Winners of the annual Boise hospitality awards honored at Morrison Center ceremony

On April 21, 2023, Visit Boise announced the winners of its Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards honoring exceptional employees in the local tourism and hospitality industry at a Morrison Center ceremony.

The awards recognize those who positively enhance visitor experiences with their enthusiasm and exemplary service. Amongst the winners, are two Treasure Valley Family YMCA staff members who have gone above and beyond for our community. 

“I nominated Rudy because no YMCA employee I have ever seen puts in the amount of work with such a great attitude that Rudy does.” Says Scott Swanson, Executive Director of the West Valley YMCA. “He has worked for the YMCA for 24 years all in housekeeping. He goes above and beyond to ensure that the facility is clean and safe for our members. Rudy is staple in the evening time at West and knows almost all of our members. People always stop and talk to Rudy because he is such a genuine and positive guy. He makes people feel cared for.”

“Lika is a thoughtful and caring individual who constantly displays empathy, compassion, and kindness to others. She takes the time to listen to people’s concerns, offer support and help when needed, and prioritizes the well-being of those around her. Lika consistently demonstrates what it means to be Caring, Respectful, Honest, and Responsible. While Lika is one of our bus drivers, she will forever mean more to the kids and families she serves than just a bus driver.”

— Andrew Fletcher, Executive Director, Child Development

Our Y Staff was so excited to nominate several folks in our community who create exceptional experiences behind the scenes. Thank you for your service to others hard work! We had four total finalists for this year:

  • Rudy Oliver — West Boise YMCA (Behind the Scenes)
  • Lika Knight — Bus Driver & Teacher (Transportation)
  • John Heimer —Volunteer (Volunteer)
  • And Fareed Jajo — Downtown YMCA (Behind the Scenes)

Watch the video below to learn more about Fareed’s Story!