Honoring the best of the best

 
For 27 years, Ernst & Young has celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit of men and women pursuing innovation and entrepreneurial excellence in their businesses, their teams and their communities. We are excited to announce that this year we received more than 1,600 national entries from some of the country’s most well deserving entrepreneurs.
The blood, sweat and passion they’ve poured into their businesses and the triumphs they’ve achieved stand as a testament to the role they play as visionaries, leaders and innovators. Ernst & Young founded the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program to recognize this passion for excellence and to build an influential and innovative community of peers.
We have gathered here and in 25 other cities in the U.S. to welcome the men and women who are regional award recipients into our entrepreneurial Hall of Fame and to toast their commitment to succeed. We applaud them for launching their companies, opening new markets and fueling job growth.
So let’s celebrate their achievements, perseverance and tireless pursuit of business excellence.

oco_eoy_JohnBelli
John Belli, office managing partner, Ernst & Young, Orange County

oco_eoy_KimLetch
Kim E. Letch, partner and program director, Entrepreneur of the Year, Orange County

Kathy Beckman, program manager, Entrepreneur of the Year, Orange County
Kathy Beckman, program manager, Entrepreneur of the Year, Orange County

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Family Business Category
Winner
Gennaro “Jerry” Paolone, Car Sound Exhaust Systems Inc.
Finalists
Jim Beck, Nature’s Best
Eve Yen, Diamond Wipes International Inc.
Real Estate & Hospitality
Winner
Alan J. Fuerstman, Montage Hotels & Resorts
Finalists
Doug Bauer, Tom Mitchell and Mike Grubbs, TRI Pointe Homes
David Kim and Jerome Fink, The Bascom Group
Retail & Consumer Products
Winner
Hezy Shaked, Tilly’s Inc.
Finalists
John Fuller, The Johnny Rockets Group Inc.
Nick Seedorf, nuCourse Distribution Inc.
Business Services
Winner
Heidi Golledge, CyberCoders and CareerBliss
Finalists
Dr. Vinod Jivrajka, AppleCare Medical Enterprises
Caryn Siebert, Carl Warren & Company
Technology
Winner
Joseph Renton, Systems & Software Enterprise
Finalists
Dominic Gallello, MSC Software Corp.
Jonathan Ord, DealerSocket Inc.
Financial Services
Winner
Anand Nallathambi, CoreLogic Inc.
Finalists
Stephen Gordon, Opus Bank
Michael Joseph Purcell, Global Cash Card
 
Judges
Bala Iyer, Board Member
Life Technologies, QLogic, IHS,
Skyworks Solutions, Power Integrations
Prior Judge – 2009, 2012
 
Bruce Hallett, Managing Director
Miramar Venture Partners
 
Dan Lubeck, Managing Director/Founder
Solis Capital
 
*Dean Yoost, Board Member
Union bank, Pacific Life, Emulex, Belden Inc.
Prior Judge – 2010, 2011
 
*Doug Ammerman, Board Member/Director
Fidelity, Stantec, William Lyon Homes, El Pollo Loco
Prior Judge – 2011, 2012
 
Gary Jabara, Founder & CEO
Mobilitie, Inc.
Prior Winner – 2012
National Winner – 2012
 
Glenn Schafer, Chairman
Janus Capital Group, Skilled Healthcare
Prior Judge – 2011, 2012
 
Matthew Jenusaitis, President & CEO
OCTANe OC
Prior Judge – 2012
 

  • * Judge’s spokespeople