Attractions
Brian Vance – Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Jessie Dirr – Angel's Envy
Jordyn "Jo" Gressly – Kentucky Derby Museum
Lauren DuPre – Pursuit Spirits
Rick Weppler – Stitzel-Weller Distillery
Simon Meiners – Frazier History Museum
Rose Award Voting will begin at 12:00 am on October 8th and end on October 16th at midnight on louisvilleroseawards.com.
Only one vote in each of the 11 categories will be counted from an individual email address.
Please share on your social media channels and encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to read about these inspiring finalists and vote.
Brian Vance
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Brian has cared for guests at special bottle releases since the attraction opened in 2013. He welcomes first-time visitors, mentors teammates and solves challenges with humility and calm leadership.
Years of consistency have made his welcome part of the experience, especially during the attraction’s most anticipated releases. His calm leadership makes both milestone releases and everyday visits feel genuinely special.
Jessie Dirr
Angel's Envy
Jessie is the quiet force behind both the guest experience and the team experience. She trains new employees, guides peers and keeps a complex operation moving with precision.
Her contribution is measured not only in smooth operations, but in how prepared teammates feel and how naturally guests are cared for. Her influence is felt in the confidence of the team and the care guests receive.
Jordyn "Jo" Gressly
Kentucky Derby Museum
Jo quickly emerged as a leader after joining the museum in 2024. Her initiative strengthened the Visitor Services team and better equipped colleagues to serve guests at every level.
That early leadership has already changed how the team works together and how confidently it serves visitors. Her early impact points to a leader whose best work is still ahead.
Lauren DuPre
Pursuit Spirits
Lauren is named by guests again and again in Pursuit Spirits’ five-star reviews. Her knowledge and personal attention can change the trajectory of an entire Whiskey Row visit.
The praise is unusually specific: visitors remember her knowledge, attention and ability to make an entire Whiskey Row stop feel personal. The reviews tell the story: visitors leave Whiskey Row remembering the person who welcomed them.
Rick Weppler
Stitzel-Weller Distillery
Rick brings distillery history to life through stories guests remember. His depth of knowledge, thoughtful answers and willingness to mentor make every tour and every teammate stronger.
He pairs subject-matter expertise with the rare instinct to meet every guest at exactly the right level of curiosity. He gives guests more than facts; he gives them stories worth taking home.
Simon Meiners
Frazier History Museum
Simon turns Kentucky history into a conversation, not a lecture. His Louisville knowledge and guest-first approach make visitors feel welcomed, curious and connected to the city.
His tours invite participation, turning Louisville’s past into something visitors can question, discuss and connect to their own experience. He makes history feel immediate, personal and unmistakably connected to Louisville.