Drake Mills, CEO, Community Trust Bank
Consumer Products & Services, Finalist When Drake Mills started his career at Community Trust Bank in 1984 as a check file clerk, the bank had one location with nine employees. After working his way through the company, Mills became CEO in 2003 when the bank had four locations and less than 100 employees. Today, the […]
How to ensure your money is well spent with the right law firm during litigation
Gerald Knapton, Partner, Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley PC
Rick J. Caruso, founder and CEO, Caruso Affiliated
Master Entrepreneur Rick J. Caruso is founder and chief executive officer of Caruso Affiliated, one of the country’s largest, most innovative and influential privately held real estate development companies. Its portfolio encompasses a world-class collection of properties that attract millions of people annually, including one of its premier developments, The Grove, which attracts more guests […]
Ray Rice Jr., president and CEO, RB Products Inc.
Distribution & Manufacturing — Energy, Finalist Ray Rice Jr. launched RB Products Inc., a petrochemical processing and distribution company, in 1996. Over the next 10 years, RB grew within the petrochemical industry, gaining a favorable reputation as a distributor focused on niche markets outside the sphere of the majors and for often producing an eco-friendly […]
Jai Shekhawat, founder and CEO, Fieldglass
Private Equity/Venture Capital – Winner Jai Shekhawat believed so much in his vision that despite many setbacks — including rejection from more than 90 venture firms and an early dispute with an outside vendor — he successfully developed one of the first true software as a service solutions through his company, Fieldglass Inc., in 1999. […]
Brian Fielkow, president, Jetco Delivery
Logistics & Industrial Services, Finalist In 2006, Brian Fielkow risked his entire net worth and purchased Jetco Delivery. The purchase fulfilled Fielkow’s dream of owning his own business — a dream that hasn’t wavered, even when he and the company faced the Great Recession a few years ago. As the trucking industry slid to a […]
Earl Hesterberg, president and CEO, Group 1 Automotive Inc.
Consumer Products & Services, Award Recipient Earl Hesterberg knows cars. He’s worked in the automotive industry for 36 years, with experience as a manufacturer, independent distributor and retailer. He boasts three of the world’s biggest automobile companies — Ford, Toyota and Nissan — on his resume. His experience has enabled him to significantly grow Houston-based […]
Matt Miller, founding president and CEO, MobileDemand
FINALIST Like many entrepreneurs, Matt Miller developed the idea for his company by seeing a problem for which he had a solution. In 2002, Miller was working at an established job when he learned about a pain point for one of the company’s customers, Anheuser-Busch. The business was going to require all of its independent […]
Jeff Stibel, chairman and CEO, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.
Financial Services – Finalist Like most entrepreneurs, work is a hobby for Jeff Stibel, chairman and CEO of Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. Some people play tennis or golf; his passion is starting companies. What makes Stibel different from many entrepreneurs is that he fully embraces failure. Virtually every success and achievement he has undertaken […]
Michael Sheldon, president and CEO, Network Hardware Resale LLC
Finalist — Distribution & Manufacturing Founded in a garage in 1986 by former IBM executive Chuck Sheldon, Network Hardware Resale LLC grew from the ground up with a focus on selling the best pre-owned networking equipment at faster response times and with lower failure rates than original equipment manufacturers. By 1996 the company, a reseller […]