GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS – Tuesday, 9th June 2015 – Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter has nominated four outstanding staff members for the 2015 Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) Stingray Awards.

The 2015 Stingray Tourism Awards will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on 23rd June. The Stingray Awards recognise CITA member company employees for their service in the tourism industry.

Cayman Turtle Farm Human Resources Manager Joelle McCrae has been nominated for the Allied Manager of the Year award.

Employed with Cayman Turtle Farm since 2005, Joelle is involved in community and church activities as well as being an active member of the Cayman Islands Society of Human Resources Professionals (CISHRP), and the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)

Joelle started at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter as Food & Beverage Manager. Over the years he has focused on continuing education, earning a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and also his Professional Human Resources (PHR, Hons) designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) where he is required to maintain his credentials by obtaining annual recertification.

Joelle brought many years of experience in the tourism industry to Cayman Turtle Farm. His hospitality career spans 37 years, and he has worked in a wide variety of positions at properties including the fondly remembered Galleon Beach Hotel, and the “old Grand Caymanian Holiday Inn” that were iconic legends on Seven Mile Beach.

Joelle is committed to customer service, and provides a daily example to junior staff on the importance of good customer service and providing a positive guest experience. As CTF HR Manager, Joelle has been very successful in recruiting Caymanians into the tourism industry, so much so that out of 90 employees at CTF there are only four on work permits.

Joelle has been the driving force at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter in ensuring that all staff members – in all levels and positions – receive customer service training in order to understand the importance of customer service at our attraction and in the tourism industry. Courses include DoT PRIDE training (which includes sections such as Know Your Cayman Islands, Promises, Leading the Promises and Foundations), as well as other related training courses being offered by the CI Chamber of Commerce.

During the past year, Joelle has been outstanding in taking on additional oversight roles in management and maintaining good disciplines in three different departments during extended periods while CTF was recruiting the managers to lead those departments: Lifeguards, F&B, and Retail /Gift Shop. During the interim periods between managers, Joelle stepped in to ensure continuity of strong leadership. Then when the new line managers for those departments came aboard, Joelle invested a lot of time and effort in coaching them and their junior leaders.

Joelle is an integral person to the development of staff policies and guidelines at Cayman Turtle Farm. He was the driving force at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter in developing an updated and comprehensive staff handbook that includes all benefits for employees as well as all company policies. Joelle has also driven the implementation of a regular staff evaluation programme. In particular, he has been instrumental in developing the policies, guidelines and structure for the Lifeguard department and continues to provide day to day support for the manager of this division of the company.

Annie Mae Ebanks, also known as Betty, has been nominated for the Long Service Award. She celebrated 21 years of service at the Cayman Turtle Farm in March 2015.

A Sales Clerk in Splash gift shop, Annie Mae celebrated her milestone anniversary with a commendation from a customer. Annie Mae made sure that the customer ended up with the perfect souvenir of her trip, going the extra mile to have the item delivered to the guest’s resort – which is on the other side of the island.

Annie Mae consistently provides a smiling face to Cayman Turtle Farm guests, and is known for going the extra mile for our visitors. She is the embodiment of “Caymankind” – extending a warm friendliness and a truly Caymanian hospitality. Annie Mae is well liked and regarded by both her co-workers and customers.

Fanny Martin has been nominated for Allied Employee of the Year. Fanny serves as a daily example to colleagues in her professionalism and demeanor and is outstanding in her versatility and positive attitude.

She is willing and very competent to perform a wide variety of roles to ensure that Cayman Turtle Farm delivers an exceptional guest experience. In her main job role as Box Office Attendant, Fanny is one of the first faces guests encounter on arrival at Cayman Turtle Farm and she never fails to welcome them with a warm sincere Caymankind smile and helpful approach.

Although Fanny’s title is that of Box Office Attendant, she happily switches as and when needed to the role of bilingual tour guide, or shuttle bus driver, or cruise terminal agent – these are all roles that Fanny is fully trained to do and she does each of them well.

Fanny is unfailingly punctual, reliable and positive in all her interactions, whether dealing with guests, internal colleagues, or other industry partners. She sees what needs to be done and she does it without hesitation, and with pure hospitality professionalism and a warm genuine spirit of service.

Customer Service Team Manager Rebecca Bush has been nominated for the Rising Star in Tourism Award. She has received the CTF Employee of the Month award on two separate occasions and has also undergone PRIDE training.

Rebecca’s vibrant personality as well as her efficiency and willingness to both learn and help are the qualities that have already taken her far in the tourism industry and which will help her grow in the future. Starting out at Cayman Turtle Farm as an Accounts Clerk in 2008, Rebecca showed impressive ability and commitment, leading to a well-deserved promotion to Customer Service Team Manager in 2012.

Rebecca is consistently hard-working, efficient, helpful and adaptable. In addition to her extensive duties as Customer Service Team Manager, Rebecca also assists other departments – including the Finance department and the Retail department. She has become an in-house expert in the company’s point of sale system, and regularly provides assistance and training to other departments. Rebecca also regularly volunteers to assist in the Events and Marketing departments for special events and campaigns, while also assisting the Tours department on busy cruise ship days.

Rebecca also answers online customer queries, and has received several compliments and accolades from happy guests that she has assisted.

Rebecca provides a daily example of leadership to her team and other staff members. She consistently displays the leadership qualities of discipline and self-improvement. Her work ethic is impressive – and has garnered her a promotion to management level at Cayman Turtle Farm at a young age.

Rebecca is consistently pleasant and engaging with customers, and makes a strong effort to ensure that customer queries and issues are dealt with quickly and to the benefit of the customer. She instills this quality in her team members, who respond well to her leadership style. Her team is the “front line” at Cayman Turtle Farm when dealing with CTF guests, and Rebecca ensures that they greet customers pleasantly and with a helpful spirit.

Prior to joining Cayman Turtle Farm in 2008, Rebecca worked with Cayman Airways for 5 years. She started out as a check-in agent and within two years was promoted to a supervisory position. This was an early indication of her aptitude for success in the industry.

In addition to her role at Cayman Turtle Farm, Rebecca is active in the community. She played for Alliance women’s football team, and sponsors her niece’s attendance at Wesleyan Christian Academy. Rebecca also consistently volunteers and assists with CTF events and community programmes.

“We have nominated some excellent candidates for Stingray Awards this year. Each one of our nominees makes a special contribution to Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter,” said Tim Adam, Managing Director at Cayman Turtle Farm. “We are very pleased to have them recognised among their peers in the tourism industry for the great job that they do each and every day.”

About Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter
The Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter is the Cayman Islands’ most-visited land-based attraction, with more than 230,000 visitors each year. Educational, cultural and entertainment programmes are consistently being created and updated to enhance the experience that can only be found at our world-renowned attraction. In addition to being a tourist attraction, the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter is also a sea turtle husbandry, research and conservation centre, focusing primarily on the Green sea turtle. Over its years in operation, the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter has achieved a closed cycle of breeding, and has released over 31,000 turtles into the wild. Find out more at: www.turtle.ky