Search on for Region’s Entrepreneurs of Year
Jim Peters is looking for a few good business people.
As director of the 10th annual Greater Los Angeles Area Entrepreneur of the Year award program, Peters has begun to round up nominees who have business success stories to tell.
The deadline for nominations, accepted from throughout Southern California, is April 4. Winners will be determined by a panel of business professionals.
Awards will be given to entrepreneurs in the categories of manufacturing and high technology, software, services, retail, construction, real estate, entertainment, health care and life sciences. There also will be awards for an emerging business, a turnaround business and a master, or long-established, business.
“I think the judges look for someone with a company that’s got good growth,” said Peters, a partner with Ernst & Young LLP, a major accounting and consulting firm. “Often job creation becomes a part of the discussion. They need to have reached a certain level of success.”
Peters said winners have represented the large and small business communities alike.
In past years, Ventura County has been well-represented in the competition. Last year, Martin Shum, chairman and chief executive of ACT Networks of Camarillo, won the top honor in the communications category. ACT Networks develops and manufactures access products for voice, data and integrated network uses.
Other area entrepreneurs included Pamela Meyer Lopker of QAD Inc. in Carpinteria, who won in the software category; Ira Coron of Camarillo’s California Amplifier Inc., a finalist in the communications category; and Thomas Cleary of G & H Technology of Camarillo, a finalist in the turnaround division.
Regional winners will be announced June 26 at a banquet at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Winners in each category will advance to the national level of competition against winners from 45 other regions of the country. The national winners will be announced in November.
Those interested in entering the competition or nominating an entrepreneur may call (213) 977-3660.
