Nominations Open for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Orange County Awards

    IRVINE, CA, January 22, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- EY is accepting nominations for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 awards program for Orange County and the Inland Empire, the company announced today. The nomination deadline is March 11, 2016, and the awards will be presented at a gala celebration on Friday, June 17, 2016 at The St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program is recognized as one of the world's most prestigious business award programs, honoring successful entrepreneurs in more than 145 cities in 60 countries. EY has been at the forefront of identifying game-changing business leaders who have disrupted industries, created new product categories and successfully brought new innovation and technology to their sectors.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Orange County program has honored some of the region's most inspiring entrepreneurs such as Steele Platt of the Yard House Restaurants; Vernon Underwood of Young's Market Co.; Mike Mussallem of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation; Mike Morhaime of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.; William Wang of Visio, Inc.; and Joe Kiani of Masimo Corporation. In 2015, Niagara Bottling President and CEO Andrew D. Peykoff II went on to win the national award in the family business category after winning in the consumer products category for the Orange County program.

"EY is the leading professional services firm in advising, guiding and recognizing entrepreneurs. We are proud of the exceptional entrepreneurial ecosystem nourished in Orange County, and are excited to honor the best of the best through this program again this year," said Kim Letch, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director for Orange County.

Follow us using #EOYOC. Follow the Global program at @EY_EOY.

Criteria and how to apply
Entrepreneurs eligible for consideration include not only company founders, but also leaders of multi-generation family businesses and transformational public and private company CEOs. Additionally, the nominee's company must be at least two years old. Entrepreneurs may nominate themselves or be nominated by peers and other business partners. Self-nominations are encouraged, and there is no fee to apply. The deadline for 2016 applications is March 11.To access the application or nomination form or learn more about the program, visit http://www.ey.com/us/eoy/OC.

Awards process
Award winners are selected by a panel of independent regional judges composed of previous award winners, leading CEOs, private capital investors and other local business leaders. Regional winners from Orange County compete at the national EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards on Nov. 19, 2016, in Palm Springs, Calif. One national winner will go on to vie for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The YearTM title in Monaco the following June.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP Americas, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Orange County program is sponsored by Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, HKA, Inc. Marketing Communications and Tangram.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the world's most prestigious business awards 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
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.

For more information, please visit ey.com.

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