Oklahoma City (May 5, 2026) – Visit Oklahoma City honored its 2026 Hometown Heroes on Monday evening at an award ceremony, held at the Jones Assembly. The event was emceed by local personality Lucas Ross. The honorees were selected based on their passion for OKC, leadership in the industry, collaborative spirit and ambassadorship of the destination. 

“Oklahoma City’s momentum is the result of strong partnerships and hospitality leaders like the honorees we’re celebrating,” said Christy Gillenwater, President & CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “These Hometown Heroes represent the very best of Oklahoma City and we appreciate the many ways they have contributed to making our region a thriving tourism destination.” 

The Hometown Hero awards were presented to 11 individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on Oklahoma City’s tourism industry. This year’s honorees include: 

Asian Night Market Festival 

Captain Audrea George 

Cynthia Reid 

David Reeves 

Debi Neumann 

Festival of the Arts 

Jordan Racine 

Clara Luper Sit-In Plaza 

Nicole Burleson

Oklahoma Fancy Dancers

Tina Gilliland

Visit OKC’s Hometown Heroes Awards are held during National Travel and Tourism Week, which celebrates how travel fuels local economies and enhances quality of life across the United States.

 

About the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is the vision-setting organization of the region and drives economic growth and vitality by uniting business leaders to foster collaboration, belonging and regional prosperity. As the voice of the OKC business community for more than 100 years, the Chamber supports its members and the region through a varied body of work, including economic development, education, government relations and promoting OKC as a first-class visitor destination. The Chamber’s family of brands includes Visit Oklahoma City, Greater Oklahoma City Partnership, OKC Sports, Team OKC, Life Science Oklahoma and OKC Film & Creative Industries.

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