West Hollywood Honors Five Women at 29th Annual Leadership Awards Ceremony

Five West Hollywood women were recognized Wednesday evening at the 29th Annual Women in Leadership Awards at the Andaz West Hollywood.

The ceremony has been a fixture of Women’s History Month in the City since 1991, when it began as a business networking mixer. It became a formal recognition event in 1996. This year marked its 29th annual iteration.

The reception ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and was presented by the City of West Hollywood, the Women’s Advisory Board, and the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Each year five women are selected from a range of fields — business owners, educators, civic leaders, and community activists.

Genevieve Morrill received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Morrill served as president and CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for 15 years before stepping down in 2025. The City Council voted last August to name an annual leadership honor after her.

Related Coverage:
• Genevieve Morrill’s 15-Year Legacy at the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
• West Hollywood Women. Then. Now. Always. 

The other honorees were Julia Camara Calvo, owner of Atacama Home; Julie Friedman, MPH, director of the UCLA Iris Cantor Women’s Health and Education Center; Mary Nouskajian, owner and director of Fountain Day School; and Tara Punzone, chef and owner of Pura Vita.

Tickets were $25. All proceeds went to the Holloway Interim Housing Program, which provides 20 private rooms for West Hollywood residents experiencing chronic homelessness and operates in partnership with Ascencia. Funds will be used to purchase hygiene products, clothing, bedding, and move-in kits for residents transitioning to permanent housing.