RPI Blog

Employee Appreciation Day: Celebrating the People Who Power Our Workplaces

6 March 2026 

Did you know that 68% of employees plan to stay at their organisation for five years or more when their recognition needs are fulfilled? Each year, Employee Appreciation Day serves as an important reminder to assess your recognition efforts and recognise the people who keep our organisations running every day. This day provides a dedicated opportunity to pause, reflect, and thank employees for their hard work, dedication, and contributions.

Employees are the backbone of every successful business. Their ideas, effort, and commitment drive innovation, strengthen teams, and move organisations forward. Taking time to acknowledge those contributions not only boosts morale, but also reinforces a culture where people feel valued and respected.

Recognition doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. A sincere thank-you, a note of appreciation, public recognition, or a small celebration can go a long way in making employees feel seen. When organisations prioritise appreciation and ensure recognition is consistently fulfilling, authentic, equitable, embedded, and personalized, employees are 5x as likely to feel connected to company culture. There's also stronger engagement, improved retention, and a more positive workplace culture.

Here at Recognition Professionals International, we wanted to celebrate this day by shining a light on the people who make a difference in their workplaces. We asked our members to submit coworkers or colleagues they would like to recognise for their hard work, positive attitude, and contributions. Join us in recognising and thanking them for the impact they make every day!

Thank You!

Noori Allie
Achievement Awards Group

"Noori's impact is visible in high-pressure environments where service excellence really counts. She brings calm direction, ensures problems are understood properly before solutions are implemented and holds a steady focus on what matters most - the client experience, the team’s effectiveness and sustainable improvement. Her leadership is consistent: she communicates clearly, follows through and tackles challenges head-on without drama." - Lianne Booth, CRP, Achievement Awards Group

Dane Amyot
Achievement Awards Group

"Dane, I’d like to recognise the leadership you’ve shown since stepping into the CEO role last year, especially the way you’ve brought clarity, alignment and execution discipline to the business. The result speaks for itself: we’ve stayed focused, moved forward together and continued delivering on our targets. Thank you for leading with intent and for building a culture where strategy turns into action." - Lianne Booth, CRP, Achievement Awards Group

Pedro Bannura
DIGI

"Pedro is at Digi for more than 20 years and always learning, growing and making the company acquire and serve the largest enterprises in Brasil. He's a great partner and fantastic Vice President of Sales." - Cristiano Miano, Digi

Lianne Booth, CRP
Achievement Awards Group

"Lianne leads our Total Rewards function and runs our internal recognition and reward programme, achieve, powered by our proprietary platform, bountiXP. What often goes unseen is the thought, care, and intentionality she brings to creating moments of appreciation across the business. Thank you, Lianne, for the energy, precision, and heart you bring to this work. We appreciate you - today and every day." - Gordon Wilson, Achievement Awards Group

Avanti B.
Atlantis Resort Paradise Island

"My team is small and we manage and execute all the recognition across the property - so rarely are we recognized so I wanted to show appreciation for their continued great work and their work on our big Diamond Gala Diamonds Are Forever Event!" - Brandon L. Major, CRP, Atlantis Bahamas

Nicolene Carpenter
Achievement Awards Group

"What sets Nicky apart is her proactive ownership. She anticipates needs, responds quickly when issues arise and manages priorities with a calm, can-do approach. She also builds trust because colleagues know they can rely on her: she communicates clearly, follows through and gets things done." - Lianne Booth, CRP

Brittany Espinoza, CRP
Recognize Services Inc.

"What I appreciate most about Brittany is how approachable and open she is. I can genuinely come to her with anything: questions, concerns, big ideas, or even moments of uncertainty, and she always listens with intention and care. She creates a safe space where I feel heard, respected, and encouraged." - Samantha Liravongsa, Recognize

Kate Gardner
Dash Solutions

"Kate is willing to lend a helping hand to her teammates and other colleagues, collaborating effectively with others and contributing ideas that meaningfully drive outcomes. Her dedication, reliability, and positive impact make her a great teammate who sets a strong example for those around her." - Juan C. Ortiz, Dash Solutions

Jenny Howard
Incentive Marketing Association

"A supportive, thoughtful leader who wants to see everyone grow and succeed in their roles! She's incredibly talented and approaches every project with care and attention! I always learn something new from her and thankful she's a part of our team." - Haley Allé Smith, Incentive Marketing Association

Elish A. Meyers, Esq.
Card Compliant, LLC

"Elish is extremely knowledgeable and consistently goes above and beyond to support her Card Compliant partners. She provides an exceptional level of guidance, insight, and hands-on help, and is always willing to share her expertise to ensure others succeed." - Madison Anderes, Card Compliant

Glynnes Oldjohn-Manuel
Achievement Awards Group

"Glynnes plays a critical role in keeping teams aligned and supported through change - ensuring communication is clear, people are heard and decisions are made with both the business and the individual in mind. Because of her steady leadership, colleagues know where they stand, managers feel guided and employees feel respected." - Lianne Booth, CRP

Anthony Pierlioni
VCA Animal Hospitals

"Anthony always has an incredible positive attitude, and he passes that on to anyone he meets. He is intentional in providing recognition to his peers, leaders, and business partners. His authenticity and passion are contagious. I truly appreciate all he is doing to continue to evolve VCA." - Kimberly Huffman, CRP, VCA Animal Hospitals

Stephanie Purcel, CRP
Incentive Marketing Association

"Stephanie is an amazing leader! She is so kind and never misses an opportunity to thank her team members, making sure everyone feels valued for their contributions. Stephanie creates an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and confident in their work. She consistently strives to drive meaningful results that strengthen her clients." - Jenny Howard, Incentive Marketing Association

Gordon Wilson, MBA, CPIM, CRP
Achievement Awards Group

"Gordon, you have a way of showing up that makes work better for everyone around you: you’re thoughtful, solutions-focused and you engage with challenges constructively. When something needs attention, you don’t add noise - you bring clarity. When the pressure is on, you stay calm, make good calls and help others stay focused on what matters." - Lianne Booth, CRP

Haley Smith
Incentive Marketing Association

"Haley is a creative, innovative, and talented leader! Her dedication is evident in the quality of her work. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure everything is executed at the highest level for her clients. She is kind, passionate, and an invaluable team member! I'm truly grateful to be working with her!" - Jenny Howard, Incentive Marketing Association

Andrew Solomon, CLMP
Achievement Awards Group

"Andrew, people walk away from conversations with you feeling more capable, more curious, and more willing to try. You explain without making anyone feel silly for asking, you encourage experimentation and learning-by-doing, and you make space for questions and growth — even when you’re busy." - Lianne Booth, CRP, Achievement Awards Group

Amandeep Tando
Nielsen Media

"Amandeep gives her best every single day for her employees and is always focused on what will create the most meaningful recognition and positive experience for them. Her thoughtfulness, compassion, and commitment truly set her apart. Amandeep has a heart of gold and consistently goes above and beyond for others." - Julie Batien, CRP, RecogNation