Once a year, we take time to uplift and celebrate area leaders, volunteers, business owners, and property owners who have positively contributed to downtown Marietta. We invite folks from across the Marietta community to nominate individuals, groups, and/or businesses who they feel are worthy of this year's award categories.
The top three nominees in most categories will be celebrated and the award winners will be recognized during our Annual Celebration, our spin on an annual meeting, that was held Thursday, October 19th at the Adelphia Music Hall in downtown Marietta, Ohio.
Below you will find the list of this year’s winners.
BUILDING IMPROVEMENT OF THE YEAR - MARIETTA MAKERY
In 2022, Greta Guimond realized it was time to bring all of her life experiences together. Thus, Marietta Makery was born - a manifestation of her passion for arts, business acumen, and dedication to nurturing others' learning journeys. In 2023, just one year after its inception, Marietta Makery expanded its operations to its current location at 177 Front St., tripling its space. This new space offers an artist gallery that showcases works from established as well as emerging artists. Additionally, the Makery features creative classrooms for art education purposes along with an enjoyable retail section offering art supplies. With boundless possibilities on the horizon, Greta's future is full of exciting prospects.
Building Improvement of the Year - Pictured: Nate Shahan, Greta Guimond, and Jen Tinkler
OUTSTANDING COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR - RIVERS, TRAILS, AND ALES FESTIVAL
The Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival (aka RTA Fest) is a grass-roots outdoor enthusiast festival located in the Appalachian foothills of Southeast Ohio. Highlighting Marietta’s easily-accessible outdoor activities and charming downtown commercial district together in one event-filled package, the RTA Festival is designed to appeal to visitors and locals alike. The RTA Fest is a celebration of our gorgeous natural assets and the community we get to call home. As the first settlement of the Northwest Territory, Marietta is known as the Pioneer City and our festival is nothing short of pioneered—through the dedicated efforts of local businesses, nonprofits, city officials, and volunteers alike, our city welcomes 2,000+ festival-goers to experience why Marietta, Ohio is continually ranked as a Best Small Town in America. Our community cares and this festival is only a success because of the hard work of many, it took 88 unique volunteers and 3,670 hours to plan and execute the 2023 RTA Festival.
Collaboration of the Year - RTA Festival. Pictured: Hallie Taylor, Carissa Koast, Eric Dowler, and Nate Shahan
OVERACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD - JESSE ROUSH
Jesse Roush is the Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. He holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Ohio University and is a candidate in the Master of Science in Project Management program at OU. His career began with a decade in oil and gas operations in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions of Ohio and WV. In 2015, Roush transitioned to economic development, launching the Forest to Furniture Program for a regional development organization. He would then serve as the Executive Director of Workforce Development at Washington State Community College before joining the Port Authority in early 2020. He is a lifelong resident of Washington County, where he resides with his wife Tracie, and their three daughters.
Overachiever of the Year - Jesse Roush. Pictured: Michael Bind, Jesse Roush, and Kasandra Pritchett
COMMUNITY BUILDER OF THE YEAR AWARD - KATIE BURCH
Katie moved to Marietta, Ohio in 2021 with her husband and daughter to help run the family orchard, Hidden Hills Orchard. Upon arrival she quickly jumped feet first into the River City Farmers Market by running for and winning a position on the Farmers Market board. Her work on the board includes reinstating and chairing the Events Committee which organizes such events as the Fall Festival, Christmas at the Market and this year partnered with Marietta Main Street for the Farm Fresh First Friday.
Community Builder of the Year - Katie Burch. Pictured: Michael Bond, Katie Burch, and Jen Tinkler
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR INDIVIDUAL AWARD - DANA HERMANN
Dana, her husband, son, and two pups moved to Marietta in March of this year from Milwaukee, WI. She has loved making Marietta her home and is grateful for the warm welcome they have received. Dana has just transitioned back into the workforce as a part-time Business Development Representative for a local technology company and is enjoying the flexibility to be home with her son. In her free time, she enjoys reading, journaling, cooking, making a home and as of late walking through Marietta and enjoying all the
small businesses, festivals, events and beauty it has to offer. Dana and her family have moved many times over the last 10 years and know that the best way to get engrained in a town is to volunteer your time and help build the community you desire. She hopes to make Marietta their home for a long time to come and looks forward to further volunteering with this great organization.
Volunteer of the Year Individual Award - Dana Hermann. Pictured: Aleece Dye, Dana Hermann, and Jen Tinkler
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR GROUP AWARD - MARIETTA NOON ROTARY
The Rotary Club of Marietta, established in 1921, have been serving the community of Marietta, and beyond, for over 100 years. A few annual service projects you are all probably familiar with include; Scholarships, which have been presented regularly since the club formed, Safety Town, which will celebrate it’s 50 year anniversary in a couple years, Historical Marker signs found all over our community, Literacy projects, helping the food insecure and helping to maintain a safe and beautiful community in which we live. Rotary’s motto is Service above Self, and the Rotary Club of Marietta continues to answer the call to serve; in our community, our nation (when emergency relief is needed) and in our world (contributing financially to help eradicate Polio and provide clean water and power for the poor and disenfranchised). One thing is for certain, when an organization asks the Rotary Club to partner with them in order to do greater good, Rotary never fails to contribute in one way or another. With over 100 members, Rotary has the ability to create impact in our community.
Volunteer of the Year Group Award - Marietta Noon Rotary. Pictured: Jesse Roush, Karissa Porter, Tasha Werry, Aleece Dye, Jen Tinkler, and Heather Allender.
BEST NEIGHBOR AWARD - KEN KUPSCHE
A Chicago native who met his bride while attending RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). I received both Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Industrial Design degrees. Dagmar was an Apparel Designer. She got the first job out of school with The Limited and I followed her to Boston. I took a temporary Job with Woodcraft, which turned out to be a career. Over the years I managed a retail store, worked in product development, oversaw catalog design and production, ran customer service and IT, developed their first website (when the web was gray), was editor of Woodcraft Magazine and retired as VP Catalog Marketing. As my father would say "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer." The Cook's Shop was born out of a need to keep busy during retirement and spend time working with Dagmar.
Best Neighbor Award - Ken Kupsche. Pictured: Ken Kupsche
