Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in the Pacific Northwest. This group of outstanding entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of regional business, academic and community leaders. The award recipients will be revealed at a gala event on June 26, 2009 at the Sheraton Seattle.
“Entrepreneurs contribute so much to our economy and the fabric of this nation,” said Greg Beams, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director for the Pacific Northwest. “These finalists help our region create jobs, while encouraging community growth, development and innovation. We are pleased to honor them.”
The Pacific Northwest finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2009 are:
- Paul Ellingson, Bargreen Ellingson
- Robert Hansen, Bayview Limousine Service, Inc.
- Jeremy Lewis, Big Fish Games, Inc.
- Paul Thelen, Big Fish Games, Inc.
- Michael Butler, Cascadia Capital
- Thomas L. Varga, CFO Selections, LLC
- Ben Wolff, Clearwire Corporation
- Mitchell H. Gold, M.D., Dendreon Corporation
- David R. Nilssen, Guidant Financial Group, Inc.
- Jeffrey S. Lyon, CCIM, SIOR, GVA Kidder Mathews
- David Ryan, Hood River Juice Company
- Norbert Sporns, HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries, Inc.
- Rajeev Agarwal, MAQ Software
- Fred A. Brown, Next IT Corporation
- Thomas J. Clement, Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc.
- Lisa G. Shaffer, Ph.D., Signature Genomic Laboratories, LLC
- Stephen Marsh, Smarsh, Inc.
- David M. Knight, Teragren Fine Bamboo Flooring, Panels & Veneer
- David L. Vernier, Vernier Software & Technology
- Douglas Fieldhouse, Vesta Corporation
- Melissa Waggener Zorkin, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
- Tracy Wong, WONGDOODY, INC.
Regional award recipients will be eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national awards. Award recipients in numerous national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient, 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 Pacific Northwest, sponsors include The Big Picture, Scherzer International, Seattle Business and The Summit Group.
Contact information
To make reservations for the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards gala on June 26, 2009, contact Karin Wingfors of Ernst & Young at 206-654-7650 or karin.wingfors@ey.com by June 18, 2009. Tickets are $175 per person. For more information about the program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.
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.
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 Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.
Contacts:
Karin Wingfors, +1 206-654-7650
Karin.Wingfors@ey.com
