News Release

Contacts: 
Courtney Story 
Ernst & Young LLP
720 931 4411  
Courtney.Story@ey.com

Heather Lindemann
LeGrand Hart
303 298 8470
hlindemann@legrandhart.com
                    

For immediate release

Ernst & Young LLP Seeks Rocky Mountain Region’s Outstanding Entrepreneurs
Nominations Now Being Accepted for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award

Denver, Colorado, 2 February 2009 – Ernst & Young LLP today opened the nomination period for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Awards in the Rocky Mountain Region. The deadline for applications is March 16, 2009, with the awards ceremony scheduled for June 18, 2009, at the Belmar Center.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards program, now in its 23rd year, is recognized as the most prestigious business award program in the country. Award winners are selected by a panel of independent judges, including local business owners – many of whom have won the award in the past – as well as area leaders from civic organizations and academic institutions.  

“Ernst & Young is proud to continue its support of entrepreneurs,” said Larry Haynes, Americas Director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® program. “As an essential building block of America, entrepreneurial ingenuity is more important than ever.”

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards in the Rocky Mountain Region
Last year, seven entrepreneurs in the Rocky Mountain Region were selected as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award winners from more than 40 nominations. Past award winners have included Yvon Cariou, Dynamic Materials Corporation; Dan and Scott King, Ready Talk; Ron Snyder, Crocs; Steve Ells, Chipotle Mexican Grill; Jon Nordmark, eBags; David Moll, Webroot Software; Mo Siegel, Celestial Seasonings; Craig Clark, Forest Oil; and Julie Aigner Clark, Baby Einstein.

“This program honors the exceptional business executives in our local area,” said Jim Wilson, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Program Director for the Rocky Mountain Region. “Entrepreneurs are nominated and evaluated by those in the area, bringing regional business, academic and community leaders together to celebrate these remarkable achievements.”

Awards Criteria
Awards are given to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Self-nominations are encouraged, and there is no fee. Application forms must be received by March 16, 2009.

To be eligible for consideration, the nominee must be an owner/manager of a private or public company who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company and an active member of top management.  Additionally, the nominee's company must be at least two years old.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
In the Rocky Mountain Region local sponsors include Faegre & Benson, Clifton Gunderson LLP, LeGrand Hart and the Denver Business Journal.

Contact Information
For more information and nomination forms contact:  Courtney Story, Program Manager, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Rocky Mountain Region Awards, at 720-931-4EOY or courtney.story@ey.com.  Information is also available at www.ey.com/us/eoy.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique 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, Ernst & Young 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 135 cities in 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity.  This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.