Award Recipients Announced for Ernst & Young 2009 Florida Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Orlando, 12 June 2009 – Ernst & Young LLP has announced the recipients of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in Florida, recognizing outstanding Florida entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.
Award recipients, selected by an independent judging panel of regional business, academic and community leaders, were announced at a gala event on 11 June at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.
“We congratulate this year’s recipients and all the finalists on their success,” said Mike Brennan, Ernst & Young partner and Florida Host of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program. “The Entrepreneur Of The Year award recognizes their efforts in business excellence and community improvement. We would all do well to emulate their determination and enthusiasm.”
Florida award recipients are:
Northern Florida:
- Lifetime achievement award: Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer, CSX Corporation, Jacksonville
- Distribution and manufacturing: David A. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer, PSS World Medical, Jacksonville
- Real estate and construction services: Charles C. Appleby, chairman and chief executive officer, Advanced Disposal Services, Jacksonville
- Emerging: Michael Murdoch, president and chief executive officer, AppRiver, Gulf Breeze
Southern Florida:
- Retail and consumer products: Menderes Akdag, president and chief executive officer, PetMed Express, Inc., dba 1-800-PetMeds, Pompano Beach
West Central Florida:
- Health services: Stephen F. Dickey, M.D., founder and vice president of operations, Doctor’s Walk-In Clinic, Tampa
- Marketing, media and entertainment: Tony Little, president, chief executive officer and founder, Health International Corporation, St. Petersburg
- Services: Scott Riley, chief executive officer, Fintech, Tampa
- Technology: Tony DiBenedetto, chairman and chief executive officer, Tribridge, Tampa
Regional award recipients will be eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national awards. Winners in numerous national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on 14 November, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 23rd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are sponsored nationally by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America. In Florida, sponsors include Bowne, RFB Communications Group and Smart Business Network.
Contact information
For more information about the program, please contact Beverly Eha at +1 813 225 4893 or visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.
About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
For more information, please visit www.ey.com.
Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.
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