Tim Donahue of Nextel Communications, Inc.
Donahue has helped Nextel get ahead of the wireless pack through his relentless focus on customer satisfaction and superior wireless service. When he joined Nextel in 1996, the company had 100,000 customers. Today, Donahue has grown Nextel into an $8.7 billion force in the wireless industry with more than 12 million customers. Donahue's winning strategy of focusing on customer satisfaction and unique services has driven Nextel's impressive growth. The company has been rewarded with the most valuable customers in the industry, paying on average approximately $70 per month for service. While its competitors tout their low-price plans, Nextel enjoys the enviable position of attracting nearly one in five of the industry's new customers and maintaining its per-user revenue.
Read more about Tim Donahue and Nextel Communications
Life Sciences Category
Carlos and Jorge de Cespedes of Pharmed Group
To meet the increasing demands for pharmaceutical products overseas, Miami-based Pharmed Group has become the premier international distributor of medical supplies. Carlos and Jorge have seen their business grow significantly as a result of their keen business sense and industry knowledge. Aside from its growth and success, Pharmed Group supports its community at many levels. The company sponsors nearly 20 children's sports teams, supports Cuban-American studies programs at the University of Miami and Florida International University, and awards numerous scholarships for the children of its employees. Pharmed Group is also a strong supporter of Miami's St. John Bosco Clinic, which treats the homeless and indigent.
Read more about Carlos and Jorge de Cespedes and Pharmed Group
Arts and Entertainment Category
Catherine Hughes and Alfred Liggins III of Radio One
This mother and son team proved that a radio talk format for African-American audiences could be a winning combination and today their media powerhouse, Radio One, is the largest African-American owned media company in the U.S. Hughes and Liggins' strategy is to buy under-performing stations in urban markets, reformat the programming, and target African-Americans and urban listeners. This untraditional approach has created a competitive advantage for Radio One through its strong knowledge of the African-American market and turnaround expertise. Today, Radio One i is a $2 billion force in the media world with 66 radio stations in 22 of the largest markets reaching 18 million African American listeners daily. The result has been an increase in revenue and opportunities for minorities and women, with more than 1,500 African American broadcasters on staff at the company. Radio One continues to expand by adding other types of media complementary to its core radio business.
Read more about Hughes, Liggins, and Radio One
Financial Services Category
Leo F. Wells III of Wells Real Estate Funds
Wells established Wells Real Estate Funds in 1984 as a boutique firm that concentrated mainly on limited partnership funds. Since its founding, the company has experienced phenomenal growth. It currently manages $3.9 billion in assets for more than 125,000 investors nationwide. Behind this success is Wells' philosophy that hinges on exceptional service, quality products and great people. While Wells has achieved great success, he sees lots of future potential. His goal is to grow the company into the world's leading real estate investment firm. He wants to see investors allocate more of their total U.S. portfolio to real estate. New types of products are in the offing as Wells continues to listen to investors and anticipate their needs. However, his commitment to the people who place their trust in him remains his biggest priority.
Read more about Leo F. Wells III and Wells Real Estate Funds
Past winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award include Michael Dell, founder, chairman and CEO, Dell Computer Corporation; Scott McNealy, chairman, president and CEO, Sun Microsystems; Jim McCann, chairman and CEO, 1-800-FLOWERS; Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon.com; Herb Kelleher, chairman of the board, chairman of the executive committee, Southwest Airlines; Howard Schultz, chairman and chief global strategist, Starbucks Coffee; and Leon F. Gorman, chairman, L.L. Bean.
For more information about the awards event, call 1-800-755-AWARD or visit the Ernst & Young Web site at www.ey.com/us/eoy. "Entrepreneur of the Year®" is a registered trademenark of Ernst & Young U.S., LLP.