Riverside, Calif., November 10, 2015 – Amid an evening networking, entertainment from Wonderworld Cirque and a troupe of Mimes, an audience of 740 business and community leaders attended what is now being called "the Oscars of Local Business" at the Riverside Convention Center to celebrate and honor Inland Empire entrepreneurs. The annual black-tie gala event recognizes the leadership, innovation and business acumen of Inland Empire entrepreneurs.

“It was another great event,” said Dr. Mike Stull, founding organizer of the event and director of Cal State San Bernardino’s Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship. “The goal is to recognize the best, have fun and be inspired by the region's top entrepreneurial success stories. I am still in awe of how many great entrepreneurs we have in this region”

This year’s award recipients recognized at the black-tie gala, chosen from 28 finalists, include:

Consulting Entrepreneur

Corporate Entrepreneur

Family Business

General Entrepreneur

Innovator/Technology Entrepreneur

Manufacturing Entrepreneur

Service-Based Entrepreneur

Small/Emerging Enterprise

Social Entrepreneur

Best of the Best Award (top entrepreneur of the event)

• Kathy Griset, Cibaria International, Inc. - Riverside

FAST PITCH COMPETITION

As part of the event festivities, the Garner Holt 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 $4,000 prize. The fast pitch, which involves students from Cal State San Bernardino, is sponsored 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 top 3 finishers were:

• Matt Acuna - Hauler

• Hanah Khaled - Infusion

• Mark Savicky - Leak Solution

EVENT SPONSORS

The Spirit of the Entrepreneur 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 Best Best & Krieger LLP; Vistage; Los Angeles News Group; Renaissance Executive Forums; Bank of America; City of Riverside; Business Alliance; Wells Fargo; Vavrinek Trine, Day & Co.; Chino Valley Medical Center; UPS; CDC Small Business Finance; Wilson Ivanova CPAs; Varner & Brandt LLP; Gallina, LLP; Riverside County Economic Development Agency: Altek Media Group; San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency.