Central Ohio Boasts Record Number of Nominations and Finalists in the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program

Eleven Central Ohio entrepreneurs have been named as finalists in the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program for the South Central Ohio and Kentucky region.  According to program organizers, this is the strongest showing for Central Ohio with over 50 nominations from the region.  In addition, Central Ohio has the most number of Finalists among the three metros included in the South Central Ohio and Kentucky region which encompasses Columbus, Cincinnati and Louisville/Lexington. 

In addition to the Finalists, Joe Chlapaty, chairman and CEO of Columbus-based Advanced Drainage Systems is being honored with the Master Entrepreneur Award. 

The Entrepreneur of the Year Program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs first on a regional basis, then nationally and ultimately on a global stage.  The program recognizes business leaders in more than 140 cities and 50 countries around the world.  Central Ohio is included in the South Central Ohio and Kentucky region which will honor finalists on June 30, 2011 in Cincinnati. 

Central Ohio companies named as finalists include:

Jeni Britton Bauer
Founder
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, LLC

Steven Davis
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.

Brett Febus
President and Founder
Insource Spend Management Group

Nicholas Glassburn
President
Tower Wireless, Ltd.

Christopher Irion
Chief Executive Officer
e-Cycle, LLC

Gary James
President
Dynalab, Inc.

Cindy Monroe
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Thirty-One

Aaron Shocket
Founder and President
Parking Solutions, Inc.

Randall Smith
President and Co-founder
ClearSaleing

Pamela Springer
President and Chief Executive Officer
Manta Media Inc.

Lisa Stein
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Revolutions, Inc.