27 outstanding entrepreneurs selected as finalists from a pool of more than 130 nominees!
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., September 26, 2014 – The Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) at Cal State San Bernardino announced the finalists for this year’s Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards program. The award recipients will be announced at the Nov. 13 black-tie gala at the Riverside Convention Center.
"Once again we had a strong pool of semi-finalists that represented a diverse set of businesses from throughout the region," said Mike Stull, director of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship. "The judges had a difficult task in narrowing down the field. Those selected as finalists represent the best and most unique companies of the Inland Empire."
The 2014 Inland Empire entrepreneurial finalists include:
Family Business
Steve and Kathy Nichols - Chino Valley Ranchers - Colton
Sheila Bath - Advance Disposal Co. - Hesperia
Ray, Shaun, Nicole (Clesceri) Russell, and Angel Sanchez, Jr. - Phenix Technology, Inc. - Riverside
General Entrepreneur
Alan Boudreau - Boudreau Pipeline Corporation - Corona
Evan Cohen - Quality Marble & Granite - Ontario
Connie Lightcap - JC Supply & Manufacturing - Ontario
Innovator Entrepreneur
Shannon Illingworth - AVT, Inc. - Corona
M. Sharon Rogone - Small Beginnings, Inc. - Hesperia
Adel Sayegh - Universal Surveillance Systems, LLC - Rancho Cucamonga
Manufacturing Entrepreneur
Michael Hellmers - ESL Power Systems, Inc. - Corona
Jeffrey Lyall - R.W. Lyall & Company, Inc. - Corona
Terri Rogers - O.W. Lee Co., Inc. - Ontario
Contract Manufacturing
Mark Atchison - AMA Plastics - Riverside
Mark Peabody - Peabody Engineering & Supply, Inc - Corona
Cheryl Young & Jennifer Hall - Ejay Filtration, Inc. - Riverside
Service-Based Entrepreneur
Brad McDermith - Computer Options, Inc. - Redlands
B.J. Patterson - Pacific Mountain Logistics, LLC - Ontario
Heather Petersen - National Merchants Association - Temecula
Small or Emerging Enterprise
Hari Dhiman - 88 Spirits Corporation - Ontario
Kenya Mills - Innovative Infusion Solutions - Corona
Gene Sherman - VOCADEMY - The Makerspace - Riverside
Social Entrepreneur
Yolanda Carrillo - Corona-Norco Family YMCA - Corona
Angela Janus - ShareKitchen - Cathedral City
Vici Nagel - Academy For Grassroots Organizations - Phelan
Supporter of Entrepreneurship
Tom Flavin and Joe Wallace - Coachella Valley Economic Partnership / Coachella Valley iHub - Palm Springs
Hilda Kennedy - AmPac Tri State CDC - Grand Terrace
Paul Mata - Logos Lifetime University - Rancho Cucamonga
The 12th Annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards program is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014 at the Riverside Convention Center. The gala includes a cocktail reception, dinner, entertainment and awards. For more information or to make reservations, call (909) 537-3708.
