Fred Hayman honored at Beverly Hills Chamber gala
BEVERLY HILLS - If you look closely at a shot of people walking on Rodeo Drive in the movie Pretty Woman (you know, the one that made Julia Roberts a star), you’ll catch a glimpse of Fred Hayman crossing the street along with other “extras” in the film.
Given that Hayman is known as the “Father of Rodeo Drive,” it comes as no surprise that this iconic figure should have a cameo in a movie that made Rodeo Drive even more famous (if that’s possible). You can tell the cameo is Hayman by the trademark yellow sweater he wears in the shot.
It was also no surprise that last week Hayman was honored by the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce with a lifetime achievement award at the Chamber’s Business Excellence and Installation Gala at the Beverly Hilton. Hayman’s signature color was once again spotted in his yellow tie, together with a large bouquet of yellow roses that was handed to him as he approached the podium.
Hayman is best known for opening his Giorgio Beverly Hills store on the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way in the 1960s, which later became Fred Hayman Beverly Hills in 1987. In introducing Hayman, Tom Blumenthal, president of Gearys Beverly Hills said, “Fred Hayman is truly a living legend in Beverly Hills. He has remained the quintessential blend of uncompromising style and savvy and is one of America’s foremost style icons.”
Blumenthal also noted that Hayman has done “more than any individual to catapult Rodeo Drive to its current envied position as one of the world’s most glamorous shopping venues.”
In his short acceptance speech, Hayman said, “I love Beverly Hills and I love my store, and my perfume. I love my customers, I love the community and I love you. Buy Beverly Hills, please. That’s the key to success for our community. It’s the best community, it needs your purchase, it needs your interest every moment.”
Other business excellence awardees of the evening were the Assil Eye Institute, the blue on blue restaurant at the Avalon Hotel, Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Beverly Hills and Theatre 40. Chamber CEO Dan Walsh noted, “We have the best in business excellence in Beverly Hills on stage tonight.”
The Business Excellence Awards were also combined with the installation of the 2009-2010 Chamber Board. Outgoing President Vicky Mense passed the torch to James Jahant, General Manager of Brooks Brothers. Jahant said, “I have both experienced and witnessed the value of the Chamber and am honored to become the 88th president. [The Chamber’s] key values, relationships, presence and expertise are as valuable as they ever have been. In the year ahead the Chamber will continue to be the ultimate business resource. We will work together to create a strong local economy.”
The economy was definitely at the forefront of many people’s minds as keynote speaker Ernest Lieb – president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz took the stage. “I’m not sure I’m the right guy,” he quipped. “I’m just a car guy who started in parts so what do I know about the economy?” However, he did note that there are two things necessary for all businesses to weather the current crisis. The first is “an excellent product, that is superior,” and the second is, “a customer experience that brings people back into the showroom during the bad times as well as the good times.”
In his closing, Lieb offered some words of wisdom that could be put into practice by the over 700 Chamber members: “Do not waste a crisis,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to do things right.”
Given that Hayman is known as the “Father of Rodeo Drive,” it comes as no surprise that this iconic figure should have a cameo in a movie that made Rodeo Drive even more famous (if that’s possible). You can tell the cameo is Hayman by the trademark yellow sweater he wears in the shot.
It was also no surprise that last week Hayman was honored by the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce with a lifetime achievement award at the Chamber’s Business Excellence and Installation Gala at the Beverly Hilton. Hayman’s signature color was once again spotted in his yellow tie, together with a large bouquet of yellow roses that was handed to him as he approached the podium.
Hayman is best known for opening his Giorgio Beverly Hills store on the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way in the 1960s, which later became Fred Hayman Beverly Hills in 1987. In introducing Hayman, Tom Blumenthal, president of Gearys Beverly Hills said, “Fred Hayman is truly a living legend in Beverly Hills. He has remained the quintessential blend of uncompromising style and savvy and is one of America’s foremost style icons.”
Blumenthal also noted that Hayman has done “more than any individual to catapult Rodeo Drive to its current envied position as one of the world’s most glamorous shopping venues.”
In his short acceptance speech, Hayman said, “I love Beverly Hills and I love my store, and my perfume. I love my customers, I love the community and I love you. Buy Beverly Hills, please. That’s the key to success for our community. It’s the best community, it needs your purchase, it needs your interest every moment.”
Other business excellence awardees of the evening were the Assil Eye Institute, the blue on blue restaurant at the Avalon Hotel, Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Beverly Hills and Theatre 40. Chamber CEO Dan Walsh noted, “We have the best in business excellence in Beverly Hills on stage tonight.”
The Business Excellence Awards were also combined with the installation of the 2009-2010 Chamber Board. Outgoing President Vicky Mense passed the torch to James Jahant, General Manager of Brooks Brothers. Jahant said, “I have both experienced and witnessed the value of the Chamber and am honored to become the 88th president. [The Chamber’s] key values, relationships, presence and expertise are as valuable as they ever have been. In the year ahead the Chamber will continue to be the ultimate business resource. We will work together to create a strong local economy.”
The economy was definitely at the forefront of many people’s minds as keynote speaker Ernest Lieb – president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz took the stage. “I’m not sure I’m the right guy,” he quipped. “I’m just a car guy who started in parts so what do I know about the economy?” However, he did note that there are two things necessary for all businesses to weather the current crisis. The first is “an excellent product, that is superior,” and the second is, “a customer experience that brings people back into the showroom during the bad times as well as the good times.”
In his closing, Lieb offered some words of wisdom that could be put into practice by the over 700 Chamber members: “Do not waste a crisis,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to do things right.”
Photo credit: Nancy Larson
Business Excellence Honorees: Right-to-Left: James Jahant - Brooks Brothers, Vicky Mense - Xi’an Restaurant, Dr. Kerry K. Assil - Assil Eye Institute, David Hunt Stafford - Theatre 40, Offer Nissenbaum– The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Bruce Schulman – Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, Fred Hayman, Ryan Hoffman – Avalon Hotel – blue on blue, Scott Garrett – Avalon Hotel – blue on blue, Scott Mills – Avalon Hotel – blue on blue
Photo credit: Nancy Larson
Fred Hayman: The "Father of Rodeo Drive" accepts his Lifetime Achievement Award"
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