Six San Diego business risk-takers have been inducted into the pantheon of EY Entrepreneurs of the Year, joining over 10,000 people around the world who have been honored over the last 30 years by the multinational professional services firm.
An independent panel of judges selected the six winners at a Monday evening gala attended by over 500 people at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar Resort Hotel, about 20 miles north of downtown San Diego. The winners were selected from a field of 17 finalists who represented 15 local companies that collectively employ over 2,700 people and have combined revenue of more than $1 billion.
The EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards program now recognizes entrepreneurs in over 145 cities in 60 countries who “demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.” Award winners from San Diego and other regions are now eligible for consideration for the national Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 program.
The overall Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner will be announced on November 19 at EY’s national awards gala in Palm Springs, CA.
The winners are:
—Life Sciences: BioLegend CEO Gene Lay
San Diego-based BioLegend develops and manufactures reagents for biomedical research in immunology, neuroscience, cancer, stem cells, and cell biology.
—Financial Services: Renovate America co-founders JP McNeill and Nick Fergis
San Diego’s Renovate America specializes in software and financing for residential PACE (property assessed clean energy) programs that improve residential energy and water efficiency. The company has provided about $1.4 billion worth of funding for home improvements through its HERO program.
—Tech Services: GreatCall CEO David Inns
San Diego-based GreatCall is a mobile virtual network operator targeting the 65+ market with mobile phones, health apps, medical alert devices, and other technology for active and independent living.
—Consumer Products: Fashionphile President Ben Hemminger
Carlsbad, CA-based Fashionphile is an online shopping site for buying and selling luxury handbags and accessories that authenticates and certifies every item sold. Fashionphile says it has enabled thousands to “reclaim designer bags and accessories at exceptional value.”
—Real Estate and Renewable Energy: Westcore Properties President and CEO Donald Ankeny
Westcore is a commercial real estate firm managing over 20 million square feet of office space valued at more than $1.5 billion.