Ten Tampa Bay area executives are among 28 Florida finalists named Thursday for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 Award by Ernst & Young. Award recipients will be announced on June 12 and become eligible to compete nationally. The finalists were selected from 70 nominations by a panel of independent judges. The award program, a high profile competition in the state, recognizes high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
The finalists from the Tampa Bay area are: In the health care category, CEO Jeff W. Bak of HealthPlan Services Inc. in Tampa; in the distribution and manufacturing category, CEO Michael Benstock of Superior Uniform Group Inc. in Seminole; in the technology category, CEO Barry Shevlin of Vology in Oldsmar, as well as CEO Arnie Bellini III and COO David Bellini of ConnectWise in Tampa; in the retail and consumer products category, CEO Todd Christopher of Vogue International in Clearwater, as well as CEO Mark B. Pentecost of It Works! in Bradenton; in the emerging category, CEO Bobby Harris of BlueGrace Logistics in Riverview; in the services category, CEO Scott V. Dols of Big Truck Rental LLC in Tampa; and in the family business category, CEO Larry C. Morgan of Morgan Family Ventures in Tampa.