Local and National:
- 2021 Business Women First “Enterprising Women” Honoree
- “40 under 40” Award Recipient, Business First
- 2008 “Woman Business Owner of Distinction,” National Association of Women Business Owners
- 2012 “Most Admired Woman” Finalist, Today’s Woman Magazine
- Featured in Louisville Courier-Journal, Prep Magazine, The Voice Tribune, Business First, Today’s Woman, StyleBlueprint and Southern Living
Estes has also received national awards from:
- Public Relations Society of America | 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee
- International Association of Business Communicators
- Hospitality, Sales and Marketing Association International
- Kentucky Tourism Council
- Junior League of Louisville
- Ohio Travel Association
Professional & Community Affiliations:
- Les Dames d’Esscofier International
- James Beard Foundation
- Southern Foodways Alliance
- Younger Woman’s Club of Louisville
- Junior League of Louisville
- University of Kentucky Alumni Association Board Member, Louisville Chapter
- Heuser Hearing Institute Board of Directors
- Mayor Greg Fischer’s Task Force on Bourbon and Food
- International Association of Culinary Professionals
- International Foodservice Editorial Council
- Bourbon Women
- The Hive (an elite group of women business owners, who’ve created a strategic alliance offering conference and meeting planning, event development, on-site production, hotel logistics, graphic design, public relations, database coordination, corporate sponsorship solicitation, vendor negotiation, travel coordination and trade show management)