Best of Hermosa 2026: Awards & Board Installation

Monday, February 9, 2026
5:00 PM
The Lighthouse Café

Join us for a truly Hermosa night of schmoozing and awarding phenomenal local businesses and people.

Come dressed to impressed in Hermosa fashion and stay afterwards for live jazz by The Lighthouse All Stars with Jacque Lesure!

The Best of Hermosa program includes:

5pm Cocktail Hour w/ live music

6pm Program

State of the Chamber Address
Recognition of 2025 Chamber supporters
Induction of newly elected Board of Directors
Best of Hermosa Awards Ceremony:
- Artist
- Best Bite
- D.I.G. Standout
- Five Star Service
- Legacy
- Nonprofit
- Retail Renegade
- Rising Star
- Chamber Member of the Year
- Best of Hermosa
- Person of the Year

8pm Live music continues

Online ticket sales closed Monday, February 9 at 12:00 PM.

If you would still like to attend, tickets will be available for purchase at the door starting at 5:00 PM at The Lighthouse Café, while supplies last.

Please note that tickets are limited due to capacity and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. All ticket sales are final. NO REFUNDS.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact president@hbchamber.net. We appreciate your support!

Award Categories

Person of the Year

A long standing Hermosa tradition, the Chamber has been recognizing extraordinary citizens in Hermosa for many decades. This award goes to civic members who go above and beyond for their community. Someone who volunteers their time and talent to make the Hermosa Beach community an outstanding place to live. The following are the criteria:

Contributed significant time, energy and spirit in fields outside his or her professional life, without regard to personal gain.
A person whose civic and community service goes beyond “normal” responsibilities, creating a lasting and beneficial impact for all residents.
Actively participated in service, community, church or other organizations.
Any job-related task or duty for which nominees are paid a salary will not be considered.
All nominees must be living, reside or have a business in the Hermosa Beach Area and possess excellent personal character.
Previous recipients are not eligible.

Note: Person of the Year, Chamber Member of the Year, and Best of Hermosa winners are scored by a nominations committee. Voting is not open to the public for these three categories.

2026 WINNER: Jani Lange

Click here to view all Person of the Year Recipients

Chamber Member of the Year

Special recognition to honor a Chamber member who went above and beyond in 2025 to help support the Chamber of Commerce, its events and/or its projects. Support comes in all shapes and sizes and can include financial contributions, volunteer time, or advocacy. Can be a business owner, manager or individual member. Must be a member of the Hermosa Chamber.

Note: Person of the Year, Chamber Member of the Year, and Best of Hermosa winners are scored by a nominations committee. Voting is not open to the public for these three categories.

2026 WINNER: Evelyne Ouellet (Evelyne Ouellet Homes & Lifestyle)

Best of Hermosa

The Best of Hermosa award distinguishes the very best of business in Hermosa Beach. It is presented to a business that has a major presence in the city, excels in quality customer/client service, is favored by locals, and respected by its employees. The recipient also exemplifies excellent Hermosa citizenship in giving back to the community in which it operates, and has a culture that enhances the lives of its employees and neighbors.

Note: Person of the Year, Chamber Member of the Year, and Best of Hermosa winners are scored by a nominations committee. Voting is not open to the public for these three categories.

2026 WINNER: Soho Yoga

Artist

Best Bite

D.I.G. Standout

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & GENDER

Recognizes diverse, inclusive, and gender-equal businesses for rising to the challenge and operating outside the norm. Their ethical business practices, community involvement, contributions to growth and diversity, and the special flair bring great value to the City. Business can either be DIG-owned OR exemplify practices that encourage and support diverse, inclusive, and gender-equal hiring and employee practices.

2026 WINNER: Proudly Serving

Five Star Service

Legacy

Nonprofit

A local nonprofit organization that has greatly contributed to the culture of Hermosa Beach. The nonprofit nominees should have demonstrated contributions to both residents and businesses and be a true partner in the community. Any nonprofit located in Hermosa or serving the Hermosa Beach community is eligible. Must have 501(c)3 status or application pending.

2026 WINNER: Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library

Retail Renegade

Rising Star

NEW BUSINESS WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS

Recognition of a new business that has quickly made a positive impact in Hermosa Beach, demonstrating exceptional creativity, community engagement, and potential for lasting success. Honors a business that has opened within the past 2 years who has brought fresh energy and innovation to our local economy, embodying the vibrant spirit of our community.

2026 RISING STAR WINNERS: The Studio & Yellow Jersey Patisserie

Award Rules & Process

Eligibility

All Hermosa Beach–based businesses and community leaders are eligible for nomination and selection. Hermosa Beach Chamber members receive additional recognition and benefits throughout the Best of Hermosa Awards process in appreciation of their ongoing support of the local business community. Businesses and individuals may self-nominate.

Voting is now closed. Winners will be announced on February 9th at The Lighthouse Café. Buy tickets today!

Nominations

Nominations are open to the public for all award categories except the overall Best of Hermosa Award.

A separate form must be submitted for each nomination
Quantity of nominations does not impact scoring; quality matters more than volume
Anyone may nominate - Chamber membership is not required
Self-nominations are encouraged
Please do not encourage mass nominations for the same business or individual
Nominator identity is confidential and shared only with Chamber staff

Voting is now closed. Winners will be announced on February 9th at The Lighthouse Café. Buy tickets today!

Scoring of Nominations (Business Awards)

After nominations close, a committee of engaged civic and community members will independently review and score all submissions (your words matter).

The top three scoring nominees in each business category will be announced on January 19, 2026 and placed on a ballot for voting by Chamber members and community members.

There are no direct nominations for the overall Best of Hermosa Award; finalists are determined based on total committee scores across business categories.

Scoring of Nominations (Person of the Year & Chamber Member of the Year)

These awards are reviewed, scored, and selected solely by a nomination committee of highly engaged community members and will not appear on the ballot.

Chamber membership is not required for Person of the Year.

Voting for Finalists (Business Categories)

In mid January, a digital ballot will be published via ElectionBuddy for Chamber members and community members to vote.

Voting is now closed. Winners will be announced on February 9th at The Lighthouse Café. Buy tickets today!

Announcement of Winners

All award recipients will be announced at the Best of Hermosa Awards Gala on Monday, February 9, 2026 at The Lighthouse Café.

Additional Rules

A business may not win the same category two years in a row
Businesses scoring in the top three for multiple categories (excluding overall Best of Hermosa) may select one category to appear on the ballot
Nominations that do not meet category qualifications may be removed

Press

Press Release

VIEW THE 2026 PRESS RELEASE

Social Media Assets

VIEW THE 2026 SOCIAL MEDIA ASSETS

If you have any questions regarding the event, awards, award rules and process, press release, or need additional social media assets, please contact admin@hbchamber.net.

Award Categories

Person of the Year

Chamber Member of the Year

Best of Hermosa

Artist

Best Bite

D.I.G. Standout

Five Star Service

Legacy

Nonprofit

Retail Renegade

Rising Star

Award Rules & Process

Eligibility

Nominations

Scoring of Nominations (Business Awards)

Scoring of Nominations (Person of the Year & Chamber Member of the Year)

Voting for Finalists (Business Categories)

Announcement of Winners

Additional Rules

Press

Press Release

Social Media Assets

Get In Touch

Resources