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 Southeast Award finalists
Recognizing ambitious leaders who are shaping the future of their industries
Atlanta, April 21, 2026 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Southeast 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. The Southeast program celebrates entrepreneurs from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
An independent panel of judges selected 35 finalists based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value. ”Every finalist has a story defined by resilience — building through uncertainty, innovating with purpose and leading with conviction,” said Chevy Arnold, Entrepreneur Of The Year® Southeast Program Co-Director.
“Today, we want to thank these CEOs and their teams for the extraordinary work it takes to create successful, dynamic businesses that make a lasting impact. Founded in 1986 and now spanning nearly 80 countries and territories, Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates a select group of leaders — and being named a Southeast finalist is a powerful moment of recognition. Congratulations to this year’s class,” added Kimberly Kicklighter, Entrepreneur Of The Year® Southeast Program Co-Director.
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 Southeast finalists are:
- Chris LeMay | Alliance Technical Group, LLC | Decatur, AL
- Chip Russell | Amwaste | Forsyth, GA
- Jose Diego-Arozamena | Arglass, LLC | Valdosta, GA
- Somdutta Singh | Assiduus Global Inc | Atlanta, GA
- David Berkal | Banyan Software | Atlanta, GA
- Puneet Singh | CareBridge Health | Nashville, TN
- David Spratte | Carpe | Durham, NC
- Kasper Kubica | Carpe | Durham, NC
- Michael Malakhov | Carpool Logistics, Inc. | Atlanta, GA
- Cody Campbell | Community Concierge Services, LLC | Charlotte, NC
- Jessica Blackburn | Crown Paving, LLC | Greenbrier, TN
- Tyler Traudt | DebtBook | Charlotte, NC
- John Treece | DMA Industries LLC | Tabor City, NC
- Rex Adams | EyeSouth Partners | Atlanta, GA
- Justin Draplin | Fortified Solar LLC | Taylors, SC
- Brian Dally | Groundfloor Finance | Atlanta, GA
- Spencer Baird | Inmar Intelligence | Winston-Salem, NC
- Adam Newsome | Lazer Logistics | Alpharetta, GA
- Tisha Thompson | LYS Beauty | Kennesaw, GA
- Aaron Thomas | Metcon, Inc. | Pembroke, NC
- Michael Uchrin | Monogram Health | Brentwood, TN
- Connor Ryan | NutraSky | Alpharetta, GA
- John Bradford, III. | PetScreening | Mooresville, NC
- Eric Young | Reeves Young | Sugar Hill, GA
- Robin Gregg | RoadSync | Atlanta, GA
- EJ Reed | Slim & Husky's | Nashville, TN
- Derrick Moore | Slim & Husky's | Nashville, TN
- Clinton Gray | Slim & Husky's | Nashville, TN
- Sean Henry | Stord | Atlanta, GA
- Jacob Boudreau | Stord | Atlanta, GA
- Zach Maurides | Teamworks | Durham, NC
- Nicholas Ogden | The Clear Blue Company | Nashville, TN
- Jason Burke | The New Primal | Charleston, SC
- Chau Nguyen | Vintage Modern, Inc | Buford, GA
- William Fogler | WM Events | Hapeville, GA
Learn more about the finalists at ey.com/us/eoysoutheast.
Regional award winners will be announced live during our awards celebration on June 18. 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 Southeast, sponsors also include Vaco LLC as the regional platinum sponsor; ADP and King & Spalding as the regional gold sponsors; and Babbit Bodner as the regional silver sponsor.
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.