Deep Creek Times announced today that voting is complete for the 2018 People’s Choice Challenge. After two weeks of open nominations in 40 categories and six weeks of voting, the contest closed to new votes on September 8th. Votes in each of the categories have been tabulated, with winners to be announced at the Challenge Reception scheduled for September 25th from 4:30pm – 6:00pm at the Transportation Museum in Oakland.
“We were absolutely thrilled with the level of support and involvement of the community and nominated companies. We received over 2,500 nominees and 100,000 votes during this inaugural challenge” stated co-owner Sarah Myers. “We really had no idea what type of response we would receive when we launched the Challenge.”
The 2018 People’s Choice Challenge had 40 individual nominating categories in four major groupings: experiences, services, products and professionals, with wide-ranging categories including best cheese pizza, best locally made product, best area medical professional and best lake view. According to co-owner Mike Tumbarello, “our goal has always been to make this a fun celebration of all the things that make the Deep Creek Lake area such a great place to live, work and visit. We really got some passionate involvement and some friendly competition going among the nominees. Category winners get some nice online exposure, a sense of pride and a year’s worth of bragging rights.”
Winners will also be recognized at the Challenge Celebration on September 25th, with top category (Diamond) winners, and second place (Platinum) winners receiving frameable certificates as well as window decals and the top overall (across categories) receiving a trophy. The top finalists in every category will be contacted and encouraged to send a representative to the event. All winners will be announced and receive their awards and have a photo taken at the event, which will be held in the Deep Creek Lake Room on the second floor of the Transportation Museum.
All nominees are invited to attend the celebration and light refreshments will be served as winners are announced. A winners list will also be published on the deepcreektimes.com site, with those winners that advertise and that are listed on the site’s Business Directory and Guides also receiving a notation next to their names. Invitees should RSVP to info@deepcreektimes.com or click “going” on the Facebook event by September 22nd, as space is limited at the Transportation Museum.
For more information about the Challenge or deepcreektimes.com please contact Sarah Myers (sarah@deepcreektimes.com or via phone at 240.321.9925) or Mike Tumbarello ( mike@deepcreektimes.com or via phone at 410.707.7725).
