Westy Award Winners 2026

The OCCC has been elevating the business and artistic community for over 100 years now. We have a particular focus on the creative economy and a well demonstrated history of providing outstanding support through marketing, volunteerism, free equipment usage and more. Further, we have made significant financial investments in each organization as well.

THE GREATER MYSTIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE serves as the collective business voice for Greater Mystic and beyond. We sponsor and facilitate community events that not only promote local businesses but also boost the regional tourism industry. We are a resource for small business owners and advocate on behalf of the entire community to create opportunities for economic growth.

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John Townsend grew up in Baltimore and built a career that combined global finance with deep civic commitment. He earned a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Certificate in Modern Greek from the Defense Language Institute, and later an M.B.A. in International Finance from Wharton. After serving in U.S. Army Intelligence in Munich, John held senior roles in international banking and corporate finance at Chemical Bank, Goldman Sachs, and UBS, where he served as Head of Investment Banking.

John has devoted decades to nonprofit leadership, serving on boards including City Harvest, Planned Parenthood of New York, Canterbury Choral Society, the Altman Foundation, Westerly Land Trust, and the Chorus of Westerly, where he continues as a nonvoting member of the Finance Committee and a singing member of the Foundations Chorus.

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Lila Pinto is a passionate musician, educator-in-training, and arts advocate. Her love for music began through her involvement with the Chorus of Westerly, which has shaped not only her artistry, but her desire to become a future music educator. Through ensemble collaboration, performance, and watching her own mentors educate at the Chorus and as a trombonist in Westerly High School's music programs, she has experienced firsthand the transformative power of music education.

Beyond performance, Lila is dedicated to strengthening access to arts within the community. Growing up, Lila watched her mom constantly pursue supporting the art’s organizations that her and her brother were a part of. Her work developing and supporting a scholarship fund in her mother’s memory demonstrates her belief that financial barriers should never prevent students from pursuing meaningful musical opportunities.

Lila is also actively involved in professional and collegiate organizations that support music education and advocacy, including NAfME and RIMEA, as well as various campus ensembles and leadership initiatives through her university.

Through these experiences, she continues to grow as both a musician and an emerging arts leader as she looks toward a career in music education.

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