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.
Recent Searches
Press release
21 Apr 2026
EY US unveils Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Pacific Southwest Award finalists
Recognizing ambitious leaders who are shaping the future of their industries
Irvine, CA April 21, 2026 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Pacific Southwest Award. Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and uplifting communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations drive economic growth and help shape the future of business. This year’s Pacific Southwest finalists represent Southern California (San Diego and Orange County), Arizona, and Nevada across all industries.
An independent panel of judges selected 44 finalists from 40 companies based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
"The finalists this year embody bold entrepreneurship, making a lasting difference in their industries and communities throughout the Pacific Southwest," said Edward Koijane, EY Partner and Pacific Southwest – Las Vegas and Orange County Program Co-Director. "Selected by an independent panel, their companies are key drivers of job growth, innovation, and regional business strength. We are delighted to celebrate their achievements."
Entrepreneur Of The Year® honors many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company, transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory, and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.
The 2026 Pacific Southwest finalists are:
- Jayme Ambrose | Adobe Population Health | Phoenix, AZ
- Chris Miner | ArborWorks, LLC | Scottsdale, AZ
- Dan Briggs | Auragens | Las Vegas, NV
- Jason Richardson | Bad Birdie | Scottsdale, AZ
- Mark Davis | Black Rock Coffee Bar | Scottsdale, AZ
- Todd Hornback | Cohere | Phoenix, AZ
- GS Bhalla | Cosentus LLC | Irvine, CA
- Lucy Solie-Vilker | Donor Nexus | Newport Beach, CA
- Joe Monaco | Dudek | Encinitas, CA
- David-Alexandre (DA) Gros | Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Irvine, CA
- Dan Magy | Firestorm Labs | San Diego, CA
- Kurt Johnson | FreightPOP, Inc. | Lake Forest, CA
- Mike Godbehere | GCON | Phoenix, AZ
- Sal Hassan | H&S Energy Group | Orange, CA
- John Harris | Harbinger | Garden Grove, CA
- Brigham Dallas, Keaton Wall | Hello Sugar | Mesa, AZ
- Emun Zabihi | iHerb | Irvine, CA
- Mark Lappe | Inhibrx Biosciences, Inc. | San Diego, CA
- Kevin Maloney | iTrustCapital | Irvine, CA
- Viet Nguyen | Kei Concepts | Huntington Beach, CA
- Glenn Stearns | Kind Lending | Irvine, CA
- Ray Lucia | Lucia Capital Group | San Diego, CA
- Brad Feldmann | Neology, Inc. | Carlsbad, CA
- Craig Chambliss | Neurelis | San Diego, CA
- Justin Tidwell, Anthony Puterman | Nowadays | Irvine, CA
- Brian Tate | Oats Overnight | Phoenix, AZ
- Andy Wexler | Pali Mountain | Running Springs, CA
- Joel Batule | PaveMasters LLC | Poway, CA
- Kiran Avancha, Vivek Kopparthi, Raj Hirani | PriZm, LLC (dba PriZm Therapeutics) | Chandler, AZ
- Victor Jimenez | Pulice – A FlatironDragados Company | Scottsdale, AZ
- James Schmachtenberger | Qualia Life | Carlsbad, CA
- Gregg Ribatt | REEF | Carlsbad, CA
- Inga Rose | Reference Medicine | Phoenix, AZ
- Zach Haptonstall | Rise48 Equity | Scottsdale, AZ
- Ryan Black | Sambazon | San Clemente, CA
- Rich Gallagher | Synergos Companies | Scottsdale, AZ
- Will Lisman | The Honest Kitchen | San Diego, CA
- Curtis Edenfield | Thrive Aviation | Henderson, NV
- Morgan Haynes | Tribal Health | Scottsdale, AZ
- Fadi Cheikha | US Alliance Group Inc. | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Learn more about the finalists at ey.com/us/eoypacificsouthwest
Regional award winners will be announced on June 6, 2026 during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the national independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Pacific Southwest, sponsors also include platinum sponsors: Vaco; gold sponsors: ADP, Big Picture, Cooley (San Diego market) and Stradling (Orange County market) and silver sponsors: Pierpont Communications (Arizona market).
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.
The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where national finalists and award winners are announced. The national overall winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
About EY
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.
Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.
EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.
All in to shape the future with confidence.
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. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.