Ernst & Young’s annual Entrepreneur of the Year program honored LinkedIn executives Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner as the overall national award winners Saturday at the firm’s Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, Calif.
Now in its 25th year, more than 1,800 people were nominated for the award. The companies of the nominees have annual revenues of $125 billion and employ roughly 500,000 people. Winners are chosen each year by an independent panel including investors, entrepreneurs and academics based on their vision, leadership, achievement and social responsibility.
In addition to Hoffman and Weiner, other national winners include:
- Media, Entertainment and Communications: Roger D. Linquist, Chairman, President and CEO, MetroPCS Communications, Inc.: recognized for his skilled use of unconventional business practices in overcoming the challenges of competing against the telecommunications industry giants
- Real Estate, Construction and Lodging: Jose R. Mas, CEO, Mas Tec, Inc.: recognized for leading MasTec through a restructuring phase during arguably the most challenging time for the telecommunications industry and for expanding the company’s scope
- Retail and Consumer Products: Dr. Patrick M. Byrne, Chairman and CEO, Overstock.com: recognized for his ability to spot opportunity in the online retail industry, giving rise to the first website used for inventory liquidations, as well as for enhancing the online shopping experience
- Distribution and Manufacturing: Tim Sullivan, former President and CEO, Bucyrus International, Inc: recognized for transforming Bucyrus from a cash-poor company on life support to a world-class leader in the mining equipment industry that attracted the attention of Caterpillar Inc., which finalized the acquisition of the company this year
- Emerging: Andrew Mason, Founder and CEO, Groupon: recognized for being nimble in the face of adversity as he helped Groupon become one of the fastest-growing successful entrepreneurial ventures
- Energy, Cleantech and Natural Resources: Aubrey K. McClendon, CEO, Chesapeake Energy Corporation: recognized for redefining Chesapeake’s focus and strategy, taking it from its small-time Oklahoma origins to its current position as the second-largest producer of natural gas and the most active driller of new wells in the US
- Financial Services: Steve Streit, Chairman, CEO, Green Dot Corporation: recognized for creating prepaid, reloadable Visa and MasterCard branded debit cards, products and services offered at more than 50,000 retailers nationwide, transforming the way many Americans bank
- Life Sciences: Chirag Patel, President, and Chintu Patel, CEO, Amneal Pharmaceuticals: recognized for continuing to find new and innovative ways to improve the manufacturing processes of pharmaceuticals, utilizing people and technology to deliver high-quality results for consumers
- Services: Ric Elias, Founder, CEO, Red Ventures: recognized for using insight and innovative thinking to bring the company out of the ruins of the tech bust and grow it to be a top-ranked online marketing services firm