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Ernst & Young 2008 Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Winners
-- Lifetime Achievement Award: Thomas A. James, chairman and CEO, Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF) and chairman of its subsidiary, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., (NYSE:SIPC), St. Petersburg, (www.raymondjames.com): Raymond James Financial is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies. Its three principal wholly owned broker/dealers (Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services and Raymond James Ltd.) and Raymond James Investment Services Limited, a majority-owned independent contractor subsidiary in the United Kingdom, have a total of more than 4,850 financial advisors serving approximately 1.7 million accounts in 2,200 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas.
-- Central Florida
-- Master: Howard Lance, chairman, president and CEO, Harris Corp., Melbourne (www.harris.com): Harris Corp. is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. The Company has annual revenues of almost $5 billion and 16,000 employees.
-- Services: Harold Mills, CEO, Zero Chaos, Orlando, (www.zerochaos.com): Zero Chaos is one of the top minority-owned contract labor sourcing and management companies in the country and serves Fortune 500 companies. The company has earned a place on Inc.'s list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.
-- Technology: Jay Freeland, President, CEO and director, FARO Technologies, Inc., Lake Mary, (www.faro.com): With more than 16,000 installations and 7400 customers globally, FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:FARO) and its international subsidiaries design, develop, and market software and portable, computerised measurement devices.
-- South Florida
-- Distribution and Manufacturing: Amin Khoury, chairman, CEO and founder, B/E Aerospace, Inc., Wellington, (www.beaerospace.com): B/E Aerospace, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of cabin interior products for commercial passenger aircraft and business jets.
-- Emerging: Marc Siegel, president, China Direct, Inc., Deerfield Beach, (www.cdii.net): China Direct, Inc. (AMEX:CDS) is a diversified management and advisory services organization. A U.S. company doing business in China, China Direct owns and consults business entities operating in the People's Republic of China.
-- Health Services: Steve Geller, chairman and Edward Goldman, CEO, MDVIP, Boca Raton, (www.mdvip.com): MDVIP is the national network of physicians who practice preventive and personalized healthcare, not just the detection and treatment of disease as in most traditional primary care practices. Participating physicians have their own distinct practices and approach to medicine.
-- Real Estate and Construction: Beverly Raphael, president and CEO, RCC Associates, Deerfield Beach, (www.rccassociates.com): RCC Associates is a general contracting firm specializing in the construction of interiors for retail stores, restaurants, spas, offices, medical facilities, hotels and small commercial buildings.
-- West Central Florida
-- Financial Services: David Serlo, president and CEO, PSCU Financial Services, Inc., St. Petersburg, (www.pscufs.com): PSCU Financial Services is the nation's largest credit union service organization and serves more than 1,100 financial institutions nationwide. As a non-profit cooperative, the Company is owned by more than 500 member credit unions representing 11 million cardholder accounts and more than 580,000 online bill payment subscribers.
-- Retail and Consumer Products: Mark Johnston, CEO; Mike Johnston, chairman; and Bob Johnston, president; The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., Tampa, (www.meltingpot.com): With more than 130 restaurants nationwide, existing locations in 35 states including the District of Columbia and Hawaii, and 36 locations currently in development, The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. is the country's premier fondue restaurant franchise.
Florida award recipients are now eligible for consideration in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 national program. Award recipients in numerous national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on Nov. 15, 2008. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the Firm's annual gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The national Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient is then entered into consideration for the global event held in Monte Carlo in 2009.
This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year award program celebrates its 22nd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 135 cities in 50 countries around the world. Awards are presented to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
