IRVINE, Calif., June 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EY is pleased to announce the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2018 Orange County Awards. As the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes business leaders who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. The entrepreneurs noted below were selected by a panel of independent judges and revealed at a special awards gala on Friday, June 22, 2018, at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point.

Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Orange County Award Winners

EY has recognized more than 10,000 business leaders around the world since the inception of the program more than 30 years ago. Past winners have disrupted industries, created new product categories, and successfully brought new innovation and technology to traditional industries. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, John P. Mackey of Whole Foods Market, Inc., Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation, and Mindy Grossman of HSN. Prior winners from the Orange County Region include Mike Morhaime of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., William Wang of Visio, Inc., Joe Kiani of Masimo Corporation, Tony Hsieh of Zappos.com, Steele Platt of Yard House Restaurants, Vernon Underwood of Young's Market Co. and Mike Mussallem of Edwards Lifesciences.

“This award is recognized around the world as an emblem of entrepreneurial success and we commend the winners for this great achievement,” said Jon Smith, Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director and Partner at Ernst & Young LLP. “These award recipients are making a positive impact on our economy, the local Orange County community and our world, and they are truly deserving of this honor.”

The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Orange County Awards are:

• Advertising and Marketing Category | Peter Nguyen, CEO | Ad Exchange Group
• Financial Services Category | Reza Jahangiri, Founder & CEO | American Advisors Group
• Logistics and Innovation Category | Ruben Mendoza, President & CEO | Foundation Building Materials
• Direct to Consumer Category | Shirin Behzadi, CEO | Home Franchise Concepts 
• Business and Product Solutions | Michael Cerillo, CEO, and Ben Hoch, President | U Brands

Now in its 32nd year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world.

To learn more about the Orange County program, please visit http://www.ey.com/us/eoy/oc. Join us in congratulating this year’s winners on social media by following us @EY_EOYUS and using #EOYOC.

Regional award winners are now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 10, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum^®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in Monaco in June 2019.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, the Kauffman Foundation and Merrill Corporation.

In the Orange County Region, sponsors also include Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, Hollencrest Capital Management, Lockton Companies, Tangram Company and Woodruff‑Sawyer & Company.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year^®
Entrepreneur Of The Year^®, founded and produced by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance and the local community. The program makes a difference through the 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 awards program of its kind, 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 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy

About EY’s Growth Markets Network
EY’s worldwide Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we’ve helped many of the world’s most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/sgm or follow us on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member of the global EY organization that provides services to clients in the US.

Sara Nazarian
EY
+ 1 213 240 7557
sara.nazarian@ey.com

Gabriella Asmus
Finn Partners
+ 1 415 348 2721
Gabriella.asmus@finnpartners.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5cef5d73-c997-44ca-afdc-63b563339d42