CA&M Curator Rickie Good Receives Tourism Award

The Olde English District Tourism Commission (OED), which promotes tourism for Kershaw, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union and York counties, has named Rickie Good, Curator at the Camden Archives & Museum this year’s Hospitality Employee of the Year award.
The OED annual awards luncheon held here recently at the Robert Mills Courthouse recognized outstanding achievement in tourism in this region. More than 100 regional and state tourism officials attended. 

City Manager Mel Pearson said Good has worked for the City at the Archives & Museum for more six years, and in the city’s tourism office, as well, for a good portion of that time. “Rickie has exceptional curatorial skills and her work in preserving and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of the area is unsurpassed,” said Pearson. “We are extremely fortunate that she is onboard with us, and proud of the recognition she has received from the Olde English District Tourism Commission."

According to Suzi Sale, Camden-Kershaw County Tourism Director, Good was nominated for her creative brilliance in assisting with tourism promotion and hospitality in Camden and Kershaw County.
“Rickie is a true treasure when it comes to promoting Camden and Kershaw County,” said Sale. “In addition to the warmth and friendliness she exudes, she is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what she does for others and the work she does for the area in the city’s Tourism office at the Price House. “Rickie is also a great host for us when groups and travel writers visit and want to tour and learn about our area,” said Sale. “She also has created and produced website features for the local tourism site – www.classicallycarolina.com, video documentaries, the monthly Discover Camden-Kershaw County visitor news e-blast, marketing literature, advertising elements, and the Camden Tour app - audio tours available for free download at Apple and Google Play app stores."

The OED luncheon featured a presentation by Doug Bostick, the CEO & Executive Director of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. The land trust protects and preserves historic military sites in the Palmetto State. Bostic and his group has just announced the Liberty Trail that will include 60 Revolutionary War sites here in South Carolina, among which prominently will include Camden Battlefield and the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill sites. The Liberty Trail would create a historic driving route, with the help of an app, guiding the way through the sites within the state, many of which are in the Olde English District.

This year’s awards were created by regional artist Bob Doster and presented by OED Board Chair Kirk Johnston from Andrew Jackson State Park and OED Executive Director Jayne Scarborough. Good received the Betty Skeen Hospitality Employee of the Year award which honors a longtime manager of the South Carolina Welcome Center in Fort Mill at I-77. Good will compete statewide for the South Carolina Hospitality Employee of the Year in 2020, with winners to be announced during the South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Departments annual Governor’ Conference. Held in February, the Governor's Conference is the largest annual gathering of the South Carolina tourism industry, and offers sessions on emerging consumer trends and tourism marketing strategy to help SCPRT and the industry grow tourism.