Entrepreneur of the Year honors ambitious entrepreneurs building a bolder future
SAN DIEGO, May 5, 2023 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur of the Year award.® Program 2023 South West Pacific. The Pacific Southwest program celebrates entrepreneurs in California (San Diego and Orange County), Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Hawaii. The Entrepreneur of the Year Award, now in its 37th year, is the most prestigious competitive award given to transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth businesses who are building a fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous world for all .
These entrepreneurs were selected as finalists by an independent jury. Candidates were evaluated based on their ability to create long-term value through entrepreneurship, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.
The 2023 Southwest Pacific finalists are:
Chance Mims | Academy Titles | San Diego, California
Quyen Nguyen | Alume Biosciences | San Diego, California
John Shen | American Lending Center Holdings Inc. | Irvine, California
Jimmy Whalen | Arbitech, LLC | Irvine, California
Gary Moore, Ryan Moore, Jeff Moore and Scott Moore | ATI Restore | Anaheim, California
John Beaver | Biolase, Inc. | Foothill Ranch, California
Chris Loeffler | Caliber | Scottsdale, Arizona
Dirk Wray | Camston Wrather | Carlsbad, California
Shahab Elmi | Cymbiotika LLC | San Diego, California
Alexi Venneri | Digital Airstrike | Scottsdale, Arizona
Marc Schouten | Diverse roofing | Phoenix, Arizona
Sean Lupton-Smith | Electric bicycle company. | Costa Mesa, California
Tom Miller | Entos Inc | La Jolla, California
Kathey Wagner | EPS Group, Inc. | Mesa, Arizona
David Moatazedi | Evolus | Newport Beach, California
Michelle Heeb | Forward tilt | Scottsdale, Arizona
Scott Shainman | Fusion Care Group | La Mesa, California
Maher Albitar | Genomic Testing Cooperative | Irvine, California
Vicki Mayo | Global Market Innovators (GMI) | Phoenix, Arizona
David Wachs | Manuscript | Tempe, Arizona
Maritza Diaz | ITJ USA, Inc | Rancho Santa Fe, California
David Glickman and Rizwan Kassim | Ka’ena Corporation | Costa Mesa, California
Ahad Khan | Kajabi LLC | Irvine, California
John Ho | Landsea Homes | Newport Beach, California
Kevin Lind | Pharmaceutical products for longboard | La Jolla, California
Donny Salazar | MasonHub | Rancho Cucamonga, California
Russ Garcia, Chris Giovanniello and Chris Keimel | Menlo Microsystems, Inc. | Irvine, California
Jeff Spight | MIND 24/7 | Scottsdale, Arizona
Steve Zhou | Moov Technologies, Inc. | Tempe, Arizona
Chris Karkenny | NVISION Eye Center | Aliso Viejo, California
Kentaro Kawamori | Persephine | Tempe, Arizona
Chuck Casano | Pitaya Foods | San Diego, California
Jack Kennedy | Scientific platform | San Diego, California
Mark McKenna | Prometheus Biosciences | La Jolla, California
Douglas Bryant | QuidelOrtho Corporation | San Diego, California
Brad Hillier | Re-Bath | Phoenix, Arizona
Greg Flesher | Renéo Pharmaceutical | Irvine, California
Stephanie Venn Watson and Eric Venn Watson | Seraphine Therapeutic | San Diego, California
Lucas Haldeman | SmartRent | Scottsdale, Arizona
Anthony Margaraci | Trinity Packaging Supply | Newport Beach, California
Cody Barbo | Confidence and will | San Diego, California
Simer Mayo | Global value | Phoenix, Arizona
Houttu City | Vincit United States | Irvine, California
“This year’s finalists are remarkable and inspiring entrepreneurs who have created a positive impact in their industries and communities,” said Jon Smith, Director of the South West Pacific Entrepreneur of the Year Program and Partner at EY. “They were carefully selected by our panel of independent judges, and we are delighted to recognize them for their notable contributions and commitment to their businesses, customers and communities. »
Regional award winners will be announced on June 16, 2023 at a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by national judges for the national Entrepreneur of the Year awards, which will be presented in November at the annual ceremony. Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the most prestigious gatherings in the country bringing together leading companies in their high-growth markets. The winner of the National Entrepreneur of the Year Award will then compete for the National Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Global Entrepreneur of the Year® Reward in June 2024.
The Entrepreneur of the Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs across the United States since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders in 145 cities in more than 60 countries across the world.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur of the Year awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, NA; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In the Pacific Southwest, sponsors also include platinum sponsors: Cresa and Marsh McLennan Agency; gold sponsors: Big Picture, Cooley (San Diego market), Stradling (Orange County market) and Tangram (Orange County market); and silver sponsor: DLA Piper (Arizona market).
About Entrepreneur of the Year®
Entrepreneur of the year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for invincible entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders bring the innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with ideas and experiences that promote growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. National Global Award winners compete for the Global Entrepreneur of the Year® title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
About EY Private
As Advisors to the Ambitious™, EY Private professionals have the experience and passion to help private companies and their owners unlock the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private Teams offer distinct perspectives born from EY’s long history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private businesses, including private equity managers and investors and the portfolio companies they finance, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private.
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