Nominations Open for EY Entrepreneur of the Year

Nominations are open for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 Awards, celebrating innovative business leaders who turn vision into reality.

EY is calling for nominations for the 28th Annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, recognized as one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country. The program has a firm deadline of March 14, 2014 for nominations, with the Pacific Northwest awards ceremony scheduled for June 20, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, Bellevue, Washington.

Each year, EY showcases successful entrepreneurs from more than 150 cities in 60 countries. In 2013, nine entrepreneurs leading companies from the Pacific Northwest were selected as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners. Past award winners in this region include: Gertrude Boyle and Tim Boyle, Columbia Sportswear; Dan Brettler, CarToys; Greg Enell, Double Down Interactive; Dave Shaffer, DePaul Industries; Howard Schultz, Starbucks;  Spencer Rascoff, Zillow; and, Jim Weber, Brooks Sports.

“At EY, it’s through our Entrepreneur Of The Year Program that we have had the privilege of getting to know many high impact entrepreneurs,” said Mike Kacsmar, Americas Director, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. “The entrepreneurs we have honored are creating disruptive companies and causing a positive ripple effect in our communities, our capital markets and our economy.”

Award winners are selected in a number of industry categories by a panel of independent regional judges, including previous winners of the award, leading CEOs and private capital investors and other regional business leaders. Entrepreneurs may nominate themselves or be nominated by peers and other business leaders.

Awards criteria
To qualify, entrepreneurs must be the founder or an executive who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business early in its life cycle or during its growth. Self-nominations are encouraged, and there is no fee. The firm deadline for 2014 nominations is March 14.

Entrepreneurs eligible for consideration include not only company founders, but also leaders of multi-generation family businesses and transformational public and private company CEOs. Additionally, the nominee’s company must be at least two years old.

Information is available at www.ey.com/us/eoy. For information on the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in the Pacific Northwest please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy/pnw. 

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP Americas and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

In the Pacific Northwest, regional sponsors include Merrill Corporation, Perkins Coie LLC, Scherzer International,  he Big Picture Video Film & Arts, and Union Bank

Contact information
To get more information, as well as nomination forms, contact: Rachel Anderson, rachel.anderson@ey.com or +1 206 654 7633. 

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique 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, 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 150 cities in more than 60 countries.

About EY’s Strategic Growth Markets practice EY’s Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practices guide leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

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