Ernst & Young Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award
Sara Miller McCune, Publisher and Chairman of Sage Publications - the publishing company that she founded at age 24 - was honored with the Ernst & Young Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award. Ms. McCune was chosen because her extraordinary leadership has created a legacy that has had a positive social and economic impact on her employees, community and industry. She embodies the ideals and qualities of entrepreneurship and serves as both a role model and encourager of those same characteristics in her employees.
Supporter of Entrepreneurship Category
Penny Lewandowski of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council
As Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council (GBTC), Penny Lewandowski helps entrepreneurs turn their dreams into realities. Since 1999, the non-profit organization has been devoted to growing the region's technology community. She has been recognized for helping to create a thriving community of technology entrepreneurs in Baltimore, which today is one of the nation's top ten biotech centers. She attributes the success of GBTC to all the hard work of the organization's board and staff and its membership base.
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Information Technology Category
Charles (Chuck) Geschke and John Warnock of Adobe Systems, Inc.
Adobe System's market-leading programs have made the California-based company one of the great success stories of the Information Age. Geschke and Warnock attribute the success of Adobe to keeping innovation alive – the company devotes 22% of its budget to R&D – and its commitment to serving its core constituencies. Adobe has earned a fierce customer loyalty that has made it one of the world's largest PC software companies.
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Hospitality, Real Estate & Construction Category
Paul Shoopman of Dura Companies
Dura Companies is a preeminent homebuilder in Indiana. The company builds 600 to 700 homes per year with a goal of reaching 1,000 annually. The success of the company rests on its founding goal to provide affordable housing through a variety of offerings. By doing its own manufacturing Dura Companies ensures its homes are the highest quality; a commitment that Shoopman takes personally. His goal is to build homes his own family would be proud to live in.
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Defense and Security Category
Sergio Magistri of InVision Technologies
InVision Technologies high-end explosives detection systems are used all over the world for screening passenger-checked baggage. InVision Technologies was founded in 1990 with the mission to develop, manufacture, market and service explosive detection systems (EDS) based on advanced computer tomography X-ray technology. The Aviation Security Act, enacted two years after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, instructed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund the development of EDS, establish certification standards and test and certify EDS for development. Today, InVision holds a dominant position in the explosives detection market. In September 2003, Fortune magazine ranked InVision among the 100 fastest growing companies in America.
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Consumer and Business Services Category
David Neeleman and Dave Barger of JetBlue Airways
Their low-cost, high-service business plan launched the most successful start-up airline in history. Based in New York City, JetBlue took to the air on February 11, 2000, offering service between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2002, it listed on the Nasdaq. Today the airline serves 22 domestic cities with a fleet of 46 brand new aircraft. What's behind JetBlue's success? The airline with a philosophy of "bringing humanity back to air travel" cites four key factors: sufficient capitalization, new aircraft, hiring the best people and a focus on customer service. The airline scores high on all criteria.