SOLON, Ohio, June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Energy Focus, Inc. (NASDAQ:EFOI), a leader in LED lighting technologies today announced that James Tu, Chairman, President and CEO of Energy Focus, Inc., received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Award in the technology category in Northeast Ohio. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award program. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. James Tu was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio on June 9, 2016.
“I'm truly humbled by winning this award, which is really for the entire Energy Focus team consisting of our employees, customers, partners and shareholders,” stated Mr. Tu. “I thank everyone on the Energy Focus team for all of their dedication to bring us this distinct recognition.”
Since becoming Executive Chairman in May 2013, Mr. Tu has embarked on several initiatives that transformed Energy Focus into a leading force in LED lighting for the enterprise markets. He led the Company in reestablishing its mission, vision and core values, divesting and exiting non-core businesses, and repositioning itself as a brand known for offering highly reliable and technologically advanced products. Within the past three years, the company increased the penetration of its military Intellitube® in the U.S. Navy fleet from less than 1% to more than 35% and expanded the customer base of its commercial products to include the Department of Defense, foreign navies, as well as leading companies in the healthcare, education, retailer and manufacturing sectors. It also significantly expanded its sales organization, engineering team and supply chain operation with offices now in New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Rochester, Minnesota; and Taipei, Taiwan, in addition to its world headquarters in Solon, Ohio.
As a Northeast Ohio award winner, Mr. Tu is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth ForumTM, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The US Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in Monaco, June 2017.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. Now in its 30th year, the program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, Robert Unanue of Goya Foods, and Mindy Grossman of HSN. Recent US national winners include Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn; Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani; and 2015 winners Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks. The unique 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, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
About Energy Focus, Inc.
Energy Focus, Inc. is a leading provider of energy efficient LED lighting products and a developer of energy efficient lighting technology. Our LED Lighting products provide energy savings, aesthetics, safety and maintenance cost benefits over conventional lighting. Our long-standing relationship with the U.S. Government continues to enable us to provide energy efficient LED lighting products to the U.S. Navy and the Military Sealift Command fleets. Customers include national, state and local U.S. government agencies, as well as Fortune 500 companies and many other commercial and industrial clients. World headquarters are located in Solon, Ohio with additional offices in Washington, D.C., New York City and Taiwan. For more information, see our web site at www.energyfocusinc.com.