Grooby Scores Pair of 2022 XBIZ Industry Exec Nominations

LOS ANGELES — Grooby is celebrating a pair of 2022 XBIZ Exec Awards nominations, online edition, for creative and editorial director Kristel Penn and company founder and CEO Steven Grooby.

Nominees were selected based on several success factors including leadership, business acumen, community influence and overall career achievement as submitted by members of the adult industry via XBIZ.net.

Voting for the 2022 XBIZ Exec Awards is now open. Industry members may cast their votes here.

Grooby, winner of the 2019 "Progressive Leadership Award," is nominated for "Businessman of the Year."

“I look at the fellow nominees of my friends and peers, and it's indeed an honor to be included alongside them. Thank you for nominating me,” he said. “The timing of this nomination means so much to me as we’re also celebrating our 25th anniversary. We’re looking forward to another 25 years of innovating our genre.”

Penn, the reigning "Community Figure of the Year," also earned "Brand Ambassador of the Year" honors in 2017. She is the executive producer of the Trans Erotica Awards and the founder of the Sad But Rad Club, a mental health and wellness platform.

“The ‘Community Figure of the Year’ Award is a category that holds great personal significance to me,” she said, “Although Grooby is, in many ways, a traditional production company, I’m proud that our company also prioritizes community outreach and support. I feel fortunate I’ve been able to use both Grooby and Sad But Rad Club as platforms to create educational mental health resources for trans performers, in addition to speaking about topics like destigmatizing sex work and advocating for competent care for performers.”

The XBIZ Exec Awards will be presented as part of the annual XBIZ Honors ceremonies, with the online industry edition hosted on Jan. 5 in conjunction with the XBIZ L.A. conference and the retail edition on Jan. 11 during the ANME/XBIZ Show.

Visit Grooby.com and follow Steven Grooby and Kristel Penn on Twitter.

For the complete list of nominees, click here.

Grooby

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

XBIZ LA Conference Website Goes Live, Registration Now Open

The event website for the XBIZ LA conference is now live, offering comprehensive information about the upcoming event, taking place Jan. 7-10 at the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE.

CrakRevenue Rolls Out 'Aff Companion' Real-Time Mobile Notification App

CrakRevenue has launched Aff Companion, a mobile app that sends affiliates real-time notifications about clicks, conversions, and revenue.

Goddess Lilith Launches New Official Website Through PAYSITE

Goddess Lilith has rolled out her new official site, QueenGoddessLilith, through PAYSITE.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Reclaiming Intimacy' Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers with trauma-impacted intimacy issues.

Ofcom Cites Web Prime, Porntrex for Alleged AV Violations

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Tuesday notified two operators of adult websites of the agency’s provisional determination that the companies have failed to comply with provisions of the Online Safety Act.

FSC: Utah Excise Tax on Adult Content Goes Into Effect October 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued an advisory that the Utah Excise Tax goes into effect tomorrow.

Leilani Li Stars in Latest From TransAngels

Leilani Li stars with Cali Sweets in the latest release from TransAngels, titled "Sorry I Fucked Your Sister."

Segpay Parent Company Names David Press to Board

Segpay parent company Toccata Inc. has named payment industry veteran David Press to its board of directors.

Grooby Drops 3rd Volume of 'Domino Presley's House of Whores'

Grooby has released its latest title, the third volume of "Domino Presley's House of Whores," titled "Extraterrestrial Transsexual."

Platform Pulse: Inside the Technology and Trends Powering the Direct-to-Fan Economy

For a brief, glittering moment, the fan-platform boom felt like a modern-day gold rush. The premise seemed simple: Open an account, post some tantalizing content and watch the subscriptions roll in. OnlyFans became a household name, "selling feet pics" became a cultural punchline and creators poured into the market hoping to claim their share of the action.

Show More