Cranston’s Shannon Cornicelli, owner of Dream Big Inc., recently received the Rhode Island Ambassador’s Award from the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB). Cornicelli, 37, was one of 23 Rhode Islanders recognized for their efforts to bring lucrative business to the Ocean State. Cornicelli received the award recently at the PWCVB’s Annual Ambassador Awards Luncheon held at the RI Convention Center.  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements and Providence Journal Publisher Janet Hasson were among those who were honored along with Cornicelli. The honorees were lauded for recommending Rhode Island for the site of a meeting, convention or sporting event.

Cornicelli, who is the only individual (male or female) to own three 10,000-square foot gymnastics facilities in Rhode Island, was recognized for hosting the Mardi Gras Gymnastics Invitational in February 2017. The Mardi Gras Invitational, a regional gymnastics event, drew 500 competitors to the RI Convention Center. The event also included a college club meet, which drew seven teams from throughout New England. The Mardi Gras Invitational is one of seven events Dream Big Inc. holds annually.

“Ambassadors like Shannon, who work with us to bring meeting, convention and sporting events to Rhode Island, are benefiting our economy,” said Martha Sheridan, Executive Director PWCVB. “Her willingness to recommend Rhode Island directly impacts local hotels, restaurants and shops.  We were happy to honor her for doing so much to impact her community.”

To accommodate the growth of Dream Big Inc.’s programs, Cornicelli recently expanded and added a third location, an elite training center in Cranston.

Dream Big Inc. will kick off 2018 by hosting Beauty and the Beast Invitational, a regional event in which gymnasts and wrestlers will share the same competition space. The event will be held Jan. 19-21, 2018, at the RI Convention Center.

“I am honored to receive the RI Ambassador’s Award from the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau and thrilled to have an impact on the economic growth here in Rhode Island,” said Cornicelli, a four-time Rhode Island Interscholastic League Champion at Pilgrim High in Warwick and former standout gymnast and coach at Rhode Island College. “By hosting both gymnasts and wrestlers at the Beauty & Beast Invitational, we will be able to continue to increase our contribution to the local economy and showcase all that Rhode Island has to offer.”