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May 21, 2024 / NEWS RELEASE: 06-24
Navy Exchange Service Command awards outstanding Navy lodging associates, facilities
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) Hospitality Group announced its 2023 awards on May 1. Retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer of NEXCOM and Ron Loman, Senior Vice President of the NEXCOM Hospitality Group presented the awards during its worldwide symposium held in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The symposium marked the first time Regional Vice Presidents and General Managers of Navy Lodges and Navy Gateway Inns & Suites came together as the two lines of effort underneath the NEXCOM Hospitality Group.
“Uniting the rich legacies of two esteemed hotel programs, our inaugural NEXCOM Hospitality Group Leadership Training Symposium epitomized the power of heritage and innovation,” said Loman. “Over three inspiring days, we fostered growth and camaraderie and celebrated the excellence of many, including the winners of our prestigious Carlson and Zumwalt awards. Together, we charted a course toward unparalleled hospitality excellence.”
The Edward E. Carlson Award is awarded to the Navy Lodge that has the highest scores in guest and associate satisfaction, operations, quality assurance assessment and financial performance. The 2023 Navy Lodge of the Year grand winner is Navy Lodge San Diego. Navy Lodge Gulfport, Mississippi, is the large property winner and Navy Lodge Everett, Washington, won in the medium property category.
Three outstanding NGIS locations were awarded the Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Award for Excellence in Housing and Lodging Management to recognize installations that provide exceptional facilities, amenities and service to their guests and for consistent superior management in all functional areas in lodging operation. The winners of the 2023 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Award for Excellence are Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece; Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois; and Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan.
Sharon Hickey, General Manager, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites Point Loma, California, was selected as the Navy Gateway Inns & Suites General Manager of the Year for her outstanding leadership and operational achievements. Hickey expertly manages two geographically separate operations comprised of six buildings, 329 rooms and over 60 associates all while surpassing her fiscal year 2023 financial goals.
Equally impressive, Maria Gonzalez, General Manager of Navy Lodge North Island, California, was named Navy Lodge General Manager of the Year. Throughout 2023, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, navigating her team through facility upgrades and new construction projects. She also exceeded revenue expectations by managing personnel expenses while simultaneously boosting service quality resulting in a guest comment score of 93.8%.
The final award of the night, a Group Achievement Award, was given to over 100 NEXCOM Hospitality Group associates in recognition of their commitment to excellence in the execution of the consolidation of the Navy Lodge Program and Navy Gateway Inns & Suites.
About NEXCOM
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) is one of 11 commands under Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). NEXCOM oversees seven business lines that include Navy Exchange (NEX) stores, Navy Lodges, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, Ships Store Program, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, Uniform Program Management Office and Telecommunications Program Office. NEXCOM's mission is to provide authorized customers quality goods and services at a savings and to support Navy quality of life programs for active duty military, retirees, reservists, veterans, DoD civilians and families. Since 1946, NEXCOM has given over $3.7 billion to support Navy MWR. Shop online at myNavyExchange.com.
About MCX
The Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) is one part of the Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) ecosystem of programs that supports and enhances the operational readiness, war fighting capabilities, and life quality of Marines, their families, retirees and civilians. MCCS is valued by leadership as being a single, relevant portfolio of programs and capabilities that provides unwavering support to Marines and their families throughout their entire career journey with the United States Marine Corps. MCCS leverages this single program delivery capability by consolidating MCX, MWR and Family Programs to deliver goods and services at over 2,250 facilities with a staff of more than 12,000 employees worldwide. In addition to providing the on installation services, visit mymcx.com/shopping to learn about additional online offerings.
About Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Since 1904, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has financial assistance and education to active duty and retired members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, their eligible family members and survivors – when in financial need. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the Society is a non-profit, charitable organization that is staffed by over 3,000 volunteers, and a small cadre of employees, in offices around the world – ashore and aboard ships.
