Ben Pouladian and Sam Sinai of Deco Lighting are EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Greater Los Angeles semifinalists

LOS ANGELES, March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EY today announced that Ben Pouladian and Sam Sinai of Deco Lighting, Inc, are semifinalists for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Greater Los Angeles Region Award. Now celebrating its 30th year, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs in over 145 cities and 60 countries who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Ben Pouladian and Sam Sinai were selected as a semifinalist by a panel of independent judges. Finalists will be announced Monday, May 9, and winners will be announced at a black-tie Awards Gala on Tuesday, June 21, with more than 700 Founders, CEOs and other business leaders in attendance, at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

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Before either reached the age of thirty-five Ben Pouladian and Sam Sinai built a multi-million dollar company. Commitment to excellence, the refusal to accept mediocrity and the willingness to risk it all are the hallmarks of Sam and Ben's leadership. This is demonstrated in the fact that while many companies engaged in the manufacturing industry have fled the United States for countries with more forgiving tax laws and labor regulations Ben and Sam have sought to create a unicorn of sorts, a family-owned manufacturing business in the heart of Los Angeles that provides its employees with benefits ranging from healthcare to continuing education to a culture on par with that found in many Silicon Valley tech firms. To many, the path Ben and Sam have chosen to take may seem risky if not foolish.  Why stay in California?  Why manufacture in America?  Why create a culture for an assembly line?  Sam and Ben think independently and are willing to take the risks necessary to achieve this rare gem of a company that embodies the All-American values of the golden age of mid-twentieth century manufacturing with the twenty-first century concepts of corporate culture of finding meaning in your job.  Manufacturing in American in the current economic climate is inherently risky.  So is spending the capital necessary to invest in the education and happiness of your employees but Ben and Sam do it and the fruits of the labor can be seen in the steady rise of Deco Lighting, Inc.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national award winner, will be announced at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016. The awards gala is the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Learn more about Ben Pouladian and Sam Sinai's journey as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year semifinalists by following @getdeco on Twitter

Follow all the latest program developments @EY_EOYUS using #EOYGLA and visit the Greater Los Angeles regional website for more information: www.ey.com/us/eoy/greaterla.

Deco Lighting, Inc. began an idea conceived by two cousins who wanted to bring high quality, energy-efficient, digital led lighting to the market and carry on their family's tradition of working in the lighting industry. They began in 2005 as a couple of twenty-somethings who both formerly worked in finance but wanted to build something bigger that was truly theirs.  Ben saw entrepreneurs coming to the firm he worked for to get the capital to realize their own dreams and in time it became clear that he wanted to build something that was his own and that he could mold into something truly great.  Sam saw the potential in lighting and wanted to create a business that not only had market value but had the power to improve people's lives.

They also saw many of their friends and peers go to work for companies like Facebook and Zappos where the corporate culture defined the reputation of the company. They dreamed of bringing the same spirit to a company based in the lighting industry, and thus from the beginning, incorporated a fun, respectful culture into the mission statement of the business.

Working out of a small warehouse in Gardena, California with a start-up investment of $200,000 and just 5 employees they persevered and over the last nine years have grown the business from a tiny startup to an industry leader that employs over one hundred individuals and does business globally.  Sam and Ben have continually sought to create a cutting edge company, operating in the heart of Los Angeles, that combines industry leading technological development of green lighting with the corporate culture and respect for workers both men saw lacking in much of the manufacturing sector.

For Sam and Ben it is not enough to simply manufacture a quality product at a reasonable price.   They were adamant about bringing a sleek, young, urban look to the lighting company that would make potential employees, customers and partners want to seek out Deco and redefine the image of the industry.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique 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, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets practice

EY's Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

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SOURCE Deco Lighting