NEW YORK, June 7, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP announced today the finalists for the 18th Annual Metro New York Entrepreneur of the Year(R). An independent panel of judges comprised of local community and business leaders selected the 35 finalists representing 31 companies. Winners will be announced at an awards banquet to be held June 22, 2004 in Marriott Marquis in New York.
The 2004 Metro New York finalists include entrepreneurs based in New York City, Long Island, Lower Hudson Valley and Southwestern Connecticut.
Among them:
-- Joseph Amella, Accretive Solutions, Inc., Hauppauge, NY
-- T. James Molloy, Advance Commercial Movers/Molloy Bros./FITCO,
Old Bethpage, NY
-- Michael Mallia, AFCO Systems, Farmingdale, NY
-- Alan Kahn, AKA Enterprise Solutions, New York, NY
-- Alan Mitzner, American Pie, Syosset, NY
-- George Szarmach, American Pie, Syosset ,NY
-- Bill Collins, American Pie, Syosset, NY
-- Michael McGuire, Aria Worldwide, Inc., Darien, CT
-- Stephen Hindy, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
-- Robert Tannenhauser, Business Loan Express, New York, NY
-- Carolee Friedlander, Carolee Designs, Inc., Greenwich, CT
-- Clarice Kennedy, CCN, Inc., New York, NY
-- Leonard Tow, Citizens Communications, Stamford, CT
-- Leo Schlinkert, Communicator, Inc., White Plains, NY
-- Edward Fred, CPI Aerostructures, Edgewood, NY
-- Barry Goldstein, DCAP Group, Inc., Hewlett, NY
-- Mark O'Neil, DealerTrack, Inc., Melville, NY
-- Leigh Abrams, Drew Industries, White Plains, NY
-- Jerry Leitman, FuelCell Energy, Inc., Danbury, CT
-- Marc Shuman, GarageTek, Syosset, NY
-- Stanley Doobin, Harvard Maintenance, New York, NY
-- Yacov Wrocherinsky, Infinity Info Systems, New York, NY
-- Dr. Maganlal Sutaria, Interpharm Holdings, Hauppauge, NY
-- Stephen Messer, LinkShare Corporation, New York, NY
-- John Lyons, Mimeo, Inc., New York, NY
-- Jerry Rao, MphasiS, New York, NY
-- Jeroen Tas, MphasiS, New York, NY
-- Joseph Ficalora, New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Westbury, NY
-- Noah Katz, PSK Supermarkets, Mt Vernon, NY
-- Daniel Katz, PSK Supermarkets, Mt Vernon, NY
-- James Stanard, Renaissance Holdings, Pembroke, Bermuda
-- Robert Drucker, RxUSA, Inc., Port Washington,
-- Nicholas Harmon, Verilux, Inc., Stamford, CT
-- Frederick Marino, The Strober Organization, Brooklyn, NY
Metro New York award recipients will be selected by a panel of independent judges, including Dr. Bob Brill -- Newlight Management, Christine DiBona -- Marsh USA, Christopher Duda, Goldman Sachs, James Furnivall -- Canaan Partners, Roger Hurwitz -- APAX Partners, Irwin Simon -- The Hain Celestial Group, Natalie Wood -- The Nasdaq Stock Market. The winners are eligible to compete for the Year 2004 National Entrepreneur of the Year, held in November in Palm Springs, California.
About The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Awards Program
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards 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 103,000 people in more than 140 countries around the globe pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism to provide clients with solutions based on financial, transactional, and risk-management knowledge in Ernst & Young's core services of audit, tax, and transaction advisory services. 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