finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in the
Carolinas. This group of outstanding entrepreneurs was selected by an
independent judging panel made up of regional business, academic and
community leaders. The winners will be revealed at a gala event on
June 18, 2009 at the Westin Charlotte.
"Entrepreneurs contribute so much to our economy and the fabric of
this nation," said Kent Geer, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The
Year Program Director for the Carolinas. "These finalists help our
region create jobs, while encouraging community growth, development
and innovation. We are pleased to honor them."
The Carolinas finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year
award in 2009 are:
· Jerry Barker, President - Ocular Systems, Inc.
· Steve Bell, Founder and Chairman - Bell Partners Inc.
· John Cato, Chairman, President & CEO - The Cato Corporation
· Thomas Coble, President and CEO - Coble Trench Safety, Inc.
· Steven DeCarlo, CEO - AmWINS Group, Inc.
· Joe Elphick, Owner - 3C Packaging
· Edward Fritsch, President, CEO & Director - Highwoods Properties
· Vain Garg, President & CEO - Tranzyme Pharma
· Carl Guidice, CEO - SOI
· Eric Hillman, CEO - Europa Sports Products
· Roland Johnson, CEO - Piedmont Pharmaceuticals
· Henry Kaestner, Co-founder & Executive Chairman -
Bandwidth.com, Inc.
· Rich Lee, Founder and CEO - Hosted Solutions
· Philip Maung, Founder & CEO - Hissho Sushi
· David Morken, President & CEO - Bandwidth.com, Inc.
· Bob Salvin, CEO - Salvin Dental Specialties, Inc.
· Frank Spencer, President & CEO - Cogdell Spencer, Inc.
· Michelle Tunno Buelow, President and Founder - Bella Tunno
· Stephen Wiehe, President and CEO - SciQuest, Inc.
Ernst & Young is also pleased to honor Mr. Leon Levine, Founder of
Family Dollar Stores with the distinguished Lifetime Achievement
Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual
whose extraordinary entrepreneurial achievements, creativity,
leadership and vision has established a new industry that enhances the
rapid growth of the world economy. The recipient of the Lifetime
Achievement Award must also contribute to community and national
affairs through company and/or personal initiatives. The award will
be presented to Mr. Levine by Michael Marsicano, President and CEO of
Foundation For The Carolinas.
Regional award winners will be eligible for consideration for the
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national awards. Winners
in numerous national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst
& Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at
the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 14,
2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young
Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of
high-growth, market-leading companies.
This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its
23rd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business
leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world.
Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary
success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal
commitment to their businesses and communities.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The
Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
and SAP America as national sponsors.
In the Carolinas, sponsors include King & Spalding, Bowne and Business
Leader Media.
Contact information
To make reservations for the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards gala on
June 18, 2009, contact Amanda Dudley of Ernst & Young at +1 704 331
1925 or Amanda.dudley@ey.com by June 11, 2009. Tickets are $200 per
person. For more information about the program, please visit www.carolinaseoy.ey.com
.
About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award is the world's most
prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a
difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity
among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people
who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As
the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year® award celebrates those who are building and
leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them
through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135
cities in 50 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and
advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our
shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a
difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider
communities achieve their potential.
For more information, please visit www.ey.com.
