Tarkan Maner, president and CEO, Wyse Technology
TECHNOLOGY, AWARD RECIPIENT At age 15, Tarkan Maner created one of Istanbul’s first commercial maps to advertise local businesses. As founder of one of Istanbul’s “first Yelps,” Maner proved early that he had the entrepreneurial vision to recognize a need and find a winning strategy to solve it. And as president and CEO of Wyse […]
Jordan Zimmerman, founder and chairman, Zimmerman Advertising
CORPORATE INNOVATOR, AWARD RECIPIENT Jordan Zimmerman has been an entrepreneur from an early age. He started a door-to-door greeting card business at 8 years old, and later a successful newspaper route where he managed his first employees, his friends. These ventures taught him leadership and to overcome fear of failure and rejection. He’s continued to […]
Timothy L. Main, CEO, Jabil
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, AWARD RECIPIENT Timothy L. Main left a comfortable, secure job as a lending officer with an established bank to join the ranks of a small, untested electronic manufacturing services company in 1987 — much to the concern of his family. However 25 years later, he’s climbed his way to the top as CEO […]
John Boncher, president and CEO, Cupertino Electric Inc.
SERVICES, FINALIST Not many understand the competitive nature of the construction industry. Technological innovation is sometimes more important on job sites than innovation for some of the technology industry’s mega-giants like Facebook, Google, Intel, Microsoft and Yahoo, all of whom are clientele of Cupertino Electric Inc. Cupertino Electric is a provider of engineering and construction […]
Lisa Im, CEO, Performant Financial Corp.
SERVICES, AWARD RECIPIENT Lisa Im is a born leader who can’t help but put her passion into everything she does, whether it’s being there for her family or taking another step toward making Performant the company she knows it can be. At the time she led a buyout of the company from its founder, Performant […]
Richard Zuschlag, Acadian Ambulance Service, chairman and CEO
Health care & Health care Services — Award Recipient Richard Zuschlag operates Acadian Ambulance Service with a focus on two core responsibilities that everyone in the company must carry out. The first responsibility is to serve patients with excellent care. The second is to provide a rewarding, challenging work environment for the company’s employees. Zuschlag, chairman […]
William D. Morean, Chairman, Jabil
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, AWARD RECIPIENT William D. Morean has always demonstrated a strong work ethic and sense of adventure. These qualities would serve him well as he set about turning his family’s small-town, garage-based start-up into one of the largest electronics manufacturing companies in the world. The ensuing growth of Jabil stems from Morean’s initial foresight […]
Neil Grimmer, co-founder and CEO, Plum Organics
RETAIL AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS, FINALIST Neil Grimmer doesn’t have to look too far to find inspiration for his work at Plum Organics. His passion for his two young daughters has evolved to become the foundation of a business created to bring healthier food to children. The business has revolutionized how babies eat through the introduction […]
Honoring the best of the best
This group of honorees represent those individuals who pursued and obtained the coveted distinction of an Entrepreneur Of The Year Finalist. Smart Business, along with Ernst & Young, is proud to recognize and honor the accomplishments of these entrepreneurs.
John Foraker, CEO, Annie’s Inc.
RETAIL AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS, FINALIST John Foraker, CEO of Annie’s Inc., has created a culture centered on the concept of doing the right thing even when nobody is looking. Foraker’s culture and vision have helped build the company into a leading provider of natural and organic foods. Hand in hand with the culture and vision […]