EY announces winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Northern California Award

EY builds on three decades of honoring unstoppable entrepreneurs in the Northern California region and beyond

EY is pleased to announce the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year^® Award in Northern California. As the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes business leaders who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

This group of entrepreneurial leaders was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs, investors and other regional business leaders. The winners were unveiled at a special gala on June 21 at The Fairmont San Jose, emceed by Scott McGrew, host of the NBC Bay Area weekly news roundtable Press:Here.

EY has recognized more than 10,000 business leaders around the world, since the inception of the program more than 30 years ago. Past winners have transformed industries, created new product categories and successfully brought new innovation and technology to traditional industries. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, John Mackey of Whole Foods Market, Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn and Mindy Grossman of HSN.

“This year’s winners truly inspire us with their leadership, vision and achievements,” said Rebecca Norris, Entrepreneur Of The Year Northern California Program Director. “They are taking bold risks, innovating and driving positive change in their communities, the economy and society at large. We’re thrilled to celebrate them, share their stories and give them the recognition they deserve.”

The Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Northern California Award winners are:

• Joseph DeSimone, Co-Founder & CEO | Carbon, Inc.
• Arturo Lomeli, Founder & CEO | Clase Azul Spirits
• Juan Sanchez, President | Clase Azul Spirits
• Amir Dan Rubin, President & CEO | One Medical
• Stephen Hawthornthwaite, Co-Founder & CEO | Rothy’s, Inc.
• Ralph Clark, CEO | ShotSpotter
• Doug Merritt, President & CEO | Splunk Inc.
• David Spector, Co-Founder & Co-CEO | ThirdLove
• Heidi Zak, Co-Founder & Co-CEO | ThirdLove
• Stephane Kasriel, President & CEO | Upwork In

To learn more about the Northern California program, please visit ey.com/us/eoy/norcal. Join us in congratulating this year’s winners on social media by following us @EY_EOYUS and using #EOYNORCAL.

Since its founding in 1986, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries throughout the world. 

Regional award winners are now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards.  Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 16, 2019. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum^®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in Monaco in June 2019.  

The Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Northern California Region Winners

Sponsors

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

In Northern California, sponsors also include SolomonEdwards and Woodruff Sawyer.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year^®

Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program 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 Growth Markets Network

EY’s worldwide 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/gm 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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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member of the global EY organization that provides services to clients in the US.