“This destination representative continues to be the go-to person for many people in the same role as she is, across the Midwest,” the award announcement said. “Her passion for the Midwest Travel Network shines in all she does in the world of tourism.”

Kuiper was surprised and didn’t realize that she had been nominated for the award.

“I’m truly honored to be nominated for this award by some of the incredible people I’ve had the chance to work with and who continue to inspire me, whether they’re colleagues or content creators,” said Kuiper. “I deeply believe in the power of tourism. It creates meaningful opportunities for communities of all sizes. Every place has a story to tell, and at Visit Fort Dodge, it’s our job to share that story and invite more people to experience it. We’re grateful to the Midwest Travel Network for helping us do just that.”

Last year, Fort Dodge was named Destination Partner of the Year by the Midwest Travel Network for all of the work done with content creators and travel writers.

“We love Kerrie because she’s funny, kind, and smart,” said Geneva Dillon, tourism and communications specialist for Visit Fort Dodge. “But the qualities that really make her inspiring are her guidance, creativity, and persistence. She is the best boss I have ever worked for, hands down. She leads with respect and always makes sure those around her feel comfortable and dignified. Her ideas are innovative and curated for the market we serve, while staying realistic in scope. And she is nothing if not tenacious; once she decides to do something, she accomplishes it. She also does everything she can to support others and bring success to their projects and goals.”

“Kerrie is a quiet leader that leads by example,” said Tiffany Conrad, community sales manager for Visit Fort Dodge. “Her staff comes first. She treats us as people first and employees second. One of her strongest traits as a leader is her selflessness. She is more than willing to donate her time to others in our industry and help them in any way she can regardless if her plate is already full.”

Kuiper was nominated by her peers as well as members of the Midwest Travel Network.

“For me, investing time and energy into supporting others in the tourism industry is about helping the whole field grow,” said Kuiper. “I see communities as partners, not competitors. There’s room for everyone to shine, and every community has something special to offer.”