Ensemble Travel Group member Stephanie Turner, owner of Brentwood Travel in St. Louis, was recently recognized by two local organizations for her outstanding leadership, business acumen, and dedication to the travel industry.
Turner was selected as the 2010 Wall of Fame inductee by the Hospitality Studies Center at St. Louis Community College (SLCC), Forest Park. SLCC’s travel and tourism program, one of the few currently in existence in the United States, is part of this hospitality discipline, and Turner has been a leader and supporter of the program for many years.
In 2007, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Brentwood Travel, Turner established a scholarship for the college in honor of her parents, who founded the travel agency. The Brentwood Travel Robert and Ruth Lurie Travel Scholarship Endowment Fund for Travel and Tourism is awarded each year to a deserving student in the SLCC program.
“We believe in the future of the local travel industry, and feel this scholarship fund is an effective way to help build that next generation of travel professionals,” said Turner.
Turner was also recognized by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly as one of the area’s outstanding women entrepreneurs. The Top Women Business Owners annual awards program was created 17 years ago to honor St. Louis’ female business executives who make a difference in the community, and to encourage other women to start and grow their own enterprises. Turner was honored before a large group of area business leaders for her many accomplishments in her business, industry, and community.
“Congratulations to Stephanie for these fine honors,” says Jack E. Mannix, president and CEO of Ensemble Travel Group. “What’s most impressive about Stephanie is that she works tirelessly not just for her own business but also for the betterment of the travel industry by helping groom our future workforce.”
Turner serves on the Ensemble Travel Group Board of Directors and is a lifetime member of the Traveling Times Advisory Board. Over the years she has held positions with ASTA, ICTA as well as various supplier and tourist boards.
Now in its 53rd year of business, Brentwood Travel is the oldest independent travel agency in the St. Louis area.