Ernst & Young names entrepreneur judges

Ernst & Young has announced the independent judging panel for its 2006 Utah Entrepreneur of the Year competition.

The judges are Paul Allen, chief executive officer of Provo Labs; Jack Brittain, vice president of Technology Venture Development and Dean of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah; Marsha Gilford, assistant vice president of public affairs for Smith's Food & Drug; Carla Meine, CEO of O'Currance Teleservices; David Simmons, chairman of Simmons Media Group; Ned Stringham, CEO of SBI; and Greg Warnock, managing director of vSpring Capital.

"The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Program is the most highly respected competition of its kind in the world, and I am delighted to serve as a judge to recognize the significant level of entrepreneurship we have here in Utah," Brittain said in a prepared statement. "The caliber of past award recipients is amazing. The quality and prestige of this event really set it apart."

The 2006 program, of which the Deseret Morning News is a sponsor, will conclude with a gala awards event June 16 at the Salt Palace convention center in Salt Lake City.

The nominees will be evaluated on their financial performance, company growth, leadership, profitability, strategic direction, innovation, personal integrity, values and originality. Past winners include Gene Kwon, Latitude Restaurant Group; Jon Huntsman Sr., Huntsman Cancer Institute; and Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up!