Entrepreneur Of The Year
Honoring entrepreneurs
Ernst & Young recognizes some of the region’s best innovators and visionary thinkers.
By Alan Greenwell
Smart Business Cincinnati | July 2009
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.
For more than 20 years, Ernst & Young has recognized thousands of entrepreneurs throughout South Central Ohio and Kentucky whose vision, leadership and record of achievement continue to impact our communities. As a leader in guiding these companies, we feel it’s important to honor them and recognize their impact, while encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.
Ernst & Young believes entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy. Whether it’s an innovative new business model or establishing new industries and trends, just about everything begins with an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs and the jobs they create will guide us through these economic times.
We need to celebrate entrepreneurship as the key solution for economic recovery.
This year’s finalists went through a rigorous judging process. The program’s independent judging panel considered several business and personal accomplishments.
A thorough assessment of the company’s recent financial performance is certainly relevant but not the only factor. Creativity in management style and product innovation is extremely important and highly regarded, as are community involvement, flexible employee work arrangements and the overcoming of obstacles by the entrepreneur to grow and sustain the business.
Thanks to the entrepreneurs who have participated in this year’s program and, more importantly, for creating an entrepreneurial spirit in South Central Ohio and Kentucky.
Your visions and ability to achieve them have made significant contributions to improve the quality of life for those in our region.
Alan Greenwell is a partner with Ernst & Young and the program director for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year South Central Ohio and Kentucky awards.
Ernst & Young has a long-standing commitment to working with and recognizing high-impact entrepreneurs through its Strategic Growth Markets practice, which guides high-growth companies to market leadership. Find out more at
www.ey.com/US/en/Services/Strategic-Growth-Markets.
