Ernst & Young celebrates Ontario finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010

Firm recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs who make a difference in the global economy

TORONTO, July 6 /CNW/ - Canada's most successful entrepreneurs improve the quality of life for people across the globe, Ernst & Young said today as the firm announced the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2010 Awards.

"This year's outstanding Ontario finalists share an unwavering determination to realize their dreams and change lives," says Colleen McMorrow, National and Ontario Director of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. "As world markets become increasingly connected - and the global economy begins to rebound from the recent downturn - the success of entrepreneurs in Ontario can quickly spread to communities in other parts of the world."

According to a recent Ernst & Young publication, A world of opportunity: Entrepreneurial perspectives on the impact of globalization, entrepreneurs have been quick to seize opportunities presented by the opening of new markets.

"It's the most flexible and agile organizations that are set to thrive in the new economic landscape, and not necessarily the bigger and long-established ones," says McMorrow. "Surviving in today's fast-paced business environment demands openness to new ideas, speed, creativity, perseverance and excellence in execution."

In another recent report, Ambitious, adept and agile, Ernst & Young finds that just over two-thirds of entrepreneurs surveyed agree that globalization has opened the door to new and unforeseen competitors. Companies are suddenly finding a new generation of rivals from both local and international markets.

"The key to staying above the competition is to be relentlessly innovative, create better products and services, maximize efficiency and make use of the best talent available," McMorrow says. "Companies that can achieve these requirements are poised to succeed and make a difference - to themselves, and to people the world over."

Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world who drive growth, build communities and transform industries. The Canadian program is in its 17th year of honouring the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business.

The names of the Ontario winners will be announced at a gala banquet in Toronto on October 13, and the overall winner will represent Ontario at the national banquet in Toronto on November 17. For ticket information regarding the regional and national banquets, please contact Linda Starr at 416 943 3053.

The 2010 Ontario finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year:

    
    Cleantech

    Stephen Carpenter
    Enermodal Engineering/Kitchener
    enermodal.com

    Enermodal Engineering is Canada's largest consulting firm exclusively
    dedicated to green buildings and communities.

    Scott Monteith
    Monteco Ltd./Toronto
    monteco.com

    Monteco is a cleantech firm that develops and launches environmental
    products in the water, air and energy sectors.

    David Hatherton
    NextEnergy Inc./Elmira
    nextenergy.ca

    NextEnergy is a leading Canadian designer and marketer of geothermal
    technology.

    Cameron Manners
    Nu Flow.Oshawa
    nuflowtech.com

    Nu Flow manufactures and installs innovative green technologies to
    rehabilitate the inner infrastructure of deteriorated or failing water
    piping systems.

    Consumer products and services

    George Warren
    Centennial Windows Ltd./London
    centennialwindows.com

    Centennial Windows manufactures and installs custom replacement windows
    and doors. They also provide warranty and service for customers for as
    long as they own their homes.

    Orazio Civello
    Collega and Civello Salon - Spas/North York
    borntostyle.ca

    Collega Education offers classes in product knowledge, hair colour, cut,
    spa, retailing and business-building programs to salon owners, managers
    and operators.

    John Bitove
    Obelysk/Toronto
    obelysk.com

    Obelysk is one of Canada's largest private equity firms, providing
    capital to and overseeing the strategic management of diversified
    businesses.

    Emerging entrepreneur

    Mark Cahsens
    Great Circle Works/Oakville
    greatcircleworks.com

    Great Circle Works is an innovator, manufacturer and global distributor
    of toys and sporting goods articles for kids young and old.

    John Morgan
    Morgan Solar Inc./North York
    morgansolar.com

    Morgan Solar created the Sun Simba, a solar panel for utility-scale,
    grid-connected solar farms.

    Michael Scissons
    Syncapse/Toronto
    syncapse.com

    Syncapse is a global leader in digital consulting and measurement, and
    helps its clients leverage the power of social media.

    Energy and natural resources

    Larry Ciccarelli
    GlobeStar Mining Corporation/Toronto
    globestarmining.com

    GlobeStar is a copper and gold producer with operations in the Dominican
    Republic, and is also engaged in the acquisition of copper and gold
    properties in major Latin American mining districts.

    Jim Temerty
    Northland Power Income Fund/Toronto
    NPIFund.com

    Northland Power Income Fund is a Canadian open-ended income trust that
    indirectly owns equity interests in six power facilities, including three
    power plants and three wind power projects.

    Laurie Stanton
    Stanton Farms/Ilderton
    holsteinworld.com/stanton

    Stanton Farms is a state-of-the-art dairy farm business that uses
    technology to maximize its energy efficiencies and minimize its
    environmental impact.

    Health sciences

    Jan Oudenes
    Alphora Research Inc./Mississauga
    alphoraresearch.com

    Alphora Research provides active pharmaceutical ingredient technology
    development services for the scale-up of complex small molecules with
    pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

    Connie Clerici
    Closing the Gap Healthcare Group/Mississauga
    closingthegap.ca

    Closing the Gap provides high-quality community-based health-care
    services, including rehabilitation therapy, nursing, personal support,
    health-care consulting and driveable services.

    Lee McDonald
    Southmedic Inc./Barrie
    southmedic.com

    Southmedic is a forward-thinking medical manufacturing and distribution
    organization with a focus on innovation.

    Hospitality/tourism

    Naman Budhdeo
    FlightNetwork.com/Oakville
    flightnetwork.com

    Flight Network is a privately held company focused on providing discount
    airfare through the internet to the Canadian market.

    Charles Khabouth
    INK Entertainment/Toronto
    ink-00.com

    INK is the parent company of successful entertainment complexes in the
    hospitality industry.

    Rita Tsang, Annie Tsu
    Tour East Group/North York
    toureast.com

    Tour East provides integrated travel and business solutions to both
    travel agencies and consumers, including fulfillment, technology, travel
    contents and tours.

    Manufacturing

    Sabine Veit
    Backerhaus Veit Ltd./Woodbridge
    backerhausveit.com

    Backerhaus Veit is a manufacturer and supplier of premium European-style,
    artisan par-baked (frozen) breads to the retail and foodservice market in
    North America.

    Dani Reiss
    Canada Goose Inc./Toronto
    canada-goose.com

    Canada Goose is committed to producing the best extreme cold weather
    outerwear in the world.

    Howard Singleton
    Trimaster Manufacturing Inc./Guelph
    trimastermfg.com

    Trimaster's in-house capabilities include manufacturing engineering,
    precision high-speed computer numerical control (CNC) milling, CNC
    Swiss-style turning, CNC turning, grinding, elastomer moulding and
    grinding, sheet metal fabrication and precision assembly.

    Media and entertainment

    Shan Chandrasekar
    Asian Television Network International Limited/Newmarket
    asiantelevision.com

    Asian Television Network is Canada's largest South Asian broadcaster,
    operating 23 television channels, including three Chinese channels.

    James Schmalz, Michael Schmalz
    Digital Extremes Ltd./London
    digitalextremes.com

    Digital Extremes created the Evolution Engine(TM), a proprietary
    middleware technology that offers a variety of unique tools and processes
    to help AAA console game developers make better games.

    Pierre Morrissette
    Pelmorex Media Inc./Oakville
    pelmorex.com

    Pelmorex Media blends technology, science and creativity to manufacture
    content to serve the weather needs of all Canadians on TV, web, desktop
    and mobile.

    Professional/financial services

    Sam Bouji
    Global Group of Companies/Richmond Hill
    globalfinancial.ca

    Global is a financial services firm that offers an array of financial
    solutions, including education savings plans, life and disability
    insurance, mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other investments.

    Sergei Tchetvertnykh
    Infinium Group Inc./Toronto
    infiniumgroup.com

    Infinium Group is a leading independent electronic trading firm
    specializing in alternative quantitative and arbitrage strategies.

    David Shaw
    Knightsbridge Human Capital Management Inc./Toronto
    knightsbridge.ca

    Knightsbridge provides human capital advice and customized solutions
    through integrated teams of specialists.

    Vladimir Stritesky
    Trow Global/Brampton
    trow.com

    Trow Global is one of Canada's largest engineering and consulting firms,
    providing engineering, project management, environment and urban planning
    services.

    Social entrepreneur

    Robert Drynan
    Camp Oochigeas/Toronto
    ooch.org

    Camp Oochigeas is a privately funded, volunteer-based organization that
    provides year-round camp programming to kids with and affected by
    childhood cancer.

    George Roter, Mitchell Parker
    Engineers Without Borders Canada/Toronto
    ewb.ca

    Engineers Without Borders engages 50,000 members in 35 chapters to
    promote the idea that lasting change in Africa will stem not from
    charity, but from helping foster opportunity.

    Greg Overholt
    Students Offering Support/Waterloo
    studentsofferingsupport.ca

    Students Offering Support is a student-led charitable association that
    raises money to help children in Latin America gain access to quality
    education.

    Technology and communications

    Kevin North
    Dyadem/North York
    dyadem.com

    Dyadem provides enterprise operational risk management and quality risk
    management through industry-leading software solutions.

    Rick Watkin
    Kubra Data Transfer Ltd./Mississauga
    kubra.com

    KUBRA provides business process outsourcing solutions that support the
    entire customer communication management lifecycle across digital and
    paper-based channels.

    Ashok Kalle
    Pathway Communications/Markham
    pathcom.com

    Pathway Communications is a Canadian company and is part of the Pathway
    Group of Companies, which offers a broad range of high-quality internet
    and telecommunications services.

    Young entrepreneur

    Neil Spivack
    Direct Sales Force Inc./Toronto
    directsalesforce.ca

    Direct Sales Force provides clients with an outsourced sales solution.
    The company hires, trains and manages its own staff to market its
    clients' products face to face.

    John Carbrey
    Intrafinity/Toronto
    intrafinity.com

    Intrafinity software services and products enable organizations to get
    the most value out of their digital content by effectively managing their
    websites, documents, collaboration and online learning.

    Chris Pavlovski
    Jolted Media Group Ltd./Toronto
    jmg.com

    Jolted Media Group is one of the largest online media companies, and
    oversees one of the biggest entertainment properties on the web:
    Jokeroo.com.

    Ali Asaria
    Well.ca/Guelph
    Well.ca

    Well.ca is Canada's largest online health and beauty store, providing
    convenient online shopping and a selection of over 31,000 products.

    The Ontario regional judges are:

    Andrew Bergstrom, Managing Director
    Cossette

    Sandra Bosela, Partner
    EdgeStone Capital Partners

    Ginny Dybenko, Dean, School of Business and Economics
    Wilfrid Laurier University

    Steve Gupta, President and CEO
    Easton's Group of Hotels Inc.

    Piyush Patel, CEO
    AllerPharma Inc.

    Joe Prosperi, Managing Director
    Beringer Capital

    John Young, Managing Director
    Temple Street Productions Inc.
    

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by Global TV, National Post, La Presse and RDI.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 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.

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For further information: Melissa Prince, [email protected], 416 943 3474; Brooke Morris, [email protected], 604 899 3597 Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308