EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 Award Finalists Announced in Orange County Region

IRVINE, Calif. - May 11, 2015 - PRLog -- EY today announced finalists for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 Awards in Orange County and the Inland Empire. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs and business leaders who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. These Orange County and Inland Empire business leaders were selected as finalists from 65 nominations by a panel of 15 independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a gala event June 11, 2015 at The St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point.

The finalists are as follows:

Jeff Walker, CEO – Alliance Entertainment, Irvine

Charles Dunlop and James Dunlop, co-founders – Ambry Genetics, Aliso Viejo

Steven Sugarman, CEO and Jeff Seabold, president – Banc of California, Tustin

Jim Conroy, CEO – Boot Barn, Irvine

Michael Burdiek, CEO and president – CalAmp, Irvine

Kim Cripe, CEO and president – Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange

Mike Mussallem, chairman and CEO – Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine

Steve Sather, CEO and president – El Pollo Loco, Costa Mesa

Jarrod Dogan, CEO and president – Hybrid Promotions, Cypress

Dan Rodrigues, founder and CEO – Kareo, Irvine

Amir Neshat, founder, CEO and president – LIBERTY Dental Plan, Irvine

Anthony Hsieh, chairman and CEO – loanDepot, Foothill Ranch

Steve Schulze and Alexis Schulze, co-founders – Nekter Juice Bar, Santa Ana

Andrew Peykoff, CEO and president – Niagara Bottling, Ontario

Brian Meshkin, CEO and president – Proove Biosciences, Irvine

Joe Duran, CEO – United Capital Financial Advisers, Newport Beach

Now in its 29th year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in 60 countries.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year national program.  Award winners in several national categories, as well as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall National Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif. on Nov. 14, 2015. The US Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in Monaco in June 2016. Additionally, venture-backed companies that win an Entrepreneur Of The Year Award regionally are also eligible for the Venture Capital Award of Excellence at the national level. The awards are the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors

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

In Orange County, the sponsors are: Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Co.; Union Bank; Hollencrest Capital Management; Stradling Law; Smart Business Magazine; Merrill Datasite; Scherzer International; and HKA, Inc. Marketing Communications.

Contact information

For more information, contact: Kathy Beckman, EY, 18111 Von Karman Ave., Suite 1000, Irvine, Calif. 92612, (949) 437-0236, kathy.beckman@ey.com.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®

EY 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 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

About EY’s Strategic Growth Markets practice

EY’s Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues affecting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.  For more information, please visit ey.com.