Ernst & Young Announces Winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2012 Northern California Award

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 4, 2012) - Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in Northern California. This group of leading entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous winners of the award, leading CEOs, private capital investors and other regional business leaders. The winners were revealed at a special gala on June 2nd at The Fairmont San Francisco.

"Ernst & Young has honored outstanding entrepreneurs like this year's winners for the past 26 years," said Ernie Cortes, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director for Northern California. "These business leaders have accomplished so much and contributed a tremendous amount to the community."

The winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Northern California Award are:

• Tom Bedecarre, CEO, AKQA
  
  
• Lawrence Blatt, CEO and Founder, Alios BioPharma
  
  
• Nicholas Woodman, Founder & CEO, GoPro
  
  
• Matthew Monahan, CEO & Co-Founder, Inflection
  
  
• Brian Monahan, Chief Idea Guy & Co-Founder, Inflection
  
  
• Lisa Im, CEO, Performant Financial Corporation
  
  
• Geoffrey T. Barker, Co-Founder & COO, RPX Corporation
  
  
• Dale Carlsen, Founder & CEO, Sleep Train
  
  
• Tarkan Maner, President and CEO, Wyse Technology
  
  

The Entrepreneur Of The Year Program honors entrepreneurs regionally in June, leading up to the national awards in November. Additionally, venture-backed companies that win an Entrepreneur Of The Year Award regionally are also eligible for the Venture Capital Award of Excellence at the national level. The US Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.

Now in its 26th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

In Northern California, sponsors include ManpowerGroup, The Big Picture, Smart Business Network, Inc., ADP, RoseRyan, Scherzer International, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and Barney & Barney.

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About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^®

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a US client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.