Finalists in the Butler County Service Excellence Awards on Thursday, from left, Beka Souzer - Natili North, Esther Cochran - Red Lobster and Kenneth Ferguson - Saxonburg VFC.

CRANBERRY TWP — Esther Cochran, a Red Lobster waitress, won this year's grand prize in the Butler County Service Excellence Award program.

The program was developed by the Butler County Tourism Bureau for the first time this year.

Selected by bureau-trained secret shoppers for providing above-grade service, 40 honorees shared a meal this week at the Hilton Garden Inn.

“Every guest means something special,” Jack Cohen, tourism bureau president, said to the crowd. “Everything we do, the goal is the proper service.”

After recognizing each nominee with a certificate and a $25 Butler County gift card, Amy Pack, director of tours and development, called the three finalists — Kenneth Ferguson from the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, Beka Souzer of Natili North and Cochran — to the front.

Each had their own story of exemplary service.