Sixteen Orange County entrepreneurs are finalists in the local Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards for 2012. Now in its 26th year, the award program honors entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success for innovation and financial performance in their companies. More than 70 people were nominated this year, according to the OC Register.
Orange County finalists are:
- Charles Dunlop, chief executive, Ambry Genetics, Irvine
- Mike Morhaime, chief executive, president and co-founder, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., Irvine
- Alessandro Pirozzi, owner and chef, Cucina Alessa, Newport Beach
- Heidi Golledge, chief executive and president, CyberCoders, Irvine
- Jonathan Ord, chief executive, DealerSocket, Inc., San Clemente
- Jim McCluney, chief executive, Emulex, Costa Mesa
- Bill Duehring, president, Felt Racing, LLC, Irvine
- Andy Fathollahi, chief executive, Incipio, Irvine
- John Raymont, founder, chief executive and president, Kurion, Inc., Irvine
- Michael Manclark, chief executive, Leading Edge Aviation, Costa Mesa
- Dan Merkle, chairman and chief executive, Lexipol, LLC, Aliso Viejo
- Joe Kiani, chairman and chief executive, Masimo Corp., Irvine
- Gary Jabara, chief executive and president,- Mobilitie, LLC, Newport Beach
- Jeff Walker, president, Super D, Irvine
- David Kim and Jerome Fink, co-founders and managing partners, The Bascom Group, Irvine
