NEW YORK, May 25, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP announced today the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) Awards 2005 in the metro New York area. The 31 finalists from 24 companies were selected from nearly 50 nominations and inquiries, by a panel of independent judges comprised of area business leaders. The judges included: Mr. James Furnivall, General Partner, Canaan Partners, CT; Mr. Christopher Duda, Vice President, Goldman Sachs & Co., NY; Mr. Irwin Simon, President & CEO, Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Long Island; Ms. Natalie Wood, Managing Director, Global Sales, Nasdaq Stock Market, NY; and Mr. Frank Morse, Managing Director, Carter Morse & Mathias, CT. Winners will be announced at an awards banquet on June 15th at the New York City Grand Hyatt.
The metro New York finalists for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur
Of The Year are:
Accretive Joseph V. Amella Chairman, Hauppauge,NY
Solutions,Inc. President & Chief
Executive
Apparel Jonathan Spier Chief Executive New York,NY
Holdings Group Officer
Axiom Legal Mark Harris Chief Executive New York,NY
Officer
Cedar Shopping Leo S. Ullman Chairman, Chief Port Washington,
Centers,Inc. Executive Officer NY
& President
CPI Aero Edward J. Fred Chief Executive Edgewood,NY
Officer & President
Echo Design Steven Roberts President New York,NY
Group
Greenfield Dean A. Wiltse President Wilton,CT
Online,Inc. & Chief Executive
Officer
Horn Group,Inc. Sabrina Horn President, Chief New York,NY
Executive Officer
& Founder
Intellidyn Peter E. Harvey President & Chief Berthpage,NY
Inc. Executive Officer
Inter Parfums, Jean Madar Chairman of the New York,NY
Inc. Board & Chief
Executive Officer
International David Krell President and New York,NY
Exchange Chief Executive
Securities Officer
International Gary Katz Chief Operating New York,NY
Securities Officer
Exchange
International Marty Averbuch Co-Founder New York,NY
Securities
Exchange
International William A. Porter Chairman Emeritus New York,NY
Securities
Exchange
Linkshare Stephen D. Messer Chairman New York,NY
& Chief Executive
Officer
Medsite, Inc. Sundeep Bhan Chief Executive New York,NY
Officer
NexVue Daniel J. Schwartz President Stamford,CT
Information
Systems
Niche Media LLC Jason Binn Chief Executive New York,NY
Officer
Protection Plus Peter V. Christiansen
Security ,Esq. President & Chief Brooklyn,NY
Consultants,Inc. Executive Officer
Reprise Media Joshua Stylman Co-Founder and New York,NY
Managing Partner
Reprise Media Peter Hershberg Co-Founder and New York,NY
Managing Partner
Ruby Digital, Loren J. Ball President & Chief Hauppague,NY
Inc. Executive Officer
RxUSA, Inc. Mark S. Scovotti Executive Vice Port Washington
President NY
RxUSA, Inc. Robert C. Drucker President & Chief Port Washington
Executive Officer NY
SeamlessWeb Jason R. Finger Chief Executive New York,NY
Professional Officer
Solutions, Inc.
The Reserve Bruce R. Bent Chairman & Chief New York,NY
Funds Executive Officer
Transmedia,Inc. Donald Leka Chairman and Chief New York,NY
Executive Officer
Vineyard Vines Ian Murray Co-Founder and Stamford,CT
Chief Executive
Officer
Vineyard Vines Shep Murray Co-Founder and Stamford,CT
Chief Executive
Officer
Metro New York winners will be eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005 national program. Winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., in November 2005.
Sponsors of the program include the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Marsh, Curran & Connors, Doremus Financial Printing, Microsoft, Geller & Company and Waggener Edstrom Strategic Communications.
For reservations for the awards banquet on June 15th, visit www.ey.com/us/MetroNewYorkEOYAwards or contact Yoko van Horn of Ernst & Young at (212) 773-1615 or yoko.vanhorn@ey.com by Monday, June 6, 2005. Tickets are $225 per person. For more information about the awards program, visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.
About The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) Program
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program was created and is produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The program honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 100 cities and 35 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 100,000 people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing a range of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization.
-- Note to Editors: Media are invited to attend the awards banquet for interview and photo opportunities. Please call Kathy Farrell at (203) 674-3208 as soon as possible to request a complimentary reservation. Press credentials must be presented.