FSC Award Recipients Announced

Free Speech Coalition proudly announces the recipients of the 2015 FSC Awards, which recognizes industry professionals and businesses, for excellence in business and representing a pro-adult image through advocacy and actions.

A new award has been added this year to the roster of awards, in honor of late FSC Board member Christian Mann. Called the Christian Mann Courage and Leadership Award, it is given to a member of the adult entertainment or pleasure products community who has shown exemplary courage and leadership in standing up and fighting for the rights and image of the industry.

The award recipients are as follows:

Legacy Award – Phil Harvey

The Legacy Award is given to an individual who, though innovative ideas and successful business practices, has built a solid presence in the adult entertainment industry.  Furthermore, this individual has gone above and beyond to not only protect the rights and freedoms of individuals and businesses within the industry, but also to improve the stature of the industry as a whole.  This award is called the Legacy Award rather than a lifetime achievement award because while the individual has done much to build an outstanding legacy, FSC knows that this individual’s great contributions are far from over.

Performer of the Year Award – Chanel Preston

The positive image award goes to industry performers who have gone out of their way to dispel the myths and misconceptions of the adult entertainment industry through advocacy and public awareness programs, and community service.

Man of the Year and Woman of the Year – Christian Mann, Lorelei Lee

The Man and woman of the Year awards go to individuals who have displayed exceptional leadership qualities both within their own business, and throughout the industry. While the recipient of this award is clearly a successful business professional, the individual who is awarded FSC’s Man or Woman of the Year has made a significant positive contribution to the overall welfare of the adult entertainment industry.

Pleasure Products Company of the Year – Pipedreams

The Pleasure Products Company of the Year award goes to the pleasure products company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Retailer of the Year – Castle Megastore

The Retailer of the Year award goes to the retailer that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole.   In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Production Company of the Year – Wicked Pictures

The Production Company of the Year award goes to the production company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole.   In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Internet Company of the Year – Clips4sale

The Internet Company of the Year award goes to the Internet company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole.   In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Christian Mann Courage and Leadership Award – Peter Acworth

The Christian Mann Courage and Leadership Award is given to a member of the adult entertainment or pleasure products community who has shown exemplary courage and leadership in standing up and fighting for the rights and image of the industry. This award is not automatically given annually—only when warranted by great works—that would honor our great friend, Christian Mann.

Leadership Award – Streamate

FSC’s Leadership Award is presented to the adult entertainment industry business or individual that demonstrates excellence in the adult entertainment industry in leading by example. This award can be given for community service, activism, creating a positive and outstanding work environment, innovations and other qualities that lift the business or individual above the rest.

A presentation ceremony for the FSC Awards is scheduled on January 14, at 6pm, at the Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood, CA, which also is the site of the FSC Summit and XBIZ 360 shows. If you would like more information on the FSC Awards, please contact info@freespeechcoalition.com.

FSC Summit Panels will Feature Industry Leaders

FSC is proud to announce industry leaders, including Adam and Eve founder Phil Harvey, Vivid Entertainment founder Steven Hirsch and XBIZ founder Alec Helmy, are to be panelists at the upcoming FSC Summit (hosted at the XBIZ 360 show) on January 14-15. Both shows will be held at the Andaz Hotel, on the Sunset Strip, in West Hollywood, CA.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer industry members a roster of industry leaders to speak at the show,” said FSC CEO Diane Duke. “These are long-standing, successful members of the industry that you don’t hear from every day, and they have insight into where the industry is headed.”

“The other panels that are being hosted at the FSC Summit are important and engaging for anyone that is interested in the issues of the day, in the adult entertainment and pleasure products business. We hope to see many friends and colleagues at XBIZ 360 and FSC Summit,” Duke added.

The complete seminar roster is as follows:

Wednesday, January 14, 10am
Cutting Costs – how to improve your bottom line
Adult businesses are no different than any other business when it comes to the need to maximize revenue and curve expenses.  From legal services to inventory control, are you getting the best bang for your buck (pun intended)?  Don’t miss this panel, it will help you get creative and save money on everyday expenses thus improving your bottom line.

Moderator:  Larry Garland, CEO of Eldorado Trading Company
Panelists:
Nick Boyias, Allstate
Jeffrey Douglas, industry attorney
Joel Kaminsky, CEO of Good Vibrations
Joe Evans, IT consultant

Wednesday, January 14, 11am
Industry Leaders Panel
They, and their companies, are at the top of their field.  How did they get there? More importantly, in today’s ever-changing adult business environment, how do they stay there?  This panel provides a rare opportunity for industry professionals to get an inside look at the key factors to success for adult business and adult business professionals as told by the best of the best.

Moderator:  Diane Duke, CEO of Free Speech Coalition
Panelists:
Phil Harvey, founder Adam & Eve
Steve Hirsch, founder and Co-CEO Vivid Pictures
Alec Helmy, President and founder of XBIZ

Thursday, January 15, 10am
Sex and Politics
It seems these days you can’t have one without the other.  But, how is that impacting your business?  What do politicians think about our industry?  Don’t miss this panel!  You will hear from the people who have been on the front line of advocating for and lobbying public officials about the adult industry.  They will let you know exactly what happened in 2014 and what you need to pay attention to about in 2015.

Moderator:  Diane Duke, CEO of Free Speech Coalition
Panelists:
Ignacio Hernandez, CEO Hernandez Strategy Group (Sacramento lobbyist)
Karen Tynan, industry attorney
Kevin Bland, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (CalOSHA specialist)
Lorelei Lee, performer and activist

Thursday, January 15, 11am
We’ve Got Issues…Can we talk?!
How often do you get a chance to sit around a table of your peers and discuss adult industry issues that you care about?  Roll up your sleeves and be ready to participate because you are an intricate part of this panel.  We are surveying thousands of industry members to determine the top four issues of concern and will lead four different discussion groups on those topics.  Groups will meet in smaller rooms for a moderated discussion of the industry’s most pertinent topics.

Topics selected by survey and moderators:
Pleasure Product Counterfeiting – Peter Phinney, Porn Guardian
Content Piracy – Colin Roundtree, Wasteland.com
Condoms in Porn – Diane Duke
2257 – Jeffrey Douglas, attorney

An annual event, the FSC Summit also hosts the FSC Awards, which recognize industry professionals and businesses, for excellence in business and representing a pro-adult image through advocacy and actions.

Active FSC members are welcome to attend FSC events at the XBIZ 360 show. If you would like to attend seminars or the FSC Awards (but are not already attending XBIZ 360), please RSVP to joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

Recipients of Free Speech Coalition Awards Announced

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2012 FSC Awards.

“This year’s FSC Awards recipients are a fine example of the industry’s best and brightest” FSC CEO Diane Duke said. “We are honored to recognize their important contributions and to celebrate the recipients among their colleagues and peers. Congratulations!”

Esteemed industry members named to receive awards are as follows:

Legacy Award – Susan Colvin, California Exotic Novelties

This award is given to an individual who, though innovative ideas and successful business practices, has built a solid presence in the adult entertainment industry.  Furthermore, this individual has gone above and beyond to not only protect the rights and freedoms of individuals and businesses within the industry, but also to improve the stature of the industry as a whole. This award is called the Legacy Award rather than a lifetime achievement award because while the individual has done much to build an outstanding legacy, FSC knows that this individual’s great contributions are far from over.

Positive Image Awards – Performers Steven St. Croix and Jessica Drake

These awards go to industry performers who have gone out of their way to dispel the myths and misconceptions of the adult entertainment industry through advocacy and public awareness programs, and community service.

Man of the Year and Woman of the Year – Tim Valenti (AEBN, Naked Sword) and Theresa Flynt (Hustler Hollywood)

These awards go to individuals who have displayed exceptional leadership qualities both within their own business, and throughout the industry. While the recipient of this award is clearly a successful business professional, the individual who is awarded FSC’s Man or Woman of the Year has made a significant positive contribution to the overall welfare of the adult entertainment industry.

Novelty Company of the Year – Sportsheets

This award goes to the novelty company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Production Company of the Year – Vivid Entertainment

This award goes to the production company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Internet Company of the Year – Gamma Entertainment

This award goes to the Internet company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Benefactor of the Year – Manwin

This award goes to the company that has demonstrated a consistent commitment to philanthropy and advocacy within the adult industry and throughout mainstream society. This award is given to a company that not only helps break the myths and misinformation about the adult industry through its contributions, but also assists in protecting the industry from legislative threats, industry-wide exploitation, business risks, and industry critics.

The FSC Awards will be presented at a special awards reception, immediately following the FSC Summit event. The one-day summit and awards presentation, produced by XBIZ Magazine, will take place on Thursday, Nov 8th at the Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood, Ca.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information about the FSC Summit and FSC Awards, visit the website or call (818) 348-9373.

 

First-Ever FSC Summit Brings Together Industry Veterans and Legal Eagles for Exciting Seminar Panels

The inaugural Free Speech Coalition Summit, a one-day event produced by XBIZ Magazine, will feature a slate of panels covering hot business topics, of interest to adult industry professionals, on the heels of a turbulent election season.

“We are so excited to be able to present this one-day show, and to address important business topics at this turbulent time for our business and the nation,” Free Speech Coalition (FSC) CEO Diane Duke. “We hear, everyday, from industry members that are looking for ideas and advice on what they need to do to stay in the game. This show has an unprecedented line-up of leaders that will speak from an historic perspective, as well as cover current issues relevant in today’s business environment.”

The Hot Seat Panel will deliver opinions on today’s legal issues from the perspective of leading industry attorneys, including Paul Cambria, Lou Sirkin, Michael Murray, and Marc Randazza, moderated by attorney and FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas. With panelists that represent the biggest names in the adult industry and fight the good fight on important cases including 2257, piracy and obscenity, this discussion is sure to spark fireworks for Summit attendees.

The last seminar of the day, entitled “If I Knew Then What I Know Now,” will highlight some of the first in industry innovation, including Video Secret’s Greg Clayman, AVN Founder Paul Fishbein, Cal-Exotic’s Sue Colvin, Wicked Pictures’ Steve Orenstein, XBIZ’s Alec Helmy, and Vivid Entertainment’s Steve Hirsch. Find out, from these esteemed professionals, what strategies and tactics have helped build success for their companies – as well as, what they would do over, if they had the chance.

“This show is scheduled for two days after the election; it will be a time when a lot of us will be anxious to look at the election results and how they will affect the industry,” Duke added. “It’s a great time for professionals from every industry segment to get together and talk about the short-term and long-reaching strategies.”

Attendance to the show is free, due to the generosity of show sponsors, including California Exotic Novelties, Manwin, CCBill, Wicked Pictures, Girlfriend Films, Adam & Eve, Video Secrets and The Screaming O.

The FSC Summit is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, beginning at 10am. The show will be located at the Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood, CA. For more information or to register, please visit the FSC Summit webpage or call (818) 348-9373.

FSC Announces FSC Summit Website is Launched

Free Speech Coalition is proud to announce the FSC Summit website has been launched. The FSC Summit, which will be hosted by adult industry trade publication XBIZ, is a first-ever, one-day event to be held on Thursday, Nov 8, at the Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif. Sponsorships for the inaugural summit are available by contacting info@freespeechcoalition.com.

The day of seminars will be followed by a gala reception, where the FSC Awards will be presented. Awards will be given in the following categories: Woman of the Year, Man of the Year, Internet Company of the Year, Novelty Company of the Year, Production Company of the Year, the Positive Image Awards, and the Legacy Award.

“We are so pleased and honored to highlight the political, legal and business issues that affect the industry in this first-ever event,” said FSC CEO Diane Duke. “As the adult industry trade association, FSC works on the frontlines of these issues and others, to promote the well-being and business interests of adult industry businesses and all the folks employed by the adult industry.

“Especially since this show will follow one of the most contentious elections in memory, there will be plenty to discuss,” Duke added. “We will be looking at the results of the election; especially the Los Angeles County condom ordinance, which will have been decided by voters.”

The FSC Summit seminars include:

• Strange Bedfellows – What You Need to Know About Sex & Politics
• Diversification – How to Expand Your Business with Multiple Revenue Streams & Cross-Promotion
• The New Internet – How it Will Affect your Brand
• Opening Up Brave New Markets and Revitalizing Established Markets
• Piracy, Politics and Patent Trolls
• Legal Mumbo Jumbo – Making Sense of Legal Trends and Litigation

For more information about sponsorship or the FSC Summit, please contact info@freespeechcoalition.com.