The Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau honored 12 employees of the service industry Wednesday night at its annual Recognition of Service Excellence dinner.

The event at Hammond's Horseshoe Casino honored the 12 award recipients who were chosen from a pool of more than 100 nominees and 36 finalists. The convention uses the even to spotlight service industry employees who "positively influence a customer's experience" in the region by treating "customers as if they are a member of their own family."

The service industries account for 55 percent of economic activity in the country, making good customer service a key to the economy, bureau officials said.

Recognized for their efforts Wednesday were Judy Ehlin, Ramada Conference Center, Hammond; Sheri Emmart, Lucrezia restaurant, Crown Point; Anita Gutierrez, Horseshoe Casino, Hammond; Sandra Hall Smith, Indiana University Northwest, Gary; Dave Hunt, Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton; Rosie Jackson, Radisson Hotel, Merrillville; Joan Kolozenski, Post-Tribune, Merrillville; Tammy Lozer, AmeriHost Inn, Hammond; Maria Pabey, Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton; Steve Pawlowski, Horseshoe Casino, Hammond; Pamela Pilon, Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton; and Stacy Venable, Ramada Conference Center, Hammond.