Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Pacific Southwest Award. Now in its 40th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and making a profound impact on communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations shape the future and pave the way for a thriving economy and a hopeful tomorrow.
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An independent panel of judges selected these ambitious entrepreneurs from 42 companies for their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
“I’m truly inspired by this year’s finalists, who are not just entrepreneurs but visionaries making a significant difference in their industries and communities,” says Rachael Marini, Partner and Pacific Southwest – San Diego Program Director. “Selected by a distinguished panel of judges, these individuals demonstrate an incredible commitment to their businesses, their customers, and the communities they serve. I am incredibly proud to be part of the Pacific Southwest business community, and it’s an honor to celebrate the achievements of these innovators and the positive impact they are creating.”
Entrepreneur Of The Year honors many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.
The 2025 Pacific Southwest finalists from Arizona are:
Christine Aguilera | Angel MedFlight (AWC-MH Holdings, LLC | Scottsdale, Arizona
Amish Purohit & Jerry Williamson | Arkos Health | Gilbert, Arizona
Jeff Benck | Benchmark | Tempe, Arizona
Robert Maguire & Jaime Leija | BioLab Holdings Inc | Mesa, Arizona
Jake Brander | Brander Group Inc | Scottsdale, Arizona
David Jemmett | CISO Global Inc | Scottsdale, Arizona
Michael Malone | Lumifi | Scottsdale, Arizona
Dave Johnson | Mist America | Scottsdale, Arizona
Craig Cote | Mountainside Fitness | Scottsdale, Arizona
Greg Ayres | Nox Group LLC | Phoenix, Arizona
Shannon Heying | Nutritional Manufacturing Services LLC | Chandler, Arizona
Ben Garland | On Site Medical | Scottsdale, Arizona
Michael Popovich | STChealth | Phoenix, Arizona
Derek Wright | Suntec Concrete | Phoenix, Arizona
Sheryl Palmer | Taylor Morrison | Scottsdale, Arizona
Josh Young | Tempe Mechanical | Tempe, Arizona
Morgan Haynes | Tribal Health | Scottsdale, Arizona
Scott McDonald | Wallcor | Gilbert, Arizona
Learn more about the finalists at ey.com/us/eoypacificsouthwest
Regional award winners will be announced on June 6, 2025 during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh McLennan Agency and SAP. In the Pacific Southwest, sponsors also include Platinum sponsor: Vaco; Gold sponsors: Cooley (San Diego market) and Stradling (Orange County market) and Silver sponsors: ADP and Big Picture.
