Leadership
Driven to succeed
The 2007 Entrepreneur Of The Year honorees represent great accomplishments.
By Michael Mazzeo
Smart Business Akron/Canton | July 2007
Celebrating entrepreneurs and the businesses they build and grow has been a
priority for Ernst & Young for more than two decades. We are proud to continue
this distinguished tradition through the Ernst
& Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards
— the most prestigious business awards for
entrepreneurs.
In our 21-year history, Ernst & Young has
recognized thousands of business entrepreneurs throughout Northeast Ohio and the
world whose vision, leadership and record of
achievement continue to impact our communities. Their drive and determination have
created new ideas that have made a difference in Northeast Ohio.
Entrepreneurs include both founders of
companies and those who organize, manage
and assume the “educated” risks of a business or enterprise early in the company’s life
or development and are still active in the
leadership of the company.
Entrepreneurs find creative, venturesome
ways to acquire the capital resources they need to achieve their goals and grow a business. They are individuals who drive the
process of creating value by combining
resources to exploit an opportunity. The men
and women that we are honoring this year
are no exception. They are leaders rather
than followers, and we are inspired by their
achievements.
The finalists went through a rigorous judging process and met with the program’s independent panel of judges for a thorough
assessment of their company’s recent financial performance, strategic direction, product
or service innovation, as well as an assessment of the company’s leadership, including
personal integrity, values and key employee
initiatives, and community involvement.
Thanks to the entrepreneurs that have participated in this year’s program and, more
importantly, for creating an entrepreneurial
spirit in Northeast Ohio. Their visions and
ability to achieve them have made significant
contributions to improve the quality of life for
those in Northeast Ohio. I would also like to thank all of those that have made this year’s
program a success, including the program’s
sponsors and judges.
On behalf of everyone at Ernst & Young,
congratulations to all of the 2007 Northeast
Ohio Entrepreneur Of The Year nominees,
finalists and award winners.
In addition, each of this year’s Northeast
Ohio award winners will be inducted into the
Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame,
which was created to celebrate the accomplishments of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and to make the general public more
aware of the benefits they provide to the
world economy and our global communities.
Regional award recipients are eligible to
participate in the national Entrepreneur Of The
Year awards, which take
place in Palm Springs,
Calif., Nov. 15-18.
MICHAEL MAZZEO is Entrepreneur
Of The Year program director. Reach
him at (330) 255-5213.
