Given Lois Mateus Networking Award
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2015) — Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX, was honored Friday by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and the Bourbon Women Association with its second-ever award for networking, community service and professionalism.
Ramer accepted the “Lois Mateus Networking Award” at the Bourbon Women’s second annual “Sip-Osium,” a three-day conference featuring Bourbon workshops, mixology sessions, private tastings, distillery excursions and more.
The award is named for Mateus, retired senior vice president of Brown-Forman, Inc., and the first woman ever to serve on the KDA Board. Her two-year term in 1992 paved the way for other women in high-ranking roles throughout Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry.
“It is a great honor to receive the “Lois Mateus Networking Award,” Ramer said. “Lois has been such an inspiration to professional women in Kentucky, and to be the recipient of an award bearing her name is quite humbling. I appreciate the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and Bourbon Women organizations vote of confidence in me and my work in the tourism and hospitality industry in Kentucky.”
Susan Reigler, president of Bourbon Women, and Kristin Meadors, the KDA’s director of governmental and regulatory affairs, presented Ramer with an etched crystal bowl to symbolize her breakthrough role as the Lexington CVB’s first female President.
“Mary Quinn has been a tireless supporter of Kentucky’s Bourbon heritage,” Reigler said. “We’re extremely pleased to honor her tonight, especially since she helped found our organization and create a community for women who appreciate fine whiskey.”
A 1998 graduate of Centre College and Danville native, Ramer began her career at Preston-Osborne, a prominent Lexington public relations, marketing and research firm, before becoming executive director at the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She received the Public Relations Society of America’s top honor—the Silver Anvil Award—in 2001 for her work on the 2000 Vice Presidential Debate at the Danville liberal arts institution. The Silver Anvil is considered the Pulitzer Prize of public relations.
Ramer joined the Lexington CVB in 2007 as the vice president of tourism marketing and was promoted to vice president of marketing in 2013, becoming actively involved with rebranding the organization to VisitLEX and developing a new visitor center in the downtown core.
She was named president of the organization in 2014.
In addition, Ramer is active with several community organizations including the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, Equestrian Events International, Keeneland Concours d’Elegance, Horse County LLC and the McDowell House Museum.
She was a key leader in Lexington’s preparation and coordination of the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and is a member of the Breeders’ Cup 2015 Host Committee when the world-renowned event comes to Keeneland Racetrack in October.
KDA president Eric Gregory said he first met Ramer when he was vice president of public affairs at Preston-Osborne. “You could clearly see that Mary Quinn was destined for great things,” he said.
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