WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Last night, Monmouth County tourism director Jeanne DeYoung
was honored with a Spinnaker Award for Public Service presented by the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce (EMACC) at Branches. 
“I am honored to be recognized for my efforts to promote Monmouth County as a place to visit for a day, a weekend or longer,” DeYoung said. “Monmouth County has an incredible tourism industry; we welcome more than five million visitors each year and are known for a family friendly atmosphere, diverse beaches and great parks.”
Upon bestowing the Spinnaker Award for Public Service, EMACC Chairman Thomas Duffy described DeYoung as “an individual who has provided outstanding leadership in the community.”
Since becoming the County’s Director of Tourism in 2000, DeYoung has developed strong partnerships with all the tourism attractions and businesses in the County and advanced tourism promotion through the County’s VisitMonmouth.com website and the most comprehensive calendar of events, attractions, parks and beaches available.
In 2013, DeYoung worked with Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone to develop the Monmouth County Tourism Advisory Group to coordinate efforts with municipalities and help coastal towns bounce back after Superstorm Sandy.
“Tourism is important to our local economy and I am proud to work with Jeanne to increase tourism in the County and our State,” said Freeholder Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Information and Tourism. “This is an industry that injects $2.1 billion into the local economy and supports 30,000 jobs. Tourism is part of our economic engine; whether it is Belmar or Allentown, tourism is a driver in our local economy.”
“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of the winners this year,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, who was a previous recipient of the Spinnaker Award for Public Service. “I have worked with Jeanne for many years. She works tirelessly to promote tourism in Monmouth County and she is truly deserving of this award.”
Other Spinnaker awardees recognized last night were: Volunteer of the Year, Karen Escobedo representing New Jersey Natural Gas; Community Service Award to Earth Treasures of Eatontown; Non-Profit Organization of the Year Monmouth County Historical Association; Arts and Culture Award, Pete Grandinetti and Joe Russo from the Red Bank Regional High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy; and Corporate Good Neighbor Kearny Federal Savings and its division Central Jersey Bank.
According to the chamber, the Spinnaker has become the premier business-to-business signature event in the region and attracts hundreds of people who attend to congratulate the honorees and to network with Monmouth County’s foremost business and community leaders.
To find out more about Monmouth County tourism, go to www.visitmonmouth.com and click on the Tourism tab where you will find a comprehensive source for things to do and places to go that is updated daily. The next time you are on Facebook be sure to “like” the Monmouth County Tourism page. If you use Twitter, follow us on there, too.
For more information about the Spinnaker Awards or the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, go to www.emacc.org or call 732-741-0055.
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