Riverside, Calif., November 19, 2009 – An audience of over 500 business and community leaders gathered last night to celebrate and honor eight Inland Empire entrepreneurs during the 7th Annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards, an event recognizing the leadership, innovation and business acumen of entrepreneurs.
"“Entrepreneurs are the innovators and driving force of our economy,” said Mike Stull, founding organizer of the event and director of Cal State San Bernardino’s Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship. “The entrepreneurs honored at our event not only contribute significantly to our local economy, but they also serve as an inspiration to future entrepreneurs."
Service Industry Entrepreneur
Emerging Entrepreneur
Technology Entrepreneur
Supporter of Entrepreneurship
General Entrepreneur
Social Entrepreneur
Innovator Entrepreneur
Family Business Entrepreneur
In addition, three early stage companies were given Special Recognition for their entrepreneurial passion and spirit by the event’s judging panel: Alisa Evans, West Coast Whoopies, Calimesa; Lucy and Isaac Gallardo, Inland Empire Auto Body & Paint, Inc., Riverside; and Biren Shukla, Forum Info-Tech, Inc., Corona.
As part of the event festivities, a Student Fast Pitch Competition was held for five future entrepreneurs to deliver a 90-second pitch about their up-and-coming venture idea to the audience and were critiqued on their overall preparation, poise and professional presentation. The top three pitches were recognized and the top student, walked away with a ,000 prize. In addition, it was announced that the fast pitch event is being renamed the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition in recognition of support pledged by local entrepreneur Garner Holt of San Bernardino. Holt’s company, Garner Holt Productions, is the world’s leading manufacturer of Animatronics & Animatronic Figures.
The event was presented by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University San Bernardino and sponsored by a wide range of local organizations including The Business Press, UPS, Inland Empire magazine, County of San Bernardino, County of Riverside, Best Best & Krieger LLP, Bank of America and many others.