The 75th SFCDMA Annual Gala Celebration was held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at the majestic Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Merchants Exchange Building in downtown San Francisco.
We would like to thank San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and other dignitaries in attendance, auctioneer extraordinaire Franco Finn, the fantastic band Retro Renegades, and all our awardees, association members, and friends and colleagues from the San Francisco small business community. A big ‘thank you’ to all our event sponsors for their generous support. Photos coming soon!
FRANCO FINN
Photographs by: Justin Chu
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Our Award Recipients
Richard Kurylo
Richard Kurylo administers the Legacy Business Program within the San Francisco Office of Small Business, coordinating grants, technical assistance, marketing, and regulatory guidance.
He is being recognized by the CDMA for preserving and promoting San Francisco’s small business heritage and ensuring continuity for businesses that define neighborhood identity. His leadership helps protect the cultural fabric that makes our city’s commercial corridors thrive from one generation to the next.
For representing permanence, stability, and heritage.
Richard Kurylo — The Enduring Facet Award
Photo: juliamorganballroom.com
Hank Wilson
Hank Wilson contributes to public-facing efforts for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, fostering public awareness, updates, and communication about transit services.
He is being recognized by the CDMA for keeping the public informed and connected to vital transit systems that support residents and businesses alike. By ensuring clarity in communication, he strengthens the daily link between San Francisco’s neighborhoods and the lifelines that sustain their commerce.
For exemplifying transparency, communication, and connection.
Hank Wilson — The Clarity Facet Award
MacKenzie Chung Fegan
MacKenzie Chung Fegan, Restaurant Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, won the James Beard Foundation’s Emerging Voice Award for her “Bite Curious” newsletter and revival of the Top 100 Restaurants list.
She is being recognized by the CDMA for elevating San Francisco’s small food businesses with national visibility and consumer engagement. Through her writing, she illuminates the creativity and resilience of local entrepreneurs, helping diners discover the brilliance of the city’s culinary scene.
For illuminating discovery, storytelling, and visibility.
MacKenzie Chung Fegan — The Illuminating Facet Award
Supervisor Myrna Melgar
Supervisor Myrna Melgar serves District 7 and chairs the Land Use & Transportation Committee, while also serving as Commissioner with the SF County Transportation Authority, Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Authority, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
She is being recognized by the CDMA for expanding housing access, advancing youth transit affordability, and championing urban planning policies that balance the city’s growth with small business needs. Her leadership ensures that the future of San Francisco shines with equity, opportunity, and space for small businesses to flourish.
For embodying vision, direction, and shaping the city’s future.
Supervisor Myrna Melgar — The Guiding Facet Award.
Our Venue
Photo: juliamorganballroom.com
The Julia Morgan Ballroom
The Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange is one of San Francisco’s most beloved places to celebrate life’s biggest moments. Its timeless Beaux-Arts architecture, paired with modern comforts, creates an atmosphere that’s as elegant as it is welcoming. With its rich history, breathtaking design, and a dedicated team ready to bring every detail to life, the Ballroom is the perfect setting for unforgettable weddings, parties, and special events.
Julia Morgan, one of America’s most celebrated and prolific architects, had her offices in the Merchants Exchange for forty-five years (1904–1950). Her connection to the building began when architect Willis Polk invited her to design the common areas after the 1906 earthquake, a project through which she left her mark on the elegant lobby and the magnificent banking hall, incorporating the historic William Coulter maritime murals. The first woman to graduate from the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the first licensed female architect in California, Morgan designed more than 700 buildings in her lifetime, including her most renowned work, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, as well as Wyntoon, other Hearst estates, and numerous iconic California landmarks.
