By J.P. Dahdah, Founder & CEO of Vantage
Six Arizona businesses were honored today for creating jobs, contributing to charities and introducing innovation.
The awards were handed out at the 17th annual Spirit of Enterprise Awards luncheon at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa by W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Amy Hillman, dean of the business school, said she could feel the anticipation in the room of what’s about to come.
“This is truly a generation that sees itself as entrepreneurs,” Hillman told the crowd of hundreds in the ballroom.
The 2013 Spirit of Enterprise Award winners are:
- The U.S. Bank Emerging Entrepreneur Award: Bluemedia, Tempe-based signage, and large-format graphics company.
- The Hahnco Cos. Special Achievement in Entrepreneurship Award: ComTrans, a Phoenix-based special needs transportation company for children and adults.
- The Spirit of Enterprise Innovation in Entrepreneurship Award: GPS Insight, a Scottsdale-based provider of GPS fleet and asset-tracking software.
- The Spirit of Enterprise Leadership Award: Real Property Management East Valley, a Mesa-based full-service residential property management company.
- The Spirit of Enterprise Overcoming Adversity Award: Valley Sleep Center, a Mesa-based nationally-accredited sleep disorder testing and treatment company with five clinics.
- Gary L. Trujillo Minority Enterprise Award: Vantage Self-Directed Retirement Plans, a Phoenix-based, self-directed Individual Retirement Account administration, and alternative asset custodial services.
- New this year: Spirit of Enterprise Student Entrepreneur Award: Devesh Tuteja, an ASU business school senior and co-founder of Devils Connect, a free web platform that helps ASU students connect to find study groups and academic forums.
“Changing Lives Through Education” is more than a catchphrase, it is the way we conduct ourselves at the W. P. Carey School of Business. As we aspire to burnish our reputation as a “top of mind” business school, one of the key initiatives that differentiate the school and its graduates is Entrepreneurship.
The mission of the Spirit of Enterprise Center (“Spirit”) is to be the touchstone for all aspects of Entrepreneurship that affect our constituents (sponsors, volunteers, nominees, award recipients, family businesses, students, faculty, and alumni).