As the calendar turns to early January, it’s understandable if you’re feeling the post-holiday blues. But with the beginning of the year comes awards season to hopefully snap you out of your funk. The Golden Globes and the Grammys are pretty cool, but we’re talking about the Yelpies!
Each year, Yelp Community Managers and Community Ambassadors around North America host “The Yelpies,” which honor some of the most prolific members of their community. These fine folks are true Yelp diehards when it comes to writing fabulous reviews and high-quality photos. They’re also usually very familiar faces at Yelp events in their cities’! Take a look below at some true Yelp royalty!
ATLANTA
Lilly C – Reviewer of the Year
Whether it’s her take on the City of Doraville or favorite Peruvian eatery, Lilly C dominated Atlanta’s Yelp-sphere in 2017 with over 900 reviews. She’s well on her way to becoming one of the most prolific Yelp Elites of all time, and our community wouldn’t be as rich without her. –Jonathan T, Atlanta CM
ATLANTA OTP
Tiff H – Reviewer of the Year
Two years in a row! This chick is all about Yelpin’ around OTP. She’s a seven-year elite that recently hit her 1,400 review milestone. She’s also all about those pictures with almost 5,500! She truly is a friend to all with that contagious smile. –Kellie M, Atlanta OTP CM
BIRMINGHAM
Rob S – Yelper of the Year
Rob S. received his badge in 2017 and the Yelp Elite Squad has not been the same since. As a first-year elite, he took home four trophies… all of which, were more than well-deserved. He even needed his own category created when we did “top reviewer certificates.” He embodies everything it means to be elite with honest and informative reviews, helpful and beautiful photos, and welcoming everyone new and old to all of our Yelp Events. -Will B, Birmingham CM
BROWARD-PALM BEACH
Andy V – Reviewer of the Year
For the second straight year, Andy V takes Reviewer of the Year! With over 500 reviews in 2017, he left a trail of entertaining reviews that showcased everything from the finest beaches to diviest bars. Because of his customary wit, his reviews burst at the seams with personality – while never sacrificing important details to make sure Yelpers are making educated decisions. -Blue A, BPB CM
CALGARY
Chris P – Yelptime Achievement Award
Chris has been positively contributing to Yelp since 2009 and gained black elite badge status this year! He’s a regular at the Yelp Calgary events, and before moving here he was sharing tips and reviews in the big city of Toronto. Chris reviews it all from local gems to well-known hot stops and newly opened local businesses! -Miranda R, Calgary CA
CHARLESTON
Frances T – Reviewer of the Year
Frances T is the Meryl Streep of this year’s Yelpies awards in Charleston. Not only did she win Reviewer of the Year, she took home a total of five Yelpies awards. Frances writes a review update after every experience with a business, so while she still has written over 750 unique reviews over her Yelp career, when you include the updates – she wrote over 900 reviews in 2017 alone! And if a picture is worth a thousand words, then Frances could re-write the dictionary. She added over 6,000 photos to Yelp last year! -Scotty C, Charleston CM
CHICAGO BURBS
Sherwin C – Reviewer of the Year
Sherwin is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and he truly exemplifies the qualities of an Elite Yelper. He’s been a part of the Chicago Burbs Elite Squad since 2011 and is often seen with a camera in hand! Sherwin has contributed over 13,800 quality photos to Yelp and has racked up about 950 reviews on his Yelp journey thus far. In 2017 alone, he led the squad by writing 272 useful, funny, and cool reviews which earned him a well-deserved Yelpie Award for his accomplishment! -Jacqueline B, Chicago Burbs CM
GREATER TORONTO AREA
Jennifer K – Reviewer of the Year
It’s no surprise that the reining ‘Queen of Yelp GTA’ continued her winning ways at the 2017 Yelpie Awards by taking home a trio of awards: Reviewer and Photographer of the Year, as well as Business Owner BFF! Jen has been an integral part of the GTA and Toronto communities’ – always welcoming prospective new members, organizing top secret UYE‘s and being a role model elite both on and off the site! Thanks for all you do Jen 🙂 -Kris U, GTA CM
JACKSONVILLE
Juliet H – Reviewer of the Year
Anyone who knows Juliet knows that she can light up a room in a second with her energy and enthusiasm. She supports local, continually shares her experiences on Yelp and makes everyone around her feel like a million bucks. I dare you to find someone more fun than Juliet! -Matthew C, Jacksonville CM
MADISON
Stephanie W – Reviewer of the Year
Stephanie W joined Yelp in April 2017 after she was invited to an elite event as a friend’s plus one. In just eight months, she made a huge impact on the Madison community with a whopping 173 reviews, earning her the Reviewer of the Year award. Stephanie’s friendly, positive nature comes through in her reviews that offer up tons of usable tips and insights. She made a splash as Rookie of the Year and shows no signs of slowing down in 2018. -Stacey L, Madison CM
MIAMI
Wendy A – Reviewer of the Year
It’s hard to believe Wendy A only joined the Yelp Elite Squad in 2017. Already in one short year, she has made quite the impact on the Miami community. By the numbers, she wrote a whopping 518 reviews in 2017 – many of which are in both English and Spanish! She embodies that spirit of Useful, Funny, Coolness both on the site and off – as she is extremely friendly, loves her Yelp Family (her words, not mine) and organizes many extra opportunities for the community to get together at UYEs. The squad loves Wendy, too! She was also voted on by her peers a the winner of the 2017 Newbie Impact Award. Can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store for Wendy A – those Yelp stars surely shine brighter when she’s around! -Diandra L, Miami CM
ORLANDO
Stacy F – Reviewer of the Year
Stacy F. had quite a night of recognition at the 2017 Yelpies, taking home 3 of the top honors (Reviewer of the Year, Photographer of the Year and Complimenter of the Year.) 2017 wasn’t only her first year rocking the Gold Badge, but this veteran showed the Orlando Community what local love is all about by writing over 400 reviews, uploading over 4,000 photos and complimenting her fellow Yelpers on the site over 6,000 times throughout the year! Those numbers are amazing enough, but Orlandoans know this gal off the site as well, from her great UYEs and constant smiles at events. Stacy was the big winner at the party, and soon she’ll be raising an elite-in-training with an upcoming addition to the family! -Andi P, Orlando CM
RICHMOND
Kathleen D – Yelptime Achievement Award
From Philly to RVA and beyond, Kathleen is kicking butt and taking names in the Yelp world. With over 12,000 photos, 1,700 reviews, and 13,000 UFC votes, it’s safe to say her fellow yelpers would agree that she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s always a bright light both online and off. Congrats to Kathleen! -Lauri W, Richmond CM
ST. LOUIS
Michelle L – Reviewer of the Year
Michelle L is constantly visiting STL businesses and never ceases to share her experience with the community. Whether it’s a local staple or brand new joint, she’s passionate about her reviews and her city. She just hit 1,000 reviews and now you can follow her on her journey to 2,000! -Aaron B, St. Louis CM
TAMPA BAY
Boon C – Yelptime Achievement Award
At the 2017 Yelpies, in addition to the Yelptime Achievement Award, Boon won Reviewer of the Year, Veteran Impact Award and Friendliest Yelper. But it really goes beyond that – Boon is the friendly face new Yelpers seek out. He is constantly asking to be seated next to first-time event goers so he can make them feel at home. Boon’s Yelp stats are also incredibly insane. With over 1,400 total reviews, 400 which were written in 2017, and close to 3,000 photos added in 2017, Boon is constantly popping up on everyone’s newsfeed. You might say that he is a major boon to the Yelp Tampa Bay Community. -Christina G, Tampa Bay CM
VANCOUVER
Simon K – Yelptime Achievement Award
And the Vancouver Yelptime Achievement Award goes to (insert drumroll) the one and only Simon K! Simon has been a part of the Vancouver community since the early days. Nine years later, he’s still as active on-site, charismatic and engaging as he was on day one. He is well known around the community for his positive, detailed reviews, quality photos, and for befriending all the new members of the community. A stand-up member of the Vancity community, Simon is a role-model on-Yelp and off-Yelp to all of us! -Issabelle F, Vancouver CM
