How Hezy Shaked overcame challenge after challenge to build Tilly’s Inc.
Retail & Consumer Products WINNER Hezy Shaked has faced many different challenges throughout his life. So when he and his wife, Tilly, realized that $3,000 was not going to be enough to complete their cross-country journey of the United States, Shaked was not shaken a bit. He was committed to being the provider his family […]
How Stephen Gordon created Opus Bank to initiate positive change in its communities
Financial Services FINALIST Throughout Stephen Gordon’s distinguished 25-year financial and investment banking career, he’s served in executive leadership positions with rapidly growing and successful financial services firms focusing on investment banking, retail banking and commercial banking. During the worst economic cycle in decades, Gordon recognized that the lack of available credit and liquidity was severely […]
How Michael Purcell helped Global Cash Card break into the pay card industry
Financial Services FINALIST As executive vice president and CMO of Global Cash Card, Michael Purcell has faced both trouble and triumph throughout his journey as an entrepreneur, which began in the staffing industry. It was during this time that Purcell realized there had to be a better way to distribute payroll to employees across the […]
How Marc Brenner has transformed a simple auto mechanic school into a diverse college campus at Ohio Technical College
NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Family Business Award Winner Marc Brenner president and CEO Ohio Technical College In July 1969, Marc Brenner and his father Julius founded the Ohio Diesel Mechanics School. Over the course of 30 years, the school grew, added programs, training, and changed locations and names. In […]
How Robert V. Sinnott finds a ‘win-win’ deal for Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors clients
Financial Services WINNER Robert V. Sinnott believes in the idea of partnership and “doing the right thing” as a staple of a successful investing strategy. In the late 1990s, a rogue oil trader was crippling a Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors portfolio company, and the company was not likely to survive. Sinnott, president, CEO and chief […]
How Ralph Della Ratta Jr. left retirement to found Western Reserve Partners
NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Financial Services Finalist Ralph Della Ratta Jr. managing director Western Reserve Partners, LLC When Ralph Della Ratta Jr. gets asked, “What were you thinking starting a new entrepreneurial chapter in your life at age 55?” he responds that he missed three things: being engaged in […]
How Dana Sellers looks for people with big ideas and big plans at Encore Health Resources
Health Care AWARD RECIPIENT Dana Sellers CEO Encore Health Resources Dana Sellers was looking for a summer internship and not having a whole lot of luck when she decided to take a summer job with IBM manufacturing typewriters. In exchange for tuition reimbursement for graduate school, Sellers decided to stay with IBM as a polymer […]
How Norbert Donelly jumped into the Tervis driver’s seat and drove
Retail & Consumer Products AWARD RECIPIENT Norbert P. Donnely Chairman Tervis Norbert Donelly didn’t start his career with a comfortable job in his father-in-law’s business, Tervis. Rather, he began his career out of college working for a Wall Street bank. That was the scenario until 1989 when tragedy struck — and Donelly had to step […]
How Judson Bergman nurtured his vision to maturity at Envestnet
Financial Services FINALIST Judson Bergman had a vision that he thought was too important to let die after he was unsuccessful in launching it at the investment firm where he worked. So he took the vision with him, leaving the company to develop a business plan that became Envestnet. And of their own accord, several […]
How Mark Bamforth took a big chance with Gallus BioPharmaceuticals that paid off
STL Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist Mark R. Bamforth founder, president and CEO Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, LLC Mark R. Bamforth helped an American pharmaceutical company grow into a multi-billion dollar company, which led to his 20-plus year career running its operations in the U.K. and Boston. But he grew weary of […]