LOS ANGELES — Grooby's longtime Creative and Editorial Director, Kristel Penn, received the Heart of Gold Award at the online edition of the 2026 XBIZ Honors last week.
"I think it’s wonderful how XBIZ has expanded its Exec Awards to include new categories like these," said Penn, who was also nominated for Community Figure of the Year. "I believe my responsibility is to the community I serve, first and foremost, and I use that as my internal compass of how I operate in the industry. I do my best to be sincere and accountable in the work I do, and try to be as generous with my resources as the community has always been with me."
Penn continued, "My grandma used to tell me to 'do good, be good,' and I always try to walk through the world with that in mind. Thank you to XBIZ for this recognition. This milestone represents a moment in my career where I feel like I’ve been able to authentically practice what has been passed down to me since."
For more information about the 2026 XBIZ Honors, click here.
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