Deadline extended for Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards
Nominations for the 2015 Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards, presented by the Daily Herald Business Ledger, have been extended to 5 p.m. Friday, July 31.
The annual EEA awards recognize the best in entrepreneurship in the suburbs. To qualify for the award, the nominee's company or organization must be based in, have been founded in, or have a significant presence in the Business Ledger readership area of suburban Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County and Will County.
The nominees should demonstrate the best traits of entrepreneurship, including willingness to take risk, drive, perseverance and business creativity. Awards will be given in seven categories:
• Early Stage: The award recognizes an individual whose company or organization has shown great promise and achievement in its early stages.
• Growth: Honorees are recognized for significant revenue growth over a two-year period.
• Innovation: Transforming the entrepreneurial dream into the reality of a tangible product or technology that will solve a problem.
• Young Entrepreneur: Honorees must meet the primary entrepreneurial criteria and be under age 40 at the time of the nomination deadline.
• Outstanding Service to Entrepreneurs: Honorees provide others with the resources they need to give their business and the community a competitive edge.
• Regional Spirit: Honorees demonstrate commitment to the growth and well-being of the region through outstanding corporate citizenship and promotion of regional ties.
• Lifetime Achievement: Honorees contribution to the growth of the suburban business community for at least one decade, provide inspiration to younger entrepreneurs as a role model for risk-taking, being community minded and successful, or provide information regarding outstanding achievements in business and in the community at large, or development of the region's economy.
Honorees will be announced Sept. 16 at the NIU Naperville campus, 1120 E. Diehl Road. They will also be featured in a special issue of the Daily Herald Business Ledger on Oct. 12.
Nominations are submitted online only at the Business Ledger's website, www.dhbusinessledger.com. For more information regarding the awards, as well as for advertising and sponsorship opportunities, contact Jim Elsener, Daily Herald Business Ledger, at (630) 955-3593 or jelsener@dailyherald.com.