Ernst & Young has announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Southwest Award, which celebrates entrepreneurs across North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Wichita, Kansas.

Celebrating its 37th year, Entrepreneur of the Year stands out as one of the most prestigious and competitive business awards, honoring the most visionary and groundbreaking entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. According to EY, the award recognizes business acumen and a commitment to excellence, innovation, and social impact.

“It’s an honor to shine a spotlight on this diverse group of leaders and innovators that are building the businesses and the economy of the future,” Morgan Watson, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest program director and assurance partner, said in a statement. “These finalists have been carefully selected by our independent panel of judges for their ambition, impact, and performance, and we look forward to amplifying their stories across the market.”

The 2023 finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges, EY said, and were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

The finalist list boasts an impressive array of 46 outstanding entrepreneurs hailing from 40 pioneering companies. Among these visionary individuals are 34 innovative companies from North Texas, with three exceptional businesses from Arkansas, two trailblazing companies from Oklahoma, and one standout enterprise from West Texas.

The 2023 finalists are:

• Carter Malloy, AcreTrader, Fayetteville, Arkansas
  AcreTrader is a farmland investing platform and a land research mapping tool.

• Sean Minter, AmplifAI, Plano
  AmplifAI is an AI-powered coaching and performance optimization platform for sales and customer service teams.

• Darron Eschle, Andrews Logistics Texas, LP, Southlake
  Andrews Logistics is a top-five US family-owned and operated asset-based bulk liquid transportation and logistics company.

• Chris White, Athos Group LLC, Irving
  Athos Group is a holding company and a national leader in off-duty- and extra-duty-related services provided by local law enforcement agencies and their officers.

• Suchi Acharya, AyuVis Research Inc., Fort Worth
  AyuVis Research is a biotech company that designs and develops novel small molecule immunotherapies to prevent and treat inflammatory and infectious diseases.

• Lauren Brooks, Bakery Bling, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Bakery Bling manufactures designer cookie decorating kits, gingerbread houses, cake decor, glittery sugar and more for almost any holiday or occasion.

• Tanya Biggers, Big Star Transit LLC, Dallas
  Big Star Transit is a non-emergency medical transportation company that provides specialized passenger transportation services.

• Nate Henderson and Ahmed Qureshi, BILT Inc., Grapevine
  BILT Incorporated is an interactive 3D instruction app that provides step-by-step instructions for assembling products. 

• Richard Stockton, Braemar Hotels & Resorts, Dallas
  Braemar Hotels & Resorts is a REIT that invests primarily in high revenue per available room luxury hotels and resorts.

• Chris Cosby, Compass Datacenters, Dallas
  Compass Datacenters provides custom, move-in ready data centers from the edge to core.

• Matt Wadiak, Cooks Venture, Decatur, Arkansas
  Cooks Venture reimagines animal agriculture and chicken breeding while promoting regenerative agriculture.

• Chris Kendall, Denbury Inc., Plano
  Denbury carbon solutions company focused on the development of enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture, utilization, and storage operations.

• Marcus Randolph, Ecobat, Dallas
  Ecobat is a global leader in lead recycling and lead production.

• Eddy Badrina, Eden Green, Cleburne
  Eden Green is an agricultural technology company that develops vertical farming systems.

• Elyse Dickerson, Eosera, Fort Worth
  Eosera is a biotech company that develops ear care products.

• Jack Gibbons, FB Society, Dallas
  FB Society is boutique, independent hospitality group that creates imaginative restaurant concepts and operates brands.

• Aaron Smith, FlexCare Infusion Centers, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  FlexCare Infusion Centers provides infusion therapy services for patients with rare, chronic, and complex conditions.

• John Gustafson, Frontier Waste Solutions, Dallas
  Frontier Waste Solutions is a waste management company that provides waste solutions for businesses and communities.

• J. Brooks, GlassView, Fort Worth
  GlassView is a video distribution platform that’s built the “world’s first neuromarketing solution at scale.”

• Robin Alex, Shaun Clark, and Varun Vairavan, HighLevel, Dallas
  HighLevel is a platform built for agencies to support local businesses around the world.

• Dave Wengel, iDatafy, Little Rock, Arkansas
  iDatafy helps education and training partners attest to the talent of individuals with verified credentials on a certified SmartResume.

• Mandy Price, Kanarys Inc., Dallas
  Kanarys is a diversity, equity, and inclusion technology platform that helps companies create more inclusive workplaces.

• Rod Millar, Likewize, Southlake
  Likewize is device protection company and a world leader in premium tech support.

• Kirt Linington, Linear Roofing & General Contractors, Addison
  Linear Roofing & General Contractors offers multifamily, commercial, and residential roofing and solar services.

• Sheldon Arora, LiquidAgents Healthcare, Plano
  LiquidAgents Healthcare is a healthcare staffing agency that provides staffing solutions for healthcare facilities across the United States.

• Matthew Bowers, Lone Star Analysis, Addison
  Lone Star Analysis is a predictive analytics and artificial intelligence software company that provides businesses with applied decision intelligence and engineering solutions. Bower has been instrumental in introducing new solutions, expanding the company’s headquarters, opening subsidiaries, and more, the company said.

• Ebbah Realzola, MEXZIM Corporation, Dallas
  MEXZIM Corporation specializes in commercial construction interior finish-out services for office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers, fulfillment centers, manufacturing facilities, restaurants, hotels, retail, medical facilities, and schools.

• Jordan Curnes, MicroTransponder, Dallas
  MicroTransponder is a medical device company that develops neurostimulation therapies for patients with neurological disorders.

• Justin Simons, My Labs Direct, Plano
  My Labs Direct is a full-service laboratory focused on delivering advancements in diagnostic lab medicine to its customers.

• Matt Alexander, Neighborhood Goods, Plano
  Neighborhood Goods is a retail store that features rotating pop-up shops from various brands and designers.

• Chris Bradford and Kevin Wang, Newline Interactive, Allen
  Newline Interactive is an interactive display technology company that provides interactive displays for businesses and educational institutions.

• George Baker, ParkHub, Dallas
  ParkHub is a parking management software company that provides parking management solutions for businesses and events across the United States.

• Blake Vincent and Bryan Vincent, Principal LED dba Principal Industries, San Angelo, Texas
  Principal LED is one of the largest providers of electrical sign components in North America with operations across Europe and the rest of the world.

• David Meadows and Derek Meadows, PureWine Inc, Southlake
  PureWine Inc. develops wine filters that remove histamines and sulfites from wine without affecting its taste or aroma.

• Tom Brennan, Sol-Ark, Plano
  Sol-Ark is a solar and energy storage technology firm.

• Bryan Redmond, Suntex Marinas, Dallas
  Suntex Marinas owns and operates marinas in Texas and the U.S.

• Lisa Hanlon-Knight, Teltech Communications, Frisco
  Teltech Communications provides telecommunications services for businesses across the United States.

• Luke Hejl, TimelyCare, Fort Worth
  TimelyCare is a telehealth platform that connects students with healthcare providers via technology.

• Tom Parker, TJP Enterprises LLC, Fort Worth
  TJP Enterprises is a tire recycling center providing a full range of tire collection, disposal, and recycling services.

• Daniel Chu, Tricolor Holdings, Irving
  Tricolor Holdings is a direct-to-consumer, AI-powered platform to provide transportation and upward financial mobility solutions for underserved Hispanics in the U.S.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 24 at the Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest awards celebration, per EY.

After the regional judging, the winners will advance to the National level and be evaluated by judges for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards. The winners of this award will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The recipient of the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award will then proceed to the next stage and compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2024.

Who won last year?

Meet the 11 winners of the 2022 Entrepreneur Of The Year Central Plains Awards here. Ten of the 11 winners are from North Texas.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Through its Entrepreneur Of The Year awards, EY showcases successful visionary leaders who deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transform the world. 

Since its beginning in 1986, the program has expanded to honor business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries worldwide. To date, it’s recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the U.S.

The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth, connecting them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. 

Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.

Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.