The most prestigious honor awarded by the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce over the past six decades, is the Person of the Year Award (formerly the Man and Women of the Year Awards). The recipient must be a resident of, or work in Hermosa Beach. But despite the chamber representing businesses, the award is not presented for his or her business efforts, but for contributions “outside his or her other professional life, without regard to personal gain.”
This year’s Person of the Year Award was presented to Rafael McMaster, whose business, Indivisible Arts offers art lessons and operates the Resin art gallery. But the award was presented for his work building “life rafts” to help teens navigate high school’s emotional storms. His work draws on art instruction, but also on a philosophical and psychological course he calls Creative and Wisdom Tools. The course is offered through local schools and the Beach Cities Health District.
McMaster was one of eight honorees recognized Monday night at the Lighthouse Cafe during the Chamber’s Annual Best of Hermosa Award and Board of Directors installation.
The first award of the evening was for the Chamber Member of the Year. It went to Aesthetic Horizons owner Laura Pena, who began her community service by putting flowers on lamp posts on Pier Avenue. She is now recognized as Hermosa’s most fervent and diligent business advocate.
The New Business of the Year Award was presented to Solange Comer, owner of the downtown Cultured Slice Sandwich Shop. She persevered through the pandemic to open the downtown sandwich shop, while also running her Cultured Slice cheese shop on Pacific Coast Highway.
The Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club received the Non-Profit of the Year Award. Its charitable work includes awarding academic scholarships with proceeds from its annual Holiday Tree lot.
The Five Star Service Award was presented to Mike Longacre, whose Mike’s Guitar Shop features high end guitars, and serves as a salon for local musicians.
The Best Bite award was presented to Martha’s Hermosa Beach. In accepting the award, partner Kevin Barry made note of the importance outdoor dining is to the survival of local restaurants. Among the award night attendees were members of the Hermosa Beach City Council, which is in the process of drafting a plan to extend outdoor dining permits beyond the current pandemic.
The Legacy Award was presented to Mike Lacey, who opened Comedy and Magic Club in 1978, when he was 24. Lacey is responsible for Hermosa Beach enjoying the high honor of being the butt of countless late night television jokes by comedians such as Jay Leno and Kevin Nealon, who regularly appear at Lacey’s club.
The evening’s host, the Lighthouse Cafe, received the Best of Hermosa Award. Partner Josh Royal thanked the musicians community for enabling his club to uphold its legendary reputation, dating back to the Golden Era of Jazz in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s.
Prior to the awards presentations, Mayor Raymond Jackson swore in new chamber board members Kevin Barry of Martha’s; Robin Curren, of Skechers; Ron Newman, of Baja Sharkeez; Josh Royal, of the Lighthouse Cafe; Kevin Sousa, of Hermosa Music Company; and Nikki van den Eikhof, of Hammitt.
During the business meeting portion of the evening Chamber President Jessica Accamando announced that the Chamber has emerged from the pandemic stronger than perhaps any time in its history. Its $1.4 million budget is the seventh largest chamber budget in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal. Its 475 members make it the largest chamber in the Beach Cities.
In the first two months of the year, the chamber added 166 new members, attracted 25,000 social media followers, and presided over nine ribbon cuttings. ER
