NEW YORK, June 23, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- At a gala ceremony Tuesday evening at New York's Marriott Marquis, professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP announced the winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) 2004 Metro New York area. The program, now in its 18th year, honors the owners and founders of fast-growing New York Metro-area companies whose ingenuity and determination have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 Metro New York Award winners are:
-- Lifetime Achievement -- Leonard Tow, Citizens Communications,
Stamford, CT
-- Business Services -- Stanley Doobin, Harvard Maintenance,
New York, NY
-- Consumer Products -- William Collins, Alan Mitzner,
George Szarmach, American Pie, Syosset, NY
-- Stephen Hindy, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
-- Financial Services -- Joseph Ficalora, NY Community Bancorp, Inc.,
Westbury, NY
-- Information Technology -- Jerry Rao, Jeroen Tas, Mphasis BFL, New
York, NY
-- Manufacturing -- Dr. M. Sutaria, Interpharm Holdings,
Hauppauge, NY
-- Retail/Distribution -- Daniel Katz, Noah Katz,
P.S.K. Supermarkets, Mt. Vernon, NY
-- Microsoft Realizing Business Potential -- Leo Schlinkert,
Communicator, Inc.,
White Plains, NY
"The entrepreneurial spirit has been one of the key influences driving our economy and Ernst & Young is proud to recognize the hard work, perseverance and achievements of America's business pioneers and leaders," said Roger Savell, program director for the Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Metro New York. "We are particularly proud to honor the outstanding achievements of Metro New York entrepreneurs whose ingenuity and success are a testament to the economic vitality and strong entrepreneurial spirit in the region."
The Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 Metro New York award recipients were selected by a panel of independent judges, including Dr. Bob Brill of Newlight Management, Christine DiBona of Marsh USA, Christopher Duda of Goldman Sachs, James Furnivall of Canaan Partners, Roger Hurwitz of APAX Partners, Irwin Simon of The Hain Celestial Group and Natalie Wood of The Nasdaq Stock Market. The winners are now eligible for the National Entrepreneur Of The Year award, which will be announced in Palm Springs, California on November 20, 2004.
To be eligible, a nominee must be an owner/manager of a private or public company who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company (or organization) and an active member of top management. Those honored will have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
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.
Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) is a registered service mark of Ernst & Young LLP.