Zimmerman Advertising Founder and Chairman Jordan Zimmerman Recognized as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Award Winner in Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmerman Advertising announced today that Founder and Chairman, Jordan Zimmerman, has been selected as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Award winner for the Corporate Innovator Category in Florida. The award was presented Thursday, June 14, at a special gala held at the Hilton Orlando. It recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120615/FL25492)

Jordan, along with many of his executive board and colleagues were on hand for the ceremony. His bold, innovative business approaches and relentless determination struck a chord with judges, who selected Jordan from more than 100 nominees across the state. He now moves to the national level, where he will compete against other award recipients from around the country.

Jordan started Zimmerman Advertising in a strip mall in South Florida in 1984 with just $10,000 in his pocket, building it into a the $3 billion empire -- representing a host of the most successful retail companies in the country, including: Office Depot, AutoNation, Party City, Papa John's, Nissan, Ashley Furniture, Boston Market, White Castle, and many more. He wants everyone to know anything is possible when it comes to business. "This award from Ernst & Young is exactly what America stands for – free enterprise and the American dream still exist," said Jordan. "Dream big and dare to fail."

Now in its 26th year, Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year Program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries throughout the world.

As a Florida award recipient, Jordan is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year Program. Award recipients in several national categories, as well as the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award recipient, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2012. 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.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Florida platinum sponsors include Carlton Fields, Fifth Third Bank, Tribridge and Vaco; silver sponsors RFB Communications Group and Scherzer International and media sponsor Smart Business Network.

About Zimmerman Advertising

Zimmerman is the 14th largest full-service agency in the U.S. and Omnicom Group's retail powerhouse. Zimmerman created the science of Brandtailing™, building brand equity over time while driving immediate growth. Holistic by design, their brand-activation business model includes strategic planning, business analytics, brand design, advertising, interactive, social engagement, media, public relations, mobile, CRM/Loyalty and in-house production. For more information, visit www.zadv.com, join us at facebook.com/ZimmermanAdv and follow us on Twitter @ZimmermanAdv.

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 152,000 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 Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

SOURCE Zimmerman Advertising