Lori A. Pepenella, CDME, of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and Southern Ocean Chamber Association, has been selected as honoree for the 2026 Senator Jim Whelan Memorial Tourism Award, the highest recognition issued by the New Jersey Tourism Industry. Presented annually in Trenton by New Jersey Tourism Industry Association, the award honors professionals whose work has made a profound and lasting impact on New Jersey’s tourism economy. It recognizes individuals who embody Senator Whelan’s legacy of leadership, public service, and dedication to advancing tourism through innovation and advocacy, collaboration and public‑private partnerships, sustainable tourism development, and contributions that enhance the quality of life for both residents and visitors. This year’s event will be held during NJTIA Advocacy Day, May 7 at the Trenton War Memorial beginning at 10am.

Pepenella’ s nomination reflects a career spanning more than two decades of service to New Jersey’s tourism, cultural, and economic development sectors. Her volunteer leadership roles have included President of the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association, Chair of the Ocean County Culture and Heritage Commission, and both Chair and Vice Chair of the Ocean County Tourism Advisory Board, as well as Vice Chair of the Community Foundation of South Jersey. Throughout her career, she has championed the essential role tourism plays in strengthening local economies, preserving community identity, and supporting small business growth.

A defining hallmark of Pepenella’ s work has been her commitment to reinvesting resources directly into the local creative economy. By prioritizing the hiring of regional talent, including web developers, marketing firms, videographers, radio producers, print publishers, and graphic designers, she ensured that promotional initiatives not only elevated the destination but also generated sustained work for dozens of small businesses. This approach built a thriving creative ecosystem whose contributions continue to shape the region’s brand and economic vitality.

Her long‑term vision is evident in the creation and fifteen‑year success of the LBI Wedding Road Show, which transformed Long Beach Island into a competitive wedding destination and expanded tourism into the shoulder seasons, and she also played a pivotal role in securing early regional funding that ushered in important initiatives such as the Lighthouse International Film Festival, the LBI Ferry Service, and the LBI Region Report Radio/Podcast; additionally, Pepenella strengthened and expanded the marketing of the Southern Ocean Chamber’s LBI Chowderfest for fifteen years, introducing essential pivots that supported both coastal resilience and pandemic‑era adaptation.

Her leadership has been especially significant during times of crisis. As New Jersey’s DMO Chair during Superstorm Sandy, she coordinated statewide efforts to stabilize the tourism industry and accelerate recovery. She brought New Orleans recovery leaders to New Jersey to share post‑Katrina expertise and organized the first SBA Emergency Assistance event in the shore region, ensuring immediate support for affected businesses. She hosted the first Open for Business press conference featuring all Jersey Shore tourism representatives, reinforcing statewide unity at a moment when clear communication and collaboration were essential. During the COVID‑19 shutdown, she oversaw all regional communications and launched online, hybrid, and remote programs that kept commerce active despite unprecedented challenges. She was the first woman in New Jersey to earn the Certified Destination Management Executive designation through the Purdue/DI program and led the effort to secure positive recognition for the Long Beach Island Region through the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), an internationally respected standard for excellence in destination marketing and management.

Pepenella’ s contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Women of Achievement Award, Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow recognition, designation as an Honorary Commander of Joint Base McGuire‑Dix‑Lakehurst, and the Ocean County Commissioner Tourism Achievement Award.

Her nomination places her among respected industry leaders who have been associated with the Senator Jim Whelan Memorial Tourism Award, including Jim Kirkos of the Meadowlands CVB, Michael Snyder of Visit South Jersey, Anthony Catanoso and Sharon Franz of Steel Pier Atlantic City. Lori Pepenella’ s work stands alongside theirs in advancing New Jersey’s tourism economy through creativity, collaboration, and steadfast dedication. Information about the May 7 event can be found on NJTIA website.