Ernst & Young LLP seeks Greater Los Angeles area’s exceptional entrepreneurs
— Nominations open for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award —
Los Angeles, CA, 26 JANUARY 2010 – Ernst & Young LLP today announced the open nomination period for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Awards in the Greater Los Angeles area. The deadline for applications is March 19, 2010, with the awards ceremony scheduled for June 22, 2010 at The Beverly Hilton.
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards program, now in its 24th year, is recognized as the most prestigious business award program in the country. Award winners are selected by a panel of independent judges, including local business owners – many of whom have won the award in the past – as well as area leaders from civic organizations and academic institutions.
“Ernst & Young has recognized leading entrepreneurs for their contributions to society for nearly a quarter of a century,” said Larry Haynes, Americas Director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® program. “These entrepreneurs create jobs, bolster the economy, drive innovation and revitalize their communities. We are proud to support them.”
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Last year, six entrepreneurs in six categories from the Greater Los Angeles Area were selected as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award winners from more than sixty nominations. Past award winners in the Greater Los Angeles Area have included Steven Dunn of Munchkin, Timothy Leiweke of AEG, Deepak Chopra of OSI Systems, Inc., David Rainer of California United Bank, Errol Ginsberg of Ixia, Lawrence Ng of Oversee.net, Ming Hsieh of Cogent, Inc., Jeffrey Lubell of True Religion, Edward Wedbush of Wedbush Morgan Securities and Steven Foster of Lucky Strike Entertainment, Inc.
“This program honors the outstanding entrepreneurial minds in our local area,” said Brian Ring, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Program Director for Greater Los Angeles Area. “Entrepreneurs are nominated and evaluated by those in the region, bringing regional business, academic and community leaders together to celebrate achievements that make a real difference.”
Regional award winners are nominated for the national Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards. Additionally, venture-backed companies that win an Entrepreneur Of The Year® award regionally are also eligible for the Venture Capital Award of Excellence on a national level.
All honorees are invited to the national Entrepreneur Of The Year® gala, hosted by Jay Leno, on November 13, 2010 in Palm Springs, California. The gala is the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. For more information on the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, please visit www.ey.com/us/strategicgrowthforum.
Awards Criteria
Awards are given to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Self-nominations are encouraged, and there is no fee. Application forms must be received by March 19, 2010.
To be eligible for consideration, the nominee must be an owner/manager of a private or public company who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company and an active member of top management. Additionally, the nominee’s company must be at least three years old.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards are nationally sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Greater Los Angeles Area, local sponsors include Marsh, Scherzer International, Union Bank and Bowne.
Contact Information
For more information and nomination forms contact: Sandra Feldner Vandergriff, Program Manager, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Greater Los Angeles Area Awards, at +1 213 977 3253 or sandra.feldnervandergriff@ey.com. Information is also available at www.ey.com/us/eoy.
About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique 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, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 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 144,000 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. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited located in the U.S.
