What are the characteristics of an entrepreneur? How about adaptability, passion, confidence, strategic vision or a need to conquer the world?
If you know someone who has translated any of those traits into a successful business model, you can nominate them for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) award.
Ernst & Young is seeking nominations for Northeast Ohio-based entrepreneurs as part of its 14th Annual Entrepreneur Of The Year awards, the pre-eminent program honoring outstanding owners of fast-growing companies.
“Entrepreneurs increasingly impact the Northeast Ohio economy by creating new industries that will dramatically change the way we live and do business in this century,” says C. Lee Thomas of Ernst & Young, director of the firm’s Cleveland entrepreneurial services practice. “The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award program is designed to recognize those individuals who are paving the way for a new age of entrepreneurship.”
Past Northeast Ohio EOY award winners include a virtual “Who’s Who” of local business leaders, such as Dr. Gil van Bokkelen and Dr. John Harrington of Athersys Inc., Mal Mixon of Invacare Corp., Carol Latham of Thermagon Inc., Jack Kahl of Manco Inc. and Howard Cleveland of Digital Day. Last year, 15 entrepreneurs in nine categories from Northeast Ohio were selected as EOY award recipients.
Nationally, past awards recipients include Michael Dell of Dell Computer Corp., Sheryl Leach of the Lyons Group (creators of “Barney”), Jim McCann of 1-800-Flowers, Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee and Richard Schulze of Best Buy.
Those eligible for the EOY awards are owners and managers who have primary responsibility for the growth of their company; if the company is public, the founder must be an active member in top management. The requirements for consideration are owners and managers of companies that have been operating for at least two years. Allowances will be made for e-businesses able to demonstrate a profitable business model.
The Northeast Ohio EOY awards banquet and ceremony will be held June 14, 2001, at The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. All of the national EOY award recipients and finalist will be announced and honored at a gala during the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year International Conference in Palm Springs, Calif., Nov. 15-18, 2001.
There is no fee for nominations. Self-nominations are encouraged, as are those from suppliers, customers and others who work with entrepreneurs. Nominations must be received by April 6, 2001, in order to be considered. For more information and nomination forms, call (216) 583-8301 or visit the Ernst & Young Web site at www.ey.com/us/eoy.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year award is also sponsored by BOWNE of Cleveland, Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, Marsh USA, McDonald Investments and the Ohio Department of Development.
