa Hoffman, Blue Sky Events
· Meghan Burk, Getaway Reno/Tahoe
· Michelle Turner, BELFOR Property Restoration
· Sandy Shields, Lakeside Inn & Casino
· Scott Morton, Postmarc Hotel & Spa Suites
· Shanen Ruppel, Alpine Sierra Tours and Shuttle Services
· Shannon Libel, Still Water Yoga Studio
· Terre Poland, Evolution Fitness/Nicole Gordon, DDS
· Tommy Walker, Ciera Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa

Customer Service (Public Agency) Award – Sponsored by Tahoe Supply Company
· Emily Abernathy, Lake Tahoe Shore Chamber of Commerce
· Irma Salazar, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
· Jeff Pollitt and Lou Graves, Clean Tahoe
· John Pickett, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District
· Jody Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Senior Center
· Maria Olveras, Barton Community Health Center
· Staff of Gastroenterology Department at Barton Hospital

Wendell Award for Green Business or Program – Sponsored by South Tahoe Refuse
· Clean Tahoe Program
· Edgewood Companies
· League to Save Lake Tahoe
· Tahoe Mountain Lab
· Tahoe Tot Spot

Award recipients will receive a free membership with the Tahoe Chamber, signage to display at their businesses, an award and continuous recognition throughout the year for their contributions to the South Shore area.

The Blue Ribbon Awards would not be possible without the support of its event sponsors. The Tahoe Chamber would like to send a special thank you to Title Sponsor Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority; Presenting Sponsor South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts; Media Sponsors Tahoe Daily Tribune, Lake Tahoe Television, K-Tahoe, KRLT/KOWL.

Please call 775.588.1728 to purchase. For more details, visit their website.