CHICAGO, June 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Echo Global Logistics, a technology-driven transportation management firm, today announced that Douglas Waggoner, CEO, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) 2009 Award in the Emerging Companies category in the Midwest region. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Mr. Waggoner was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala event at the Hilton Chicago Hotel on Friday, June 26, 2009.
"It is an honor to be selected as winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. There were a lot of great nominees and I appreciate the recognition," said Mr. Waggoner. "The growth that we have achieved represents client validation of the value we provide. This award is a tribute to the entire Echo team, their dedication to client satisfaction and flawless execution on thousands of transactions each day."
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards celebrate their 23rd anniversary this year. The program honors entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptionality in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
"We are proud to recognize the achievements of Mr. Waggoner," said Randy Tavierne, Ernst & Young Partner, Strategic Growth Markets. "Winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year award build leading businesses and contribute significantly to the strength of our region's economy. Their success helps our area grow stronger."
As a Midwest award winner, Mr. Waggoner is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are pleased to have SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as national sponsors. Regional sponsors for the Midwest program include Clifton Gunderson LLP, Smart Business magazine and Becker Professional Review. Locally, the program is sponsored by Winston & Strawn and Grand Valley State University.
About Echo Global Logistics, Inc.
Privately-held Chicago-based Echo is a technology-driven transportation management outsourcing firm which helps clients reduce their transportation spend. Echo's enterprise and transactional clients range from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Echo's transportation management solutions deliver cost savings through proprietary access to unparalleled transportation market data, custom-built world-class technology, a "best cost" global labor platform, an extensive nationwide network of carriers, and buying leverage resulting from the aggregated spend on behalf of Echo's clients. For more information on Echo, visit: www.echo.com.
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About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) Awards Program
Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) Award is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(r) award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.