Awards & Recognition
Awards Received
When it comes to our success with transforming the Blackstone Valley into a visitor destination and better place to live and work…don’t just take our word for it. Bob Billington and the Tourism Council has received numerous international, national, state and local awards and recognition for their efforts to build up the region and promote sustainable tourism.
These include:
Bob Billington induction into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame (2016)
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Star of the Industry Award, Rhode Island Hospitality Association (2016)
Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Award, World Travel and Tourism Council (2008)
North American Travel Personality of the Year, World Travel Award (2008)
Keep America Beautiful Standards of Excellence Award (2008)
Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement, Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (2008)
Pawtucket Foundation Heritage Award (2008)
“Stars of the Industry” Mary Brennan Award Rhode Island Hospitality Association (2008)
SBEST Certification of Excellence, United Nations World Tourism Organization (2007)
Business of the Year, Columbian-American Cultural Society (2007)
Ulysses Award from the United Nations World Tourism Organization for Destination Management (2006)
Coastal American Partnership for Action – Lonsdale Wetlands Restoration (2005)
Environmental Achievement Award Public/Private Initiative (2001)
NECTA Preservation Service Award Government at Work – Building a Bikeway (2000)
National Park Foundation Environmental Conservation Award (2000)
National Park Foundation Partnership Award (2000)
Bravo Film Channel NECTA Award (2000)
Community Partners Recognition Award, Yankee Magazine (1999)
Rhode Island Coastal Cleanup Institutional Award (1999)
Blackstone Valley Explorer, Yankee Magazine Editor’s Pick (1999)
Distinguished Citizen Award, Cumberland Business Association (1999)
Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Organization of the Year (1998)
Save the Bay Environmental Achievement Award (1997)
American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award (1997)
National Trust for Historic Preservation (1996)
New England Foundation for the Arts Cultural Programs Honor (1996)
Society of American Travel Writers Phoenix Award (1995)
Cumberland Company Champions Award (1990)
American Academy of Hospitality Science Five Star Diamond Award
In addition to receiving a number of accolades, the Council has presented a number of awards and recognition over the years. Many of those are highlighted here.
Awards Presented
2018
William Blackstone Society
Morris Nathanson, Restaurant Designer, Artist, Morris Nathan Designs; Denise Panichas, the Samaritans
Excellence in the Arts
The Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket
Excellence in Tourism Business
R1 Karting, Lincoln
Footprints in History
Slatersville Village Green, North Smithfield
Rising Star Millennial in Tourism
James Diossa, Mayor of Central Falls
2017
William Blackstone Society
Mike Tamburro, Vice-President, Pawtucket Red Sox; Joyce Hindle-Koutsogiane, Ed.D., Educator, Author
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Business
John Taylor - Twin River, Lincoln
Footprints in History
Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket
Special Recognition of Blackstone-based Breweries Isle Brewers Guild, Foolproof Brewing Company, Narragansett Lager IPA, Bucket Brewery, Ravenous Brewing Company, Crooked Current Brewery, Sons of Liberty, Devil’s Purse, Brewing Company, Farmer Willie’s Ginger Beer, Newburyport Brewing Company, Peak Organic Brewing Company, Great North Aleworks
2016
William Blackstone Society
Donald Leighton, Landscape Architect, Beta Engineering
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Arts and Design
Eric Delin - Delin Design, Pawtucket
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Community Partnership and Support
Ann Jalette - Vose Hardware, Woonsocket
Roger Lapierre - Li’l General, Inc., Woonsocket
Blackstone Valley Footprints in History
Providence & Worcester Railroad Company, Worcester, MA.
Blackstone Valley Recognition
Margaret Carroll - Millville Historical Society, Millville, MA.
2015
William Blackstone Society
David & William Belisle, Hockey Coaches, Mt. St. Charles Academy; John Monaghan, Managing Editor, Providence Journal
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Business
Paul Jacob - Jacob Video and Sound, Woonsocket
Footprints in History
McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket
Congratulations:
Navigant Credit Union – 100 years, The Gamm Theatre – 30 years, Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation – 25 years
2014
William Blackstone Society
Marcia Green, Editor, the Valley Breeze
Raymond Bacon, Co-Director, Museum of Work and Culture
Blackstone Valley Excellence in the Arts
Rick Beyer, Film Maker - The Ghost Army
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Business and Community Support
Fuller Box Company, Central Falls
AMICA, Lincoln
Footprints in History Smith-Appleby House Museum, Smithfield
ARISTA Prize - Rhode Island
Berroco, North Smithfield
ARISTA Prize - New England
Polar Beverages, Worcester
ARISTA Prize – National
Daniele, Inc., Burrillville
Recognition for Public Service
Representative Elaine A. Coderre Happy Birthday GI Joe – 50 years Pawtucket Red Sox – 2014 Governor’s Cup Champions
2013
William Blackstone Society
Michael Hebert, Historical Preservationist, Archeologist
Daryl Sherman, Singer, Pianist
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Arts and Business Herb Weiss
Blackstone Valley Distinction in Business
Central Falls Provision, Central Falls
Athena’s Home Novelty, Woonsocket
Footprints in History
Stillwater Mill Complex, Harrisville
ARISTA Prize - Rhode Island
Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland
ARISTA Prize - New England Catania Hospitality Group, Hyannis, MA
ARISTA Prize - National
Alex and Ani, LLC
2012
William Blackstone Society Sonny Ng & Louis Yip, Tai-o Corp.
Blackstone Excellence in Arts, Business & Design Hasbro, Inc.
Blackstone Excellence in Business
Maugus
Footprints in History
Little Red Schoolhouse, Forestdale
ARISTA Prize - Rhode Island
Robert Burke, Independence Trail
ARISTA Prize - New England Kip Bergstrom, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Dept. of Economic and Community Development
ARISTA Prize - National
Mars, Inc.
2011
William Blackstone Society Kathy Hartley, President, Hearthside House
Gene Peloquin, Educator, Community Volunteer
Blackstone Valley Excellence in the Arts Dan Barry, New York Times Columnist
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Business and Education
Margaret McKenna, President of The Wal-mart Foundation
Footprints in History
The Community Players of Pawtucket
ARISTA Prize - Rhode Island
KeepSpace, Westerly
ARISTA Prize - National
Tourism Cares, Canton, MA.
2010
William Blackstone Society
John Gregory, President, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
Rick Greenwood, RI Preservation and Heritage Commission
Blackstone Valley Arts Business and Design
Morris Nathanson and Abe Nathanson
Footprints in History
Hearthside House, Lincoln
2009
William Blackstone Society
Donna Houle, Project Manager, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Gary Furtado, President, Navigant Credit Union
Blackstone Valley Excellence in the Arts
Danny Smith, Writer, Executive Producer, The Family Guy
Footprints in History
Brown and Hopkins Country Store, Chepachet
2008
William Blackstone Society
Helen Moroney, Owner, Echo Lake Campground
Blackstone Valley Lifetime Achievement Award
The Sullivan Family - Collette Vacations, Pawtucket
125 Years Serving the World
Hope Global, Cumberland
Footprints in History
North Gate Tollhouse, Lincoln
2007
William Blackstone Society
Peter & Robert Conway, Conway Bus Tours
Blackstone Valley Excellence in the Arts
Kevin Lima, Animator, Producer, Director
Footprints in History
Cogswell Tower, Jenks Park, Central Falls
Recognitions Raynor and Ranne Warner, Riverfront Lofts, Pawtucket; The Times:
Doug Hadden, Rich Dugas, Rich Dugas, David Casey, Kevin O’Connor; The Woonsocket Call:
Denise Pereault, Russ Olivo, Michael Holtzman, Jo C. Goode, Kent Spottswood
2006
William Blackstone Society
John Worsley, Musician, Educator, Community College of Rhode Island; Joseph O’Donnell, Jr., Former Lt. Governor of Rhode Island, Keough and Kirby Insurance
Blackstone Valley Community Innovation
Phyllis Van Orden Nathanson
Arts and Business Development
Joseph Garlick, Executive Director - Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation
Footprints in History
Charles ID Looff Carousel, Slater Park, Pawtucket
2005
William Blackstone Society
Tom Ward, Publisher, Valley Breeze
Blackstone Valley Lifetime Achievement
Chris Van Allsburg, Author, Illustrator
Honoring Providence Journal Blackstone Valley Bureau 10-part series “Summer on the Blackstone”
2004
William Blackstone Society
Al Klyberg, David Macaulay, Bob Billington
Explorer Cup Paul and Connie Kazarian
Explorer Award Carol Metivier
Recognition David Gulvin, President, Blackstone Valley Electric Co.
Dominic Coro, BT Equipment Co.
Roland Fontaine
Suzanne Buchanan
Joanne Davis
Leo Leclerc
1993
Pursuit of Excellence Award Cumberland Company for the Performing Arts
Pursuit of Excellence Award
Maybelle St. Pierre
Special Recognition Award
Francis “Chuck” Lussier, Paul Bettencourt
Explorer Award Betty Johnson, James Wheaton, Denise Panichas, Robert Cox,
Natalie Carter, Eileen Mendrek, Matt Largesse,
Val Stegemoen, Donna Houle
1992
William Blackstone Society
David Gulvin, President, Blackstone Valley Electric Company
Pursuit of Excellence Award
Marcia Green, The Times; Edna Kent, Glocester Heritage Society
Community Achievement Award
City of Pawtucket for presenting the first International Steamboat Muster, City of Central Falls for presenting the Central Falls Antique and Custom Car Show
Special Recognition Award
Northern RI Private Industry Council
Special Achievement Award
George Beaubien, Citizens for A Better Woonsocket
Special Commendation
John Marsland, President, Friends of the Blackstone
1991
William Blackstone Society
Luther Blount, Blount Marine Corporation
Pursuit of Excellence Award
Betty Johnson, Spaulding House Publications James Wheaton, Spaulding House Publications
Special Achievement Award
Denise Panichas, Pawtucket Preservation Society Ben Mondor, Owner of the Pawtucket Red Sox
1990
William Blackstone Society
Dr. Patrick Malone, Brown University
Special Achievement Award
Dan Sadwin, President, Stitcher’s, Inc.
Blackstone Valley Achievement Award
Dan Sadwin, Stitchers, Inc.
Champions Award
Bob BIllington presented by Norm Beauregard and The Cumberland Company
William Blackstone Society Membership
1989 Leonard J. Panaggio, Director, RI Tourism Division, RIEDC *
1990 Patrick M. Malone, Ph.D., Professor, Brown University
1991 Luther H. Blount, Owner, Blount Marine *
1992 David Gulvin, President, Blackstone Valley Electric Company *
1993 Albert T. Klyberg, Executive Director, RI Historical Society *
1994 David Macaulay, Author, Illustrator
1995 Robert D. Billington, Ed. D., Executive Director, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
1995 Louise Lind, Author *
1995 Clinton Johnson, Educator *
1996 Thomas J. Shanahan, Director, Central Falls Public Library
1997 Robert E. Metivier, Mayor, City of Pawtucket
1997 Carol A. Metivier, Community Volunteer
1997 Bernard G. Mondor, Owner, Pawtucket Red Sox *
1998 John Chan, Owner, Chan’s Fine Oriental Dining
1999 Michael D. Cassidy, Director, Pawtucket Planning and Redevelopment
2000 David W. Balfour, Author, Historian, DW Balfour Associates
2001 Dana M. Newbrook, Architect, A1 Design
2002 Elizabeth “Betty” Johnson, Historian, Betty Johnson Research Library *
2003 Wilfred L. Gates, Jr., Landscape Architect, Gates, Leighton and Associates
2004 Rose Lavoie, Preservationist *
2005 Tom Ward, Publisher, The Valley Breeze
2006 John Worsley, Musician, Educator, Community College of Rhode Island
2006 Joseph O’Donnell, Jr., Former Lt Governor of Rhode Island, Keough and Kirby Insurance *
2007 Peter Conway, Co-owner, Conway Bus Tours
2007 Robert Conway, Co-owner, Conway Bus Tours
2008 Helen Moroney, Owner, Echo Lake Campground *
2009 Donna Houle, Project Manager, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
2009 Gary Furtado, President, Navigant Credit Union
2010 John Gregory, President, Northern RI Chamber of Commerce
2010 Rick Greenwood, RI Preservation and Heritage Commission *
2011 Kathy Hartley, President, Hearthside House
2011 Gene Peloquin, Educator, Community Volunteer
2012 Sunny Ng, Tai-o Corp.
2012 Louis Yip, Tai-o Corp.
2013 Michael Hebert, Historical Preservationist, Archeologist
2013 Daryl Sherman, Singer, Pianist
2014 Marcia Green, Editor, The Valley Breeze
2014 Raymond Bacon, Co-director, Museum of Work and Culture
2015 William Belisle, Jr., Hockey Coach, Mount St. Charles Academy
2015 David Belisle, Hockey Coach, Mount St. Charles Academy
2015 John Monaghan, Managing Editor, The Providence Journal
2016 Donald Leighton, Landscape Architect, BETA Group, Inc.
2017 Mike Tamburro, Vice-President, Pawtucket Red Sox
2017 Joyce Hindle-Koutsogiane, Ed.D., Educator, Author
2018 Morris Nathanson, Restaurant Designer, Artist, Morris Nathanson Design
2018 Denise Panichas, Executive Director, The Samaritans 2019 Ressell Gussetti, Executive Director, Blackstone River Theatre 2019 Bruce Tillinghast, co-founder of the Preservation Society of Pawtucket, Chef/Owner New Rivers Restaurant in Providence