CHINO, Calif. — Al Bloom, CalExotics’ director of marketing, will be honored with the prestigious Executive Leadership Award at the 10th Annual XBIZ Awards set to be held on Jan. 10 in Santa Monica, Calif.
With a career that spans 42 years, Bloom has been an integral leader in the adult industry.
Susan Colvin, president and CEO of California Exotic Novelties, says, “Al’s contribution to our industry is legendary. He was instrumental in creating the Free Speech Coalition, he spoke out on behalf of the industry in many media platforms, and his creative mind has contributed to the making of numerous innovative intimacy products. He is very deserving of this honor and I commend him for the achievement.”
Bloom graduated from Kent State University in 1970 with a BBA in Marketing. During the early part of his career he was the general manager of two different adult distribution companies, Capitol News Agency and Sovereign News Company (now Transworld News, Inc.). From 1979 to 1993 he was the President and co-owner of Caballero Home Video, once the largest film producer in the industry. He also was the vice president and co-owner of Vidco Entertainment, an adult film producer from 1987 to 1993.
From 1993 to 1998 he was the director of marketing at Doc Johnson Enterprises and from 1998 to 2003 he was a partner in M&M Sales, a now defunct major novelty distribution company. Bloom also served on the Board of Directors for the Adult Film Association, the Adult Video Association and was instrumental in creating the Free Speech Coalition in 1992.
“This award is a huge honor and I thank XBIZ for the recognition,” Bloom said. “I look forward to seeing many friends and colleagues on Awards night!”
Bloom was the 1989 recipient of the Joel Warner "Good Guy" award by the Adult Video Association, and in 2003 he was honored with the "Industry Founder's Award" by the Free Speech Coalition, and was inducted into the Adult Video News Hall of Fame in January 2009.
In the spring of 2011 Bloom was honored with the degree of Honoris Causa Doctor of Arts from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality.
The XBIZ Awards will be held Jan. 10 at the Barker Hanger at the Santa Monica Airport.
For details and ticket information, visit XBIZAwards.com.
For the latest XBIZ Awards news announcements, follow @xbizawards.