WeHo Chamber Announces Creative Business Awards 2021 Winners

West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (WHCC) honored David Cooley, the owner of the The Abbey Food & Bar and announced the winners of the 37th Annual West Hollywood Creative Business Awards 2021 this past Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The event took place at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood. The awards ceremony presented by Wells Fargo, included a reception and silent auction sponsored by Beverly Center and ended with a VIP after-party sponsored by Capitol Drugs.

Each year the Chamber celebrates businesses that have shown innovation and creativity in their business model. The nominees are selected by their peers, winners are chosen by WHCC Membership, who are then announced at the gala event. After its year-long forced hiatus, WHCC was eager to host their annual power networking event once again, at a limited capacity, for vaccinated-only guests.

The gala event by Chris Isaacson Presents, featured music by jazz vocalist and former backup singer to pop Icon Madonna, Niki Haris, who kicked off the festivities. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was transgender comedian Erin Mohr who introduced the seven Creative Business Award 2021 nominees and announced the winners. This year, there was a tie.

The West Hollywood Creative Business Awards 2021 Nominees and winners are: 

Creative Concept 
Winner: Better Than Sex – A Dessert Restaurant 
(a business that is an innovator of a cool new concept, product, or service):
Nominees: Farm Cup Coffee  | Better Than Sex – A Dessert Restaurant  |  Mr. Yum

Corporate Innovation
Winners: Pendrys West Hollywood and Rocco’s WeHo
(a business that has shown creative innovation in their corporate business model):
Nominees: Pendry West Hollywood  | Rocco’s WeHo  |  Sargon Dental

John Chase Art & Design
Winner: Soulmate
(a business that falls into the categories of art, film, performance art, fashion, design,
architecture,or any other creative arts realm):
Nominees: The Artist Tree  |  Scott Thomas Interior Design  |  Soulmate

Creative Communications
Winner: We Know WeHo Podcast
(awarded to a business within public relations, marketing, outdoor media, branding, televisual arts,
copyrighting, technology, social media, graphic design, writing etc.):
Nominees: Canyon Country LA  |  The Kraze Agency  |  We Know WeHo Podcast

WeHo Attraction Award
Winner: La Boheme
(awarded to a business that attracts people to the West Hollywood area, or caters to the visitor and tourism market):
Nominees: Bottega Louie  |  Strings of Life (S.O.L.)/Botanical Group  |  La Boheme

Innovative Sustainability Award
Winner: Global Green
(awarded to a business that seeks to innovate green, sustainable products/services and is environmentally
friendly, while striving to forward global social progress):
Nominees: Design Printing  | Global Green  |  Wheels

Creative Community Service
Winner: Keith Kaplan and Mylena Christina, Sotheby’s International Realty
(awarded to a business or individual who has shown exemplary service to the community philanthropically,
or as a volunteer, an ambassador, a non-profit or a representative of government):
Nominees: Matt Fitch, Impulse and Handle with Care  |  Catherine Gray and Catherine Curry-Williams, She Angels Foundation
| Keith Kaplan and Mylena Christina, Sotheby’s International Realty​.

This year’s Legacy Award, which honors community leaders who are agents of change and have made a difference in West Hollywood, was presented to David Cooley. Cooley has worked in and been involved with the City of West Hollywood for three decades. In 1991 Cooley invested in a small, discreet space in West Hollywood that he renovated into a coffeehouse called The Abbey. After thirty years and five expansions, the Abbey and the adjacent venue, The Chapel, are now more than 20,000 square feet.

HBO’s We’re Here host, Eureka!, presented Cooley the Legacy Award. In their speech they recognized David Cooley as a community leader, as a humanitarian, an LGBTQ activist, and as a champion for the marginalized.

The surprise of the evening was when WHCC Chair, Nick Rimedio, announced an eighth award, presenting Genevieve Morrill, President & CEO of the Chamber with a Hero Award for her unwavering service to and advocacy for the business community during the COVID pandemic.

“The pandemic truly has been a crisis unlike any other seen in past generations.” he said, “Through it all, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has shown an unshakeable commitment to advocating for the protection of businesses and employees alike which was fueled by Gen’s boundless energy and determination. She inspired the creation of our new Hero Award and will undoubtedly become the model for future winners who are selflessly dedicated to their community and the businesses for whom they serve.”

Founded in 1921, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)6, non-profit organization which supports and promotes a community environment where commerce can flourish.

To view photos visit: https://www.wehochamber.com/cba2021photos.html.