2009 Spirit Award Recipients honored at gala event!

Riverside, Calif., November 19, 2009 – An audience of over 500 business and community leaders gathered last night to celebrate and honor eight Inland Empire entrepreneurs during the 7th Annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards, an event recognizing the leadership, innovation and business acumen of entrepreneurs.

"“Entrepreneurs are the innovators and driving force of our economy,” said Mike Stull, founding organizer of the event and director of Cal State San Bernardino’s Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship. “The entrepreneurs honored at our event not only contribute significantly to our local economy, but they also serve as an inspiration to future entrepreneurs."

This year’s award recipients recognized at the black-tie gala, chosen from 23 finalists, include:

Service Industry Entrepreneur

• Allison MacKenzie - E.S. Babcock & Sons, Inc.,Riverside

Emerging Entrepreneur

• Ben Cook - Hangar 24 Craft Brewery LLC, Redlands

Technology Entrepreneur

• Kusum and Mukund Kavia - Combustion Associates, Inc., Corona

Supporter of Entrepreneurship

• Dr. John Tillquist - Riverside Community College District, Riverside

General Entrepreneur

• Mike Cachat - Jenson USA, Ontario

Social Entrepreneur

• Lois Carson - Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, Riverside

Innovator Entrepreneur

• Michael Pak - Vantage Vehicle International, Inc., Corona

Family Business Entrepreneur

• Joe, Mark, & Luke Maiberger and Anne Maiberger-Kopacz - P & R Paper Supply, Redlands

In addition, three early stage companies were given Special Recognition for their entrepreneurial passion and spirit by the event’s judging panel: Alisa Evans, West Coast Whoopies, Calimesa; Lucy and Isaac Gallardo, Inland Empire Auto Body & Paint, Inc., Riverside; and Biren Shukla, Forum Info-Tech, Inc., Corona.

As part of the event festivities, a Student Fast Pitch Competition was held for five future entrepreneurs to deliver a 90-second pitch about their up-and-coming venture idea to the audience and were critiqued on their overall preparation, poise and professional presentation. The top three pitches were recognized and the top student, walked away with a ,000 prize. In addition, it was announced that the fast pitch event is being renamed the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition in recognition of support pledged by local entrepreneur Garner Holt of San Bernardino. Holt’s company, Garner Holt Productions, is the world’s leading manufacturer of Animatronics & Animatronic Figures.

The event was presented by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University San Bernardino and sponsored by a wide range of local organizations including The Business Press, UPS, Inland Empire magazine, County of San Bernardino, County of Riverside, Best Best & Krieger LLP, Bank of America and many others.