Residents and companies were recognized as stars in the fall by The RI Hospitality Association at its annual Stars of the Industry Awards Ceremony held at the Providence Performing Arts Center.  Lauren E.I. Slocum, president/CEO of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce;  Vinny Costable, district sales manager at Gordon Food Service;  Lynne Oscarson, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick (Airport), an IHG Hotel,  and the Beacon Mutual Insurance Company were  among honorees.

Slocum joined the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce in 1995 in a membership sales capacity before quickly advancing to the role of vice president. In 2001, she took the helm of the Chamber as its president/CEO and has since become a liaison between for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental authorities alike.

Under her leadership, the chamber assists countless businesses as they navigate challenges, prepare for the unexpected, and celebrate their successes.

“Lauren is a true champion of the greater good and believes in sharing information and best practices for the benefit of everyone in our industry,” said Dale J. Venturini, President/CEO, RI Hospitality Association (RIHA)/RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF).

“A quiet, yet steadfast leader, Lauren has been exemplary in her role as a small-business ambassador for the last three decades. She seeks no recognition and instead focuses on how to collaborate with and strengthen the business community.” Slocum has served on a number boards and advisories such as the Warwick Board of Canvassers, Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island, Local Area Advisory Committee for the Governor’s Workforce Board, Innovation & P-TECH committee for the Career & Technical Education Advisory Board, Warwick Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, RI Small Business Development Advisory Board, and the New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

She has received advanced training through the Federal Emergency Maintenance Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute, and through The Imagine Group.  She, and her husband Phil, have three successful children – Alicia, Nick, and Sean.  They have  eight grandchildren.

Costable,  recipient of the “Volunteer of the Year Award is a hospitality industry veteran of over 25 years He  is the current district sales manager for Gordon Food Service in Rhode Island. Throughout his career, Costable has played an integral role in the personal and professional development of others, which sparked his desire to advance the growth of the industry and workforce through collaboration and communication.

“Vinny has been incredible in assisting us at the annual RI ProStart High School Culinary Arts, Foodservice and Hotel Management Competition, and in the Education Foundation as a lead judge in charge of the management competition,” said. Venturini. “Despite a rigorous day job, he is always available to the Association and to the students that he mentors through the competition.

Costable began his career in hospitality in the kitchen, starting as a dishwasher before moving on to other roles including line cook, sous chef, executive chef, and then front-of-the-house roles including server and manager. Outside of the restaurant industry, he gained valuable experience working as a salesperson, sales trainer, and sales manager. In 2013, he moved to Gordon Food Service and was handpicked as a district mentor within his first six months working there. Since then, Costable has been tasked with honoring, preserving, and teaching the company’s “Cornerstone Values,” as well as planning and coordinating the training curriculum for all internal customers.

 He earned an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts/Chef Training at the Culinary Institute of America in 1999. He has received several awards including the “Support Person of the Year” in 2015 and was a Gold Club recipient in 2018. At Gordon Food Service, he’s been recognized with the “Winner’s Circle” award in 2014 and the “Team of the Year” award in 2015.

Lynne Oscarson, recipient of the “Hotelier of the Year Award” in the “Branded” category, started her career in lodging as a front desk clerk at the Crowne Plaza upon graduating from Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. During her senior year at Marymount, she was chosen from among her peers to intern with the internationally acclaimed magazine, Good Housekeeping, located in the Washington, D.C. bureau. In one year, her willingness to go above and beyond resulted in a promotion to the Sales and Marketing Division of the hotel, where she quickly advanced to the position of director, establishing a culture known for its renowned levels of award-winning service.

As the director of sales and marketing, both the Crowne Plaza and the nearby Holiday Inn Express & Suites Warwick-Providence (Airport), which she also oversees, experienced double-digit sales growth. In 2015, she was appointed to the position of general manager of the Crowne Plaza with oversight responsibilities of the Holiday Inn Express. In 2019, she led her 250-employee team through a $25 million renovation while maintaining guest satisfaction scores in the 90th percentile.

Under her leadership, the Crowne Plaza is currently ranked in the top five among all the Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas.

Recipient of the “Vendor of the Year Award”, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company has been a leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Rhode Island and is committed to protecting the state’s most valuable asset - its workers. For 30 years, Beacon Mutual has been proud to provide workers’ compensation insurance to the majority of businesses in Rhode Island, including hundreds of restaurants, bars, hotels, and eateries.

Beacon Mutual also partners with the RI Hospitality Association to provide member benefits. Since November of 2021, the insurer has given over $276,000 back to policyholders through the shared earnings program. “A wonderful Association partner, this past year we launched a shared earnings endorsement for members who are insured through Beacon Mutual,” said Venturini.