![Dani Austin, above, and her husband, Jordan Ramirez, co-leaders of Dallas-based Divi, are among the 18 winners of EY’s 2025 Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest Award. Austin launched the brand in 2021 with a focus on science-backed scalp and hair health, growing it into a national name now backed by Norwest and carried by Ulta Beauty, Target, and Amazon. [Photo: Divi]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dani-Austin-founder-of-Divi.jpg)
Ernst & Young has named 18 standout founders and executives from across Texas and the region as winners of its Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Southwest Award, announced June 20. The annual program honors leaders of high-growth companies who are building innovative businesses and shaping the future.
This year’s 18 honorees represent 15 companies spanning industries from energy and electronics to fast-casual dining, consumer products, healthcare, and beyond.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program recognizes a wide range of leadership, from bootstrapped founders and venture-backed startup entrepreneurs to innovative CEOs and multigenerational family business leaders.
Winners were picked by an independent panel of judges made up of past award recipients, CEOs, and business leaders. EY said the evaluation focused on entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and long-term value creation.
According to Rex Alexander, EY Partner and Southwest Program Director, the winners “redefine excellence and set new benchmarks in their industries.” He added, “They set the standard for scaling businesses while prioritizing their employees, customers, and communities.”
The 2025 Southwest winners are:
Gordon Huddleston | Aethon Energy Management LLC | Dallas
Ray Waddell | CEC Facilities Group | Irving
Kyle Gordon and Maggie Gordon | Dillas Quesadillas | Dallas
Dani Austin and Jordan Ramirez | Divi | Dallas
David Iliff | DuraServ | Carrollton
James Showalter | EG4 Electronics | Sulphur Springs
Drake Gordon | Executive Exteriors | Dallas
Kyle Noonan and Josh Sepkowitz | FreeRange Concepts | Dallas
Curtis Hite | Improving | Plano
Dan Amiga and Michael Fey | Island.io | Coppell
Tom Currier | Maverick Power | McKinney
Brett Davis | National Indoor RV Centers | Lewisville
Prasad Reddy | Twisted X Global Brands | Decatur
Rick Hall | US Oral Surgery Management | Irving
The regional winners now advance to the national stage, according to EY. They’ll be considered for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, set for November at EY’s Strategic Growth Forum®, a major gathering of market-leading companies. One U.S. winner will go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2026.
All regional winners join a global network of EY program alumni across more than 60 countries, gaining lifetime access to resources and relationships designed to support growing companies.
See all the 2025 Southwest finalists here.
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