NEW YORK, June 16, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP announced last night the winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) Awards 2005 in the metro New York area, at a gala banquet at the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel. All of the winners were selected by a panel of independent judges comprised of area leaders from business, academic and civic organizations.
The metro New York award recipients of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year are:
-- Realizing Business Potential (Microsoft Sponsored Award) --
Mr. Peter E. Harvey, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Intellidyn Corp., Bethpage, NY
-- Consumer Products -- Mr. Jonathan Spier, Chief Executive
Officer, Apparel Holdings Group, New York, NY; and Mr. Jean
Madar, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
Inter Parfums, Inc., New York, NY
-- Investment Related Services -- Mr. Leo S. Ullman, Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer and President, Cedar Shopping
Centers, Inc., Port Washington, NY
-- Consumer & Business Services -- Mr. Jason Binn, Chief
Executive Officer, Niche Media, LLC, New York, NY; Mr. Mark
S. Scovotti, Executive Vice President, RxUSA, Inc.; and Mr.
Robert C. Drucker, President and Chief Executive Officer,
RxUSA, Port Washington, NY
-- Emerging -- Mr. Ian Murray, Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Officer, Vineyard Vines; and Mr. Shep Murray, Co-Founder and
Chief Executive Officer, Vineyard Vines, Stamford, CT
-- Manufacturing -- Mr. Edward J. Fred, Chief Executive Officer
and President, CPI Aero, Edgewood, NY
-- E-Services and Commerce -- Mr. Stephen D. Messer, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Linkshare, New York, NY
"Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and determination necessary to achieve success," said Roger Savell, Metropolitan New York Area Director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program. "Ernst & Young is proud of its history recognizing and supporting these outstanding leaders and their companies."
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. The overall national Entrepreneur Of The Year Award recipient is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.
Independent Judging Panel Mr. James Furnivall, Partner, Canaan Partners -- Connecticut Mr. Christopher Duda, Vice President, Goldman Sachs & Co. -- New York Mr. Irwin Simon, President & CEO, Hain Celestial Group, Inc. -- Long Island Ms. Natalie Wood, Managing Director, Global Sales, Nasdaq Stock Market -- New York Frank Morse, Managing Partner, Carter Morse & Mathias -- Connecticut
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, the 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.