San Bernardino, CA - The Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) at Cal State San Bernardino announced the semi-finalists for the 2024 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards program. Chosen from a field of over 260 nominees, the 36 semi-finalists will attend a judging reception sponsored by McKell Partners on October 3rd where they will meet and interact with the event judges. Immediately following the reception, the judges will convene, deliberate and select the finalists, whose names will be unveiled on October 4th. The finalists for the event will compete for the 2024 Spirit of the Entrepreneur award at the 22nd annual black-tie gala on November 21st at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside.

THE 2024 INLAND EMPIRE ENTREPRENEURIAL SEMI-FINALISTS INCLUDE:

• 360 Human Services, Harry Jackson - Victorville
• Active IT Solutions, David Shay - Riverside
• Affordable Plastics & Packaging, Inc., Aldo Villalpando - Ontario
• All Hours Adult Care, Marie A. Vernon - Riverside
• Alliant Global Security Services, Hekmat Sherzad - Riverside
• Aly Rose Beauty, Aly Collins - Temecula
• AmPac Business Capital, Hilda Kennedy - Ontario
• Angel Jewelers, Liliana Andriani - Rancho Cucamonga
• Anita's Mexican Foods, Corp., Mauro Gomez - San Bernardino
• Brite and Clean, Inc., Tim Bloom - Yucaipa
• Caravanserai Project, Mihai Patru - Palm Springs
• Children's Fund, Cesar Navarrete - San Bernardino
• Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, Zeb Welborn - Chino
• Craig Davis Family Insurance, Craig Davis - Temecula
• Elite Tax Partners, Nicole Albrecht - Temecula
• Environmental Lighting for Architecture, Inc., Bill Grogan - Corona
• Families Achieving Success, Katie Marie McClendon - Perris
• Fast Lane Tires, LLC, Juan and Shannon Baltazar - Wildomar
• Foxtrot Construction, Inc., Fermin Fosado - Colton
• Globe Biomedical, Matthew Rickard - Riverside
• Human Migration Institute, Selin Yildiz Nielsen - Riverside
• Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, Edward Ornelas, Jr. - Ontario
• Integrated Care Communities Family of Companies, Phillip and Sarah Saucedo - Moreno Valley
• PJ's Desert Trophies & Gifts and McDowell Awards, Elaine Holmes - Indio
• Roses Say, Rose Study - Chino Hills
• Swell Productions, Dave Hansen - Corona
• The Cupcake & Espresso Bar, Fadi Ballout - Moreno Valley
• The Talent Factory Dance Studio and Gymnasium, Andrea Dianne Roberts - Chino
• Tinker the Robot, Kay Yang - Upland
• Tomorrow's Talent, Dr. Dale Marsden - San Bernardino
• Venue38, Christine Harris - Redlands
• Virent Health, Dr. Davetta Hammond - Riverside
• Wax Apothecary, Diana Orr - Idyllwild
• Wildomar Community and Parks Foundation Inc., Bridgette Moore - Wildomar
• World Wide Wings LLC, Naushad Imam Mohammed - San Bernardino
• Yummy Snacks Treats and Goodies, Edwina Thomas - Redlands
  
  

  JUDGING RECEPTION is Sponsored by McKell Partners Wealth Management.

  
  

  Spirit Awards Event Features

  Commencing at 5:00 p.m. on November 21st, attendees will experience either a Gala, VIP or Preview reception, stellar event entertainment, awards presentations, and an exclusive after party! Ticket sales will be starting on October 10th!

  Best of the Best Award
  The top entrepreneur from among the evenings award recipients that best exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit will take home the 2024 Best of the Best award, sponsored by Best, Best & Krieger, LLP

  The Mary Anne Fox Top Female Entrepreneur Award
  The outstanding female entrepreneur from among the finalists will be recognized with the Mary Anne Fox Top Female Entrepreneur Award.

  The Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition

  Witness 90-second business pitches from competing student finalists. Audience members cast their votes for the best business idea through a live voting poll to determine which students will walk away with the top cash prizes.

  Entertainment
  Upcoming entertainment guest stars are always an anticipated reveal during the gala. Past events have included top flight entertainment such as: Rock Legend Eddie Money, Ekenah Claudin-Transcending Box, and Gregory Adamson- Facing the Music Performance Artistry.

  VIP Reception Sponsored by City National Bank an RBC Company

  A portion of the proceeds from the Spirit of the Entrepreneur event benefit the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Scholarship established by Dr. Mike Stull, Director of Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University, San Bernardino. The scholarship is awarded to vetted and deserving entrepreneurship students from CSUSB's School of Entrepreneurship, to assist them in achieving their degree.

  • EVENT SPONSORS

    The Spirit of the Entrepreneur event is presented by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE)and the Jack H. Brown College of Business & Public Administration at California State University San Bernardino and sponsored by a wide range of local organizations including:

  • PLATINUM SPONSORS Best Best & Krieger LLP, U.S. Bank, Southern California News Group, and Inland Empire Magazine.
  • GOLD SPONSORS Varner & Brandt LLP, San Bernardino County Economic Development, Desmond & Louis, and Riverside County Office of Economic Development
  • SILVER SPONSORS Pacific Premier Bank, First Citizens Bank
  • JUDGING RECEPTION SPONSOR McKell Partners Wealth Management
  • VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR City National Bank, An RBC Company
  • PREVIEW RECEPTION SPONSOR - Bank of America
  • AFTER PARTY SPONSOR BBSI, Inc.
  • CHAMPAGNE SPONSOR BBSI, Inc.
  • WINE SPONSOR RP&B CPAs