Annual Reception & Ambassador of the Year

Name: St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Address: 10701 Lambert International Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63145-0212, USA
Telephone: +1-314-426-8000

Congratulations to STL's 2023 Ambassador of the Year

Susan and Ralph "Ank" Ankenbrand of Explore St. Louis, were recognized during our Annual Reception as the 2023 Catch Us Giving Ambassador.

2023 Catch Us Finalists

Larry Brown – Hudson and Associates / Information Services

Larry put such a smile on my face today, it's hard to put into words, so I am grateful I was able to find a place on your website to honor him properly. I am in a very busy season running my business, shorthanded after braving the pandemic in the world's hardest-hit industry of live-event production. Today, I went to the airport to change a Delta ticket for my crew traveling to Minneapolis for a show in a few weeks. I had tried several times and was having difficulty changing the reservation online, and thought I might have better luck at the ticket counter with a real person. It was an hour I didn't have in my day, but it needed to happen. As it turns out, they couldn't help me at the ticket counter, and they sent me away with a top secret phone number to call for a reservation change. My husband wondered why I couldn't change it online, but in a world filled with apps and bots answering a bevy of questions with generic responses, I knew I needed to talk to a real person. It wasn't long after I left the ticket counter that I realized I had given my AMEX to an employee and left my wallet on my desk. So I'm now in the airport with a ticket to from the garage, but have not a single dollar or a credit card to get out of the garage. That's never happened to me in my life. I asked few friendly faces if they might let me venmo them $10 if they would give me $5 in cash. But no one was willing. Someone did suggest I go to the help desk, and it was there I met Larry Brown. He reached into his pocket and handed me $5.00 and wouldn't let me reimburse him no matter how hard I tried. He simply asked that I pay it forward, as he was taught to do. I did get his supervisor's name from him and hope this letter finds its way to Pearletta Evans so she might congratulate him in person for making a profound difference in my life today. You can't teach the kind of customer service he offered me today, and my life is enriched as a result. If there is a video testimonial, and interview or anything I can offer in return to help advance this man, it would be my honor. You are lucky to have this beautiful soul serving our visitors and he is a very fine representative of your organization. Thank you for listening!

Jerry Gershmann – Explore St. Louis

Jerry's volunteer shift at the info booth in Terminal 1 was from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May31. I arrived at 2:00 p.m. to take over for my shift. Jerry had been working for a couple of hours to help a passenger arriving from Jamaica to find her way to Lake Ozarks where there was a summer job waiting for her at one of the resorts. The passenger had arrived in the St. Louis airport one day late due to flight cancellations. The ride that had been arranged for her had returned to the Lake Ozarks resort. Her cell phone did not work here. Jerry spent his time searching for the agency that had employed her and searching for the resort responsible for her transportation and employment. Of course, the responsible persons were tied up in meetings and it took several hours to finally talk to a person. Jerry learned that this young lady would be picked up the following morning at 8:00 a.m. at Terminal 2 to be taken to the Lake Ozark resort. Jerry then worked with the airport chaplains to find a hotel for her to spend the night. (Quality Inn) He then personally escorted the lady (via the Terminal shuttle) to Terminal 2 and showed her the exact location of where she would be picked up the next morning. Upon returning to Terminal 1, he then escorted the lady to where she would be picked up by the Quality Inn shuttle. He finally left Terminal 1 at 4:30 p.m. … 2.5 hours later than his normal quitting time ... because he refused to leave until this lady was well taken care of. I believe Jerry deserves recognition because he went well beyond all expectations of a volunteer and never complained. He just wanted to see the situation resolved and the young lady safely on her way.

Tony Little – HMS Host

It was an early morning and I was sitting by his place of work. He greeted me with a smile and was just a lovely person to have a discussion with. It really made my day because it was so early. He described his day ahead and the hurdles, and we discussed the fact that we are lucky to be here. He was very nice. I think that there are too many people who complain - either employees or the general public about employees. He helped me remember that there are positive people in the world who can make a difference to someone's day.

Shirley Zurosky – OHM Concession Group, LLC

We have eaten at Schlafly multiple times and she is by far the nicest person that works there. She was attentive to us and every customer there. I appreciated how she came up to us multiple times to ask us how our day was not just about when we wanted the check. She had a very cheerful disposition even thought it’s a fast pace environment. She made us feel welcomed and comfortable even though our stay there was short. She was laughing with every customer and making great conversation. Even a customer asked her to take her to her gate and Shirley took the time to get her the help she needed. We hope she is there again next time we stop through.

LaJaunda Cooper- United Airlines

LaJaunda is frankly the kindest and most helpful ticketing agent that I can remember in recent history. She is the Epitome of service oriented and was not only incredibly helpful in assisting us, but doing the job of her colleagues and assisting several ticket holders at the same time. She did all of this with a compassion and kindness. Have flow hundreds of thousands of miles in my life, traveling extensively. Lajaunda from United is the best and warmest ticket agent I have ever met. United would be missing on a huge opportunity to not promote her and have her lead and teach the other agents on how to truly assist paying passengers. She elevates the Brand of United, and they should not miss an opportunity to recognize a superstar.