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.
Curtis Brown, president and CEO, Rimkus Consulting Group Inc.
Business Services, Finalist Curtis Brown took the helm of Rimkus Consulting Group Inc. in 2008 and has led the forensics consulting company through a period of significant growth and geographic expansion. Since becoming CEO of the company, where he has worked for 22 years, Brown has overseen the opening of 10 new offices, including one […]
Charles Schugart, president and CEO, U.S. Legal Support
Business Services, Finalist Creating a sustainable company is a top goal for any business leader, and for Charles Schugart, it’s no different. Yet for Schugart, leading his company to sustainable growth started with digging it out of a hole. As president and CEO of U.S. Legal Support, Schugart spearheaded a 180-degree turnaround of the company, […]
John Magee, president, Crane Worldwide Logistics
Logistics and Industrial Services – Finalist Sometimes in business you have to follow your gut feeling. That is exactly what John Magee had to do when making the tough decision to leave his former company. When Magee’s previous logistics company was faced with a hostile takeover from a private equity company, he saw things he […]
Richard Zuschlag, chairman and CEO, Acadian Ambulance Service
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 […]
Nathaniel Victon, CEO, Sonic Electronix Inc.
Finalist — Distribution & Manufacturing Sonic Electronix Inc. was founded in 2000 while Nathaniel Victor was still in high school in Bakersfield, Calif. Victor was passionate about car electronics and e-commerce. He felt his first shopping experience for his car stereo left a lot to be desired and turned that experience into an opportunity. Victor […]
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Barry Arbuckle, President and CEO, MemorialCare Health System
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 […]
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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 […]