CEO Will Gruver was chosen by an independent panel of judges to represent USP&E as a finalist in the southwest area north region of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program. Gruver says he felt a surge of emotion and gratitude when he learned of the news.
“To be connected in any way to a firm as world renowned as Ernst & Young is a tremendous honor,” says Gruver who received the phone call while with clients and staff in West Africa.
Award recipients were formally announced in June at a special gala held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel. A finalist reception was held on May 17th.
Regional award winners are eligible to be considered for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Program. The Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award winner along with award winners in other national categories will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California in November. The awards ceremony will culminate the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum. The overall national US winner will compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Program in Monaco.
Ernst & Young received more than 1,700 entries from entrepreneurs across the country. The program is the world’s most prestigious award for entrepreneurs. Award winners are those entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as: innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their business and communities. There are 26 regional programs in the US and 50 countries in the global program. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Gruver will represent his company in the energy sector of the competition.
“It’s a special company represented by the highest caliber of people that I have ever known–and it’s only because of this incredible team that I am even considered for this distinction,” says Gruver.
The Entrepreneur of the Year celebrates those individuals building and leading successful growing and dynamic businesses. Ernst & Young recognizes these companies through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities and in more than 50 nations. Entrepreneur of the Year candidates are both transitional and transformational. Nominees can be CEOs of public or privately held companies, multi-generational family business leaders or divisional CEOs.
Ernst & Young has been recognizing entrepreneurs for more than 25 years.
“We were advised that we’ve been selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program,” said Dean Castillo, Chief Strategy Officer. “This program is considered the top program of its type in the United States. This selection represents a significant milestone in our company’s growth and visibility.”