You’ve been nominated for the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award—a significant honor recognizing outstanding entrepreneurial achievement. We’re excited to learn more about you and your business
To move forward in the selection process, all nominees must complete a brief online profile form. This is a required step for your nomination to be officially considered by our esteemed judging panel. While we do not request detailed financials, we ask that you indicate certain financial benchmarks using predefined ranges. This allows us to understand the size and scope of your business without requiring specific figures.
The form collects key information about your business, including:
- Founding year and number of employees
- Narrative insights about your company’s history, unique qualities, and future direction
- General financial benchmarks (reported using ranges—not specific figures)
When your nomination was submitted, you should have received an automated email with a secure, unique link to your nominee profile form. You may save your progress and return to the form as needed. However, once you click SUBMIT, your form is considered complete and finalized. If you haven’t seen the email, please check your spam or junk folder, and be sure to allow messages from mike.stull@csusb.edu to ensure proper delivery.
All submitted information is kept strictly confidential and is viewed only by our designated judging panel under secure protocols.
All information submitted is handled with the strictest confidentiality and is accessible only to our designated judging panel under secure protocols. If you have questions or need assistance during the process, our team is here to support you—don’t hesitate to reach out.
Nominees who advance past the initial round of evaluation will be invited to attend a special Spirit Judging Reception. This exclusive event provides an opportunity for you to meet with each member of our judging panel so they can learn more about you and your business in person.
Attendance at the judging reception is mandatory for those selected to participate in this phase of the process. Exceptions are extremely limited and only granted under highly specific circumstances.
Be sure to inquire about the confirmed date of the Spirit Judging Reception. It is typically held in the late afternoon toward the end of October. The event includes photography sessions and other preparations in anticipation of the awards gala.
Following the Spirit Judging Reception, our panel of judges convenes to evaluate the nominees and determine which individuals will move forward as finalists—and ultimately, who will be named award recipients.
The day after the judging reception, the Spirit Awards will officially announce the list of finalists. Final award recipients, however, are not revealed until the Spirit Awards Gala, held at the Riverside Convention Center.
You can view the full evening agenda HERE.
