David Robert Wood was honored with the 2025 Ray Reynolds Award by the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Wood has served as Chair since 2022 and has been a board member since 2014.
The annual AMMBI event, (Annual Member Meeting and Board Installation) breakfast fundraiser took place at the Andaz hotel rooftop banquet room. Guests included Mayor Chelsea Byers and City Manager David Wilson, asst. City Manager Jackie Rocco as well as West Hollywood Sheriff Deputies Lt. Fanny Lapkin and Sgt. Jason Duron among other dignitaries.
Raj Sannidhi began the event as the new Chair for a two-year term. Sannidhi is the owner of Capitol Drugs, a long serving community pharmacy located on Santa Monica Blvd. “Without our members and our partners we are merely an association that promotes business. But having real people that we know and love that have become our friends and extended family make the work we do seem even more important.” said Sannidhi in his opening remarks. 
”As we install our new board today and a brand new executive leadership team we are in a new era of transition. It is the Chair’s personal honor to name the honoree of the Ray Reynolds Award today to my friend and colleague David Wood.”
Genevieve Morrill, President and CEO of the Chamber added “Ray was a respected leader who was always there for the business community and you really thought you had a partner with the city” said Morrill. It is with this knowledge of Ray and what he represented that makes this years chairs’ choice of David Wood so special.” “It is remarkable how you stepped up these past two years, it takes grit and courage. I appreciate all your leadership on the board and I’m very grateful for your leadership and your friendship”.
The light-hearted Wood thanked the crowd and humored about the perks of the job, “access to dinner reservations, Elton John Oscar party tickets, and hoping for Dodger tickets from a chamber member who might just own a sports bar, (laughs) but the best perk of all was discounts on toilets, to my friends at Kohler who are sponsoring this morning, I want to thank you for my car wash..its amazing.” (loud laughter) It was a great year and a half and then came the e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n. (laughs) Have any of you ever had an ulcer created by stress? I have ! I have the pills. (laughs and applause) Lets just say you don’t make a lot of friends during elections, but once the election is over you regroup and hope you can heal some of the wounds and move forward. Looking around the room it seems that we are making progress.” So with absolutely no remorse it is time to pass the gavel to Dr. Raj Sannidhi.
Sannidhi roasted Wood, .. he has been a part of the community for the past 40plus years. Starting with bar hopping at Studio One to owning an insurance agency that serves the community. Even though he pretends to be a West Hollywood resident we all know that Orlando Ave is still in LA. Wood then spoke “Mayor please annex Orlando Ave”. (loud laughter) “David helped the community through the aftermath of Covid, he has been very active with the city and building relationships to help small businesses. You can see David walking thought the city and supporting all the businesses with his shopping, exercising and dining , he is a true supporter of West Hollywood and he bleeds West Hollywood. I cannot think of anybody else that is deserving of this award more than him. David, Woody Wood, I really do appreciate everything you do for this community and for me.”
In his acceptance speech Wood spoke of the honor. “I hope I can live up to the reputation of Ray Reynolds, although I never met him I understand he was a heck of a guy, I’d wished I knew him befor he passed. Speaking of passing the Ray Reynolds award is akin to the Chamber’s lifetime achievement award which is an award they give you before they put you on life support. (loud laughter). With that I need to acknowledge the most important man in my life, my pharmacist. (loud laughter). I hope you still have time to fill my little bottles, (loud laughter). I have to say this 
Chamber gig has been a great ride. I joined the Chamber ten years ago with zero clients and with the help of the Chamber and the contacts I have made I now have almost six clients. (loud laughter) Most of who are siting at that table. (loud laughter) Along the way I was elected to the chamber board, then the executive board, and then the chairmanship or as I call it,..”Gen’s bitch” (loud laughter). So no shitty little speech would be complete without the obligatory thank you’s. – (the crowd still laughing out loud.) I just want to start with my friends who came all the way in from Palm Springs. 120 miles, for me, WTF. (rolling laughter) You made me look like Donald Trump. (rolling laughter ). .. Wood thanked the previous chairs, and and then turned to Sanndihi, “Thanks to our new chair, my friend Raj for lifting the weight of the world off my shoulders and on to yours.” Wood then thanked the Chamber staff, and then addressed Genevieve Morrill, part big sister, part mom, “you have done your best to always make me look good. I love you. Thank you.”
For the year 2024 the Chamber reported a net loss of $67,307. The yearly loss was attributed to a decline in membership revenue and increases payroll and other expenses.
It’s a worthy cause to honor an outstanding individual, but is it the right time when the organization is reporting a loss of over $67,000? Holding high-profile events without reviewing the financial strategy could raise concerns about the Chamber’s ability to manage and direct its finances. Before considering an award, perhaps they should consider how to recover financially.
Echo chamber of commerce
Maybe the award should be passed onto to UNITE, they seem to be in charge and in control of the City or maybe give it to one of their puppets, Jonny, ASB, or Hang.
Ray Reynolds was a great man and it’s nice to see his legacy being honored.
Why does everybody in this city just celebrate themselves. They should be giving awards to businesses !
Whatever the Chamber of Commerce is doing it’s not working.
Congratulations David.