Jack Blumenstein, former chairman, president and CEO; Michael Small, president, CEO and director, Gogo LLC
Technology – Winner In 1996, Jack Blumenstein identified Gogo LLC as an investment opportunity for his private equity firm. His firm has since invested more than $200 million into Gogo, a leading provider of in-flight connectivity and a pioneer of wireless in-cabin entertainment solutions. Blumenstein, who served the company as chairman, president, CEO and director, […]
Josef Gorowitz, CEO, Prodege LLC
Finalist—Interactive Media/Internet With a successful start-up venture under his belt, Josef Gorowitz decided to take on a new challenge — harnessing the capital-raising power of the Internet. To this end, he founded Torrance, Calif.-based Prodege LLC in 2005. CEO Gorowitz’s initial model focused on partnerships with search providers to create white label platforms that donors […]
Peter Dameris, president and CEO, On Assignment Inc.
Winner – Services On Assignment is built on a “people first” approach. Whether it’s best serving its employees, the professionals it places or the clients it serves, the staffing company builds strong, trusted relationships. Peter Dameris, president and CEO of the Calabasas, Calif.-based company, leads a team of professionals who are experts in the field […]
Darron Anderson, CEO, Express Energy Services LP
Oil Field Services, Finalist It was all going so well for Darron Anderson. Investors bought the business that he had built into a success. Anderson felt disconnected from the company’s operations. He needed a new challenge and found it in Express Energy Services LP. This was a company that was growing and it seemed as […]
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.
Simon Bax, CEO; Bill Tillson, president and COO, Encompass Digital Media Inc.
Winners – Media Simon Bax and Bill Tillson met when the companies they worked for collaborated on a project together. At the end of the project, the two remained friends, and in 2007, they began to talk about potential business opportunities. They both shared a belief that the number of linear television channels around the […]
Dana Sellers, CEO, Encore Health Resources
Health Care & Health care Services, Finalist Dana Sellers could not have picked a worse time to launch a business. The recession that was rocking the global economy had taken hold and was showing no signs of letting go. She was confident though that she had the makings of a great business model to succeed […]
Sandy Scott, CEO, Sprint Industrial Holdings LLC
Logistics & Industrial Services, Finalist Sandy Scott always challenges herself to be better than she was the day before. As CEO of Sprint Industrial Holdings LLC, a provider of industrial equipment rentals used in the oil and gas industry, she expects the same from her company. Over the past two years, Scott has worked to […]
Donald Klein, president, Chesmar Homes Ltd.
Consumer Products & Services, Finalist Donald Klein had been leading the home building industry at large national homebuilders for more than 27 years when he decided in 2005 that it was time to do so under his own terms — creating Chesmar Homes Ltd. as a vehicle for realizing his vision. In the seven years […]
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.