EY builds on three decades of honoring unstoppable entrepreneurs in the Southeast
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) is pleased to announce the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Southeast Award. Now in its 34th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year® is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The Southeast program celebrates entrepreneurs from Alabama, the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. This group of unstoppable entrepreneurial leaders transforming our world was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs, investors and other regional business leaders. Southeast award winners were unveiled during the program’s first-ever virtual awards celebration, hosted by Deborah Norville, anchor of Inside Edition, on October 6, 2020. To watch the replay, visit the Southeast program website.
“There are many successful entrepreneurs in this world, but creating long-term value takes grit, perseverance and ambition,” said Chevy Arnold, Southeast Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director. “EY is proud to honor these unstoppable visionaries who are inspiring innovation without limitation and fueling growth around the globe. We welcome them to our alumni community of past winners and look forward to supporting them as they continue to make an impact.”
The winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Southeast Award are:
- Lifetime Achievement honoree: Jim Ayers | FirstBank, Nashville, TN
- Greice Murphy | Advanced Care Partners, Atlanta, GA
- Matt Dircks | BeyondTrust, Johns Creek, GA
- Geoff Foster | Core Technology Molding Corporation, Greensboro, NC
- Pat Mackin | CryoLife, Kennesaw, GA
- Scott Ellyson | East West Manufacturing, Atlanta, GA
- Jeff Sweeney | East West Manufacturing, Atlanta, GA
- Johnson Cook | Greenlight Financial Technology, Atlanta, GA
- Tim Sheehan | Greenlight Financial Technology, Atlanta, GA
- Gary Cooper | Palmetto Infusion Services, Pawleys Island, SC
- David Goodall | Palmetto Infusion Services, Pawleys Island, SC
- Dr. Dale Yake | PT Solutions Physical Therapy, Atlanta, GA
Candidates were evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management.
Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries throughout the world.
To learn more about the Southeast program, please visit ey.com/us/southeast_eoy. Join the conversation on social media using #EOYSoutheastUS and #EOYUS.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 National Awards, to be announced Thursday, November 19, during a virtual awards gala. The awards are the culminating event of this year’s virtual Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2021.
Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources. Since 1986, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 10,000 US executives.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation.
In the Southeast, sponsors also include Platinum sponsor King & Spalding LLP and Silver sponsors Chatham Financial and Cresa.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. ey.com/us/eoy
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