Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2011 Southwest Area North Finalists Announced

DALLAS, May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Southwest Area North finalists. This group of outstanding entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous winners of the award, leading CEOs, private capital investors and other regional business leaders. The winners will be revealed at a gala event on June 25, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.

"These finalists create jobs in our area, encouraging community development and innovation in our broader economy," said Debra von Storch, Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest Area North Program Partner. "No matter who wins on June 25th we know one thing for sure - the Southwest Area North is enriched by every one of these finalists."

Lifetime achievement honoree

Ernst & Young is  also pleased to announce Erle Nye as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2011 Southwest Area North Lifetime Achievement Award winner.  Mr. Nye, recognized as a true visionary, played a key role in the deregulation of Texas public utilities and is well known for his ability to reposition TXU during a critical time.  He will be honored at the June 25th  gala.

"Ernst & Young is especially pleased to honor Erle Nye at our upcoming 25th silver anniversary gala," said Debra von Storch, Ernst & Young partner and Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Leader.  His efforts and leadership have added countless new jobs to our economy and truly enriched our local and regional communities as a result."

The Entrepreneur Of The Year Program honors entrepreneurs regionally in June, leading up to the national awards in November. Additionally, venture-backed companies that win an Entrepreneur Of The Year Award regionally are also eligible for the Entrepreneur Of The Year Venture Capital Award of Excellence on a national level. The overall National US winner moves on to compete for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.

This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program celebrates its 25th anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities and more than 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

All regional honorees are invited to the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala, hosted by Jay Leno, on November 12, 2011, in Palm Springs, California. The gala is the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies, which will be held November 9-13, 2011. For more information on the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, please visit www.ey.com/us/strategicgrowthforum.  

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as a national sponsor.

In Southwest Area North, sponsors include:

• First United Bank & Trust
• Smith, Frank & Partners, L.L.C.
• Roach Howard Smith & Barton
• Transwestern

Contact information

To make reservations for the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards gala on June 25, contact Darlene Pearson-Lowe of Ernst & Young at +1.214.969.8342 or [email protected] by June 17th. Tickets are $300 per person or $3,000 per table of ten. For more information about the program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

Ernst & Young 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 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services.  Worldwide, our 141,000 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.

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 LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a US client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

SOURCE Ernst & Young