• Golden Apple Award – Businessman of the Year

Jan 2013  Redwood City/San Mateo Chamber of Commerce. While being awarded the “Golden Apple of the Year” by the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce in 2012, United States Senator Jerry Hill declared Penna “Mr. Redwood City.” The title has stuck with him throughout the years. 

  • San Francisco Bay Area Press Awards

Penna and the Spectrum Magazine have won various journalism awards including the San Francisco Bay Area Press Club award for News Story of the Year, FIRST PLACE: “Police Shut Down DUI Checkpoint,” Story of Serious Nature. His monthly column “As I was saying . . .” has also won various First Place awards through the years.