“The finalists this year didn’t disappoint.”

Dennis Cail
CEO and Co-Founder
Zirtue
… Cail, a 2021 honoree and 2025 judge of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Southwest Awards, called this year’s class of regional winners a “powerful reminder” of what’s possible.

It takes one to know one. That’s why EY turns to past winners to spot the next ones.

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Southwest Awards independent panel of judges is largely made up of former honorees—founders and execs who’ve poured their own energy, capital, and grit into building something from the ground up.

Dennis Cail, right, with 2025 regional winner David Iliff of Carrollton-based DuraServ. [Photo via Dennis Cail]

Dennis Cail knows what it takes. As the 2021 regional award winner and CEO of Dallas-based Zirtue—a platform that formalizes personal loans between friends and family—he’s been in the entrepreneur’s shoes. This year, he was back in a new role—to help evaluate the next class of standout leaders.

“As a past winner of this incredible honor, I know firsthand what it means to pour your heart into building something extraordinary,” Cail wrote on LinkedIn after the award winners were announced at an event last week.

The 2025 Southwest Awards recognized 18 founders and CEOs behind 15 high-growth companies spanning everything from energy to electronics, hair health to quesadillas. These winners are now in the running for national honors this fall.

Cail was in good company, judging alongside a panel that read like a who’s who of past EY winners.

The group of local luminaries included 9 other alumni—each with a front-row seat to what it takes to scale. Among them: Gabe Abshire of Move Concierge (2022 regional winner); Barbara Smith, chairman of Commercial Metals Company (2022 national winner); Jean Baik of Miss A Stores (2024 regional winner); Dave Copps of Worlds (2022 regional winner); Maria Carell of Revision Skincare and Goodier Cosmetics (2022 regional winner); and Joe Urso of ActivePure Technologies (2022 regional winner).

They were joined by Juli Spottiswood of Onbe (2021 regional winner); Nipa Nobel of MTX Group (2021 national winner), along with civic and community leaders James Spann of Boyd Street Ventures and Abe Minkara of Legacy Knight.

“Their vision, grit, and groundbreaking ideas are paving the way for the future of business and innovation,” Cail said of this year’s finalists. His takeaway? These achievements are “a powerful reminder of what’s possible when hard work, creativity, and unwavering determination come together.”

For the full list of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Southwest winners, check out our story here.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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