For 27 years, Ernst & Young has celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit of men and women who have followed their dreams to pursue innovation and entrepreneurial excellence, changing the lives of countless others by building their businesses and giving back to their communities.
The 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 these dynamic leaders and to build an influential and innovative community of entrepreneurs.
We have gathered here in Greater Los Angeles and in 25 other cities across the U.S. to applaud these entrepreneurs for taking the road less traveled, and welcome the regional award recipients into our entrepreneurial Hall of Fame.
Congratulations on your achievements! Ernst & Young looks forward to helping you find new and innovative ways to continue to grow your business and accomplish your goals.
Brian Ring is a partner and program director for Entrepreneur Of The Year, Greater Los Angeles.
April Spencer is a partner and program director for Entrepreneur Of The Year, Greater Los Angeles.
Business Services
Winner
Janice Bryant Howroyd, The Act 1 Group, Inc.
Finalists
Jamey Edwards, Emergent Medical Associates
Jessica Firestone, Tempest Telecom Solutions, LLC
Consumer Services
Winner
Clarence Daniels Jr., Concession Management Services, Inc.
Finalists
Mel Elias, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Rick Stollmeyer, Mindbody, Inc.
Emerging
Winner
Jeff Stibel, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.
Finalists
Tim Cadogan, OpenX
Jeff Green, The Trade Desk
Financial Services
Winner
Robert V. Sinnott, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors
Finalists
Mike Rosenberg, James B. Freedman and Ed Bagdasarian, Intrepid Investment Bankers, LLC
Loren Bendele, Savings.com
Media
Winner
Moctesuma Esparza, Maya Cinemas North America, Inc.
Finalists
Martha de la Torre and Joe Badame, El Clasificado
Walter Driver, Scopely, Inc.
Technology
Winner
Sam Naficy, DTT
Finalists
Dinesh Ravishanker, CallFire
Demian Sellfors, Media Temple
Family Business Award of Excellence
Winner
Helene An, Elizabeth An, Hannah An, Catherine An, Monique An and Jacqueline An, House of An
Judges
Jim Armstrong, Clearstone Venture Partners
Chuck Davis, Technology Crossover Ventures *
Mark Hardy, Aurora Capital Group
Jeri Harman, Avante Mezzanine Partners
Carlton Jenkins, The Yucaipa Companies
Brad Jones, Redpoint Ventures *
Eric Kutsenda, Seidler Equity Partners
Barry C. Levin, Snak King Corporation *
J. Christopher Lewis, Riordan, Lewis & Haden Equity Partners
Dr. Linda Livingstone, Graziadio School of Business & Management, Pepperdine University
Mark Stagen, Emerald Health Services **
Kamran Pourzanjani, Bestcovery.com **
Julie Schoenfeld, Perfect Market, Inc.
* Prior award recipient
** Prior award recipient and national finalist
