John D. Schiller Jr.; founder, chairman and CEO; Energy XXI Ltd.
Exploration & Production, Finalist John D. Schiller Jr. took something from every experience he had after graduating from Texas A&M University and going into the oil and gas business. He watched the business change significantly and experienced many of the mergers and consolidations that took place through the 1980s and 1990s. It all put him […]
Chris Beckett, founder and CEO, Pacific Drilling
Oil Field Services, Finalist In 2008, Chris Beckett left a career with an established offshore drilling contractor to build an ultra-deepwater drilling company — from scratch. Despite the huge challenges and personal risk of this decision, Beckett believed in the possibilities of a company created without the legacy problems common to companies developed over time […]
How to stock up on tax inventory savings and improve your business’s financial health
Philippe Simoens, CPA, Partner, Tax and Strategic Business Service, Weaver
How treasury management services leverage technology to improve performance
Debbie Innes, Executive Vice President, Retail Banking and Treasury Management, Cadence Bank
Michael Golden, Thaddeus Wong; co-founders, @properties
Services Finalist Realizing firsthand a need for better services and support for realty agents, Michael Golden and Thaddeus Wong gave up their positions as topproducing agents at a small brokerage firm to start their own company to provide just that. Co-founding @properties in 2000, they began as a small, four-person operation selling new construction. Twelve […]
Joe Fowler, president, Stress Engineering Services Inc.
Business Services, Award Recipient Joe Fowler believes that the best way to overcome obstacles is to avoid them. So as president of Stress Engineering Services Inc., he’s put in place policies and growth strategies designed to take the actual stress off his customers and employees. In addition to its unique, niche business strategy — marrying […]
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.
James Taylor, chairman and CEO; Arun Pasrija, president and COO, CHR Solutions Inc.
Technology — Finalist In an industry that moves at breakneck speeds, where the latest in technology is often outdated by the time it reaches the marketplace, CHR Solutions Inc. remains three steps ahead of its competition. CHR stands out as the leading provider of products and services to communications services providers across the United States. […]
Honoring the best of the best
Smart Business, along with Ernst & Young, is proud to recognize and honor the accomplishments of these entrepreneurs.
How to choose the right Professional Employment Organization for your business
J. Richard Hicks, CEO, HR1 Services Inc.