The Eddy Awards® is the most prestigious awards program to recognize leadership in economic development in business, education and government throughout Los Angeles County. The Eddy Awards, a cocktail reception, dinner, and awards gala, also supports fulfillment of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s mission to advance opportunity and prosperity for all.
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The 23rd Annual Eddy Awards will occur on November 8, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Downtown LA
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The Eddy Awards annual dinner gala and awards ceremony celebrates exceptional public and private leadership in LA County economic development, with the Most Business-Friendly City Award and recognition of honorees that demonstrate outstanding contributions to economic development in the region. It is an extraordinary opportunity to network with the leaders you want to meet, from all sectors in the region.
This is the only fundraiser for the LAEDC on an annual basis, and your ticket sales and sponsorship make our work possible — raising the standards of living for the residents of L.A. County by increasing economic opportunity and regional prosperity. Please consider sponsoring the Eddy Awards, and associate your organization’s name with the transformative progress of LA County.
2018 Eddy Award Honorees
CORPORATE HONOREE: American Airlines
American Airlines is the largest domestic and international carrier at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), among the world’s busiest airports. The hub serves as American’s west coast gateway to the Asia-Pacific and has recently added service to 24 new destinations including Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong, Tokyo Haneda and Beijing. In 2017, the airline announced a more than $1.5 billion investment toward improvements at LAX Terminals 4 and 5 to create a world-class experience for its 16.5 million annual customers and nearly 7,000 team members who work there.
EDUCATIONAL HONOREE: Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona is among the best public universities in the West and is nationally ranked for helping students achieve economic success. As an inclusive polytechnic university, they cultivate success through experiential learning, discovery and innovation. Their graduates are ready to succeed in the professional world on Day 1.
Faculty in all disciplines put theory to practice, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in hands-on projects, research collaborations, and valuable internship and service-learning programs. Their history and geography are unlike any other university in the region. Nowhere else can students ride an Arabian horse, practice on a Steinway piano, bring a new product to market, and build a liquid-fueled rocket.
View a recap of the 2017 Eddy Awards here.
View photos from the 2017 Eddy Awards.
Read about the Winners of 2017 Most Business Friendly City (City of Downey and City of Arcadia)
Scroll down for a complete listing of past honorees and winners of Most Business Friendly City
Thanks to our Generous Sponsors!
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Bank of America
Charter Communications
Please contact Rick Moelis, Director, Event Programs for sponsorship information or to ask questions, via email at [email protected].
The LAEDC is procuring items for our Eddy Awards Silent Auction. Please consider contributing items for our auction, particularly wine, technology, entertainment/sports tickets, hotel stays, vacation packages and unique experiences. Contact Maneesha Horshin via email with contributions.
Past Honorees
2017
Mark Suster, Venture Capitalist
Cedars-Sinai
Cal State LA
2016
(read more)
Brian Lee, Co-Founder of The Honest Company
AECOM
California State University – Long Beach
2015
(read more)
Evan Spiegel, CEO and Co-founder, Snapchat
CBRE
Cal State University – Northridge
2014
(read more)
Tony Pritzker, Managing Partner of Pritzker Group in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Tribute video >>
Honda Motor Company
Tribute video »
UCLA
Tribute video »
2013
Yang Ho Cho – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Korean Air (read more)
Tribute video »
SpaceX (read more)
Tribute video »
University of Southern California (read more)
Tribute video »
2012
Earvin “Magic” Johnson
NBC Universal Tribute video »
Caltech Tribute video »
2011
Los Angeles World Airports – Accepted by Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director.Tribute video »
Dominic Ng, Chairman & CEO of East West Bank. Tribute video »
2010
Kaiser Permanente – Accepted by George A. Di Salvo, Senior Vice President and CFO, Southern California Region. Tribute video »
Do Won Chang, CEO of Forever 21. Tribute video »
2009
The Boeing Company – Accepted by Rick Stephens, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration. Tribute video »
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Executive Chairman of Abraxis BioScience and CEO of Abraxis Health. Tribute video »
2008
The Walt Disney Company – Accepted by Anne Sweeney, Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney•ABC Television Group.
Rick Caruso, Caruso Affiliated, President & CEO. Tribute video »
2007
Northrop Grumman – Accepted by Dr. Ron Sugar, CEO.
Jack Kyser, Founding Economist, The Kyser Center for Economic Research, LAEDC.Tribute video »
2006
City National Bank – Accepted by Russell Goldsmith, CEO.
Toyota Motor Sales – Accepted by Irv Miller, Group Vice President Corporate Communications.
2005
Janice Bryant Howroyd, CEO & Founder, ACT•1.
Alberto Alvardo, Los Angeles District Director, US Small Business Administration.
Richard Ziman, Chairman and CEO, Arden Realty.
2004
Liam McGee, President-Consumer Banking, Bank of America.
Monica Lozano, Publisher, La Opinion.
2003
George Deukmejian, 35th Governor of California.
William T. Huston, Watson Land Company.
George Nicholaw, KNX 1070 News Radio.
2002
Eli Broad, Founder, The Broad Foundation.
Timothy Leiweke, President & CEO, Anschutz Entertainment Group.
Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
James Thomas, CEO, Thomas Properties Group.
Andrea Van de Kamp, Chairman and CEO, Music Center of LA County.
Stephan Smith, Partner, Los Angeles Center Studios.
Tonian Hohberg, President and Founder, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM).
2001
Michael Antonovich, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th District.
Dr. David Baltimore, President, Caltech.
2000
Richard J. Riordan, Mayor, City of Los Angeles.
Dr. Steven B. Sample, President, University of Southern California.
1999
George L. Graziadio, Chairman & Co-Founder, Imperial Bank.
Beverly O’Neill, Mayor, City of Long Beach.
1998
Edward P. Roski, President & CEO, Majestic Realty Company.
1997
John Bryson, Chairman & CEO, Southern California Edison.
1996
Thomas Decker, Executive Vice President, Bank of America.
Past Winners of Most Business Friendly City in LA County Award
Please note that winners may not be renominated for the award for five years, and these cities continue to set extraordinarily high standards in years after the award without award recognition.
Read More Here About the Nomination Process for Cities
Alhambra – 2010 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Arcadia – 2017 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Cerritos – 2010 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Duarte – 2012 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Downey – 2017 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
El Segundo – 2015, 2006 Winner LAEDC Most-Business Friendly City
Glendale – 2014 Winner, LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Glendora – 2014 Winner, LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
La Mirada – 2013 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Lancaster – 2013, 2007 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Long Beach – 2009 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Monrovia – 2011 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City winner
Palmdale – 2015 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City winner
Pico Rivera – 2016 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City winner
Santa Clarita – 2016, 2008 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City Winner
Santa Fe Springs – 2009 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Vernon – 2008 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City
Whittier – 2012 Winner LAEDC Most Business-Friendly City