Steve V. Pate, Chairman and CEO of Strike, LLC, Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Real Estate, Construction and Lodging Award Winner

HOUSTON, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve V. Pate, Chairman and CEO of Strike, LLC, has been named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Real Estate, Construction and Lodging Award winner.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, a leading business award for entrepreneurs, encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.

Pate was recognized for filling a gap in the midstream energy industry and creating a rapidly growing company, with over 2,500 employees, in just 10 years at the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards gala, the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum® in Palm Springs, Calif. The Forum is the nation's premier gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Awards were given in 10 additional categories.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and from more than 250 regional award recipients.

"We are pleased to honor Steve Pate's dedication, focus and entrepreneurial vision with this award," said Mike Kacsmar, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Americas Program Director. "This is the kind of high-impact entrepreneurship that revs the economic engine of our country."

One step ahead … literally 
With Pate's "One Step Ahead" innovation mentality that he has infused within his company's culture, Strike continuously seeks to exceed industry benchmarks. For example, safety is of the utmost importance in the midstream industry, but industrywide there are high rates of lost-time incidents every year. Pate has made safety a core value throughout his organization, and not only does it attract repeat customers, it also helps attract and retain top talent. In 2012, Strike achieved more than 8.1 million work-hours without a single lost-time incident.

Exceeding client expectations is also paramount. Whereas most of Strike's competitors focus business activities on a certain service line or asset class, Strike provides a single-source solution set for the full spectrum of midstream needs. Strike has developed a proprietary system that provides clients with relevant, real-time data regarding project status, offering transparency and accountability. Strike clients have the ability to track and budget labor and material on each project in real-time.

Inspiring employees one initiative at a time
In addition to satisfying new and potential customers, Pate's organization is committed to encouraging employees to do great things outside of work. In 2012, Strike launched "Campaign for Change," a philanthropic endeavor with a mission to raise awareness and educate Strike employees, family and friends about the significance of giving; provide opportunities for them to share time and resources with local communities and around the world; and affect others by changing themselves. Last year alone, the Strike family volunteered more than 11,000 hours in addition to contributing over $2 million in financial support.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 National Real Estate, Construction and Lodging finalists
In addition to Pate, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Real Estate, Construction and Lodging finalists in the US were: Pete Flint, CEO/Founder of Trulia, based in San Francisco, Calif.;  Gregory Michael Graves, Chairman, President and CEO of Burns & McDonnell, based in Kansas City, Mo.; and Kevin Sheehan, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, based in Miami, Fla.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 National Overall Award winner
Dr. David Hung of Medivation was named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Overall Award winner.

Video and photos 
To view photos of all of the Entrepreneur Of The Year winners, please visit ey.com/us/eoy/  

Sponsors  
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The program 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 awards program 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. ey.com/eoy

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network 
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/sgm 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.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the 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. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.

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