Gold Canyon Founders Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2007 Award Finalists in Orange County

    CHANDLER, Ariz., May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold Canyon today announced
 that Karen Waisath, Gold Canyon Co-Founder; and Curt Waisath, Gold Canyon
 CEO, President and Co-Founder, are finalists for the Ernst & Young
 Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2007 Orange County Award program. According to
 Ernst & Young, the awards program was designed to recognize outstanding
 entrepreneurs on a regional, national and global level who are building and
 leading dynamic, growing businesses. The Waisaths were selected as
 finalists from nearly 80 nominations by a panel of independent judges.
 Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 19th at the
 Hyatt Regency Irvine.
     "We are honored to be considered for this prestigious award," said Curt
 Waisath. "We especially appreciate the hard work of hundreds of Gold Canyon
 co-workers and thousands of Independent Demonstrators who have dedicated
 their talents and passion toward the success of Gold Canyon over the last
 ten years. We owe our success to all of them."
     After the adoption of their fist child, Karen's desire to work from
 home gave birth to Gold Canyon, a company with annual sales over $85
 million. Disappointed by the candles she had come across, Karen set out to
 develop a safer and more fragrant candle. Experimenting in her Arizona
 kitchen, Karen developed a cleaner burning candle that would permeate her
 home with a rich aroma. Soon after, her husband Curt left his job as a CPA
 to join the business. Determined to offer other women the opportunity to
 have a career while staying at home, they established an Independent
 Demonstrator sales force.
     Ten years after its humble beginnings, Gold Canyon has grown from one
 candle to more than 200 varieties, several home decorating pieces and a
 line of personal care products. Today Gold Canyon offers over 25,000
 Independent Demonstrators in the U.S. and Canada the opportunity to fulfill
 their own entrepreneurial dreams. The company's focus on family and
 community has been the driving force behind the creation of its cool wax
 formulation and self- extinguishing wick, as well as the inspiration for
 the Prayer Child Foundation, established by the Waisaths with the mission
 of aiding children in need. The Prayer Child Foundation has provided more
 than $1 million in assistance to children.
     The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates
 its 21st anniversary this year. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who have
 demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as
 innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their
 businesses and communities.
     Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst &
 Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007 national program. Award winners in
 several 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 November 17, 2007. The national
 Entrepreneur Of The Year celebration is part of Ernst & Young's Strategic
 Growth Forum. The overall national Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient
 is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.
     Sponsors
     Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year
 Awards are pleased to have Bank of America as the national presenting
 sponsor, as well as SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as
 national sponsors.
     Local sponsors include Marsh, Scherzer International, Stradling Yocca
 Carlson & Rauth, Strategic Equity Group, Orange County Business Journal and
 RR Donnelley.
     About Gold Canyon
     Based in Chandler, Ariz., Gold Canyon was founded in 1997 by Curt and
 Karen Waisath and offers an income opportunity through quality scents,
 d�cor, home and personal care. Through an independent sales force of more
 than 25,000 Demonstrators, Gold Canyon is committed to enriching lives with
 "The World's Finest"(R) products, developed with great care using only the
 highest quality ingredients. For more information, visit
 http://www.goldcanyoncandle.com.
     About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards
     The Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) awards program was created and is
 produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first
 award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Award
 recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic
 and growing businesses. The program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary
 in 2006, honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award
 programs in over 125 cities and 40 countries.
     About Ernst & Young
     Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed
 to enhancing the public's trust in professional services firms and in the
 quality of financial reporting. Its 114,000 people in 140 countries pursue
 the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing
 a range of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of
 auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about
 Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found
 at http://www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to the global
 organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, a U.K.
 company limited by guarantee, each of which is a separate legal entity.
 Ernst & Young Global Limited does not provide services to clients. Ernst &
 Young LLP is a U.S. client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global
 Limited.
 
 

SOURCE Gold Canyon