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FALL 2002 Ernst &Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2002 Jeno F. Paulucci, Luigino’s, Inc. Seeing Beyond the Risks f you look closely at what is at the heart of most successes, you’re likely to find someone with an idea—to do something new, to do something better, Ito do something differently—and the determination to make it work. In business, these visionaries are called entrepreneurs. They are the back- bone of our country, building strong, innovative, and dynamic businesses that provide jobs, grow our communities, strengthen our economy, and improve the world. Entrepreneurs are ordinary people who achieve extraordinary things, and their efforts inspire others to do the same. That’s why 16 years ago we established the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards. It’s our way of recognizing the men and women who make the economy vibrant. Today, through the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards—now in its third year—countries worldwide identify, salute, and support these outstanding individuals. One of them is Jeno Paulucci, the 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year. From his very first venture—an Italian-American selling chow mein in the Scandinavian enclave of Minnesota—Paulucci has time and again defied convention and stereotype. In a 67-year career that’s still going strong, Paulucci has built more than 50 companies, including four multimillion-dollar food companies, and has become a trailblazer in the frozen food industry. The following pages contain more of Jeno Paulucci’s inspiring story, as well as those of this year’s Entrepreneur Of The Year national category winners and finalists. They are justifiably proud of what they have achieved, and we’re equally proud to bring their stories to you. By any measure, successes have seemed hard to come by in the last year. But as the following examples will prove, entrepreneurs continually recognize the opportunities that defeat risks, and make the most of them. In the process they’ve learned something equally important—that sometimes the greatest risk of all is simply not taking one. It’s a lesson we all could benefit from. Sincerely, Gregory K. Ericksen Global Director, Entrepreneur Of The Year Ernst & Young 1 One man’s dream for entrepreneurship in America is coming true. We are proud to support entrepreneurship through the Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards. Ewing Marion Kauffman's dream for America lives on through the foundation he so generously endowed. The Kauffman Foundation works with entrepreneurs across the spectrum – young learners, aspiring entrepreneurs, high-growth entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs – to encourage economic self-sufficiency and success by providing expertise, programs and grants to entrepreneurship support organizations. Mr. Kauffman's dream for accelerating entrepreneurship in America is coming true one day at a time. His enthusiasm for life is reflected in the smiling faces of successful entrepreneurs of all ages in healthier economic communities across the nation. 4801 Rockhill Road Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2046 888-777-GROW (4769) www.entreworld.org Contents Seeing Beyond the Risks CATEGORY WINNERS & FINALISTS Gregory K. Ericksen Global director Entrepreneur Of The Year Master Retail Ernst & Young . .Page 1 Joseph W. Luter III Rowland Schaefer Smithfield Foods, Inc. .Page 13 Claire’s Stores . .Page 26 Harland Stonecipher The World’s Business Award Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. .Page 13 Lillian Vernon The Ernst & Young The Lillian Vernon Corp. .Page 28 Entrepreneur Of The Year Emerging Richard B. Cohen Program . .Page 4 R. Greg Blair C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. .Page 28 Escort, Inc. .Page 14 Service AJury of Their Peers Douglas J. Bartek Bart Palmisano, Sr.. Meet the men and women Microtune, Inc. .Page 16 Orthodontic Centers who select our national Brian E. LeGette & of America . .Page 29 winners . .Page 6 Ron L. Wilson II Big Bang Products, LLC . .Page 16 Richard V. Keith Center Partners, Inc. .Page 31 AWorld of Entrepreneurial Health Sciences Robert B. Knutson Excellence . .Page 8 John M. Gregory Education Management Corp. .Page 31 King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. .Page 17 Supporter of Entrepreneurship 2002 National Ernst &Young Matthew Winkler William Bynum Entrepreneur Of The Year Ambion, Inc. .Page 19 Enterprise Corporation Jeno F. Paulucci J. Mario Molina, M.D. of the Delta . .Page 32 Luigino’s, Inc. .Page 10 Molina Healthcare, Inc. .Page 19 Dr. Gyan R. Parida Manufacturing Silicon Alley Herbert V. Kohler, Jr. Entrepreneurs Club . .Page 34 Kohler Company . .Page 20 Brien Biondi Young Entrepreneurs’ Todd Werner Organization . .Page 34 Sure-Feed Engineering . .Page 22 Farooq Kathwari Technology/Communications Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. .Page 22 F. Neal Hunter Cree, Inc. .Page 35 Real Estate Victor Tsao John C. Mascaro Linksys . .Page 37 Mascaro Construction Shaula Yemini Company, LP . .Page 23 System Management Arts (SMARTS) . .Page 37 Wilbur F. Breslin Entrepreneur Of The Year magazine Breslin Realty Global Director, Development Corp. .Page 25 Entrepreneur Of The Year: Gregory K. Ericksen Gerald T. Halpin Program Director: Nancy Clark WEST*GROUP Editorial Director: Warren Rappleyea Management LLC . .Page 25 Managing Editor: Rebecca L. Grasso Design Director: Julia Packard Original Photography: Vincent Colabella 3 The World’s Business Award Growing a company from an idea to an industry leader requires a special breed of individual— someone who doesn’t believe those who say it can’t be done … someone who views obstacles as opportunities … someone who won’t take “no” for an answer. It takes an entrepreneur. ntrepreneurs are the individuals with the vision, determination, and Eleadership to create the companies that produce new industries, new jobs, new opportunities, and new wealth. Each year the most successful entrepreneurs vie for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award, the most prestigious honor in its class. Entrepreneur Of The Year winners represent virtually every industry—from high tech to high touch. They are the men and women whose hard work and creativity have changed not only their lives but ours as well—people like Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corp., Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Scott Kriens of Juniper 4 E NTREPRENEUR O F T HE Y EAR 2002 Networks, Steve Case of America Online, Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners managers, or the entrepreneurs themselves. Richard Schulze of Best Buy Co. Inc., and become eligible for the national awards. All financial information submitted on the Dr. Phillip Frost of IVAX Corporation. An independent panel of judges selects nomination form is considered confidential Here’s how it works. Seven to 10 winners winners and finalists in several national and will be used only by the sponsors and in various award categories are selected categories. From the winners, one is by the independent panels of regional and from among the nominees by independent chosen as the overall National Ernst & national judges. panels of judges—comprising local busi- Young Entrepreneur Of The Year. The ness, financial, academic, and media fig- national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of ures—in several geographic regions across The Year winners and finalists are the U.S. In 2002, over 4,400 nominations announced at an awards gala that is the HELP US GIVE THE WORLD’S were received in 42 regions hosting the culmination of the program. The next BEST ENTREPRENEURS THE Entrepreneur Of The Year program. Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards will be Regional winners are honored at awards held Nov. 20–23, 2003. RECOGNITION THEY banquets held in each of the regions during A nominee must be an owner/manager DESERVE. the month of June. They are also inducted primarily responsible for the recent into the elite Entrepreneur Of The Year performance of a company that is at least Hall of Fame at the Entrepreneur Of The two years old. Nominations can be submit- We’re looking for successful men and Year awards event held each November at ted by anyone who is associated with a women who have founded or are growing the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & successful entrepreneur—spouses, employ- leading-edge companies. If you know Spa in Palm Springs. All regional ees, bankers, attorneys, public relations someone who possesses the skills and SUPPORTER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP determination to make a great idea work, Individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the entrepreneurial spirit or nominate him or her for the coveted Ernst & helped an entrepreneur become successful through business or academia are eligible for Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award. the national Supporter of Entrepreneurship award, presented by the Ewing Marion Kauffman A copy of the nomination form and com- Foundation. This award recognizes individuals who have consistently contributed time, plete information on the Entrepreneur Of money, encouragement, and/or skill development to further the cause of entrepreneurship. The Year awards program is available free Nominees need not have founded a company or organization, and may come from the corpo- from our Web site at www.ey.com/us/eoy rate world or any level of academia. To learn more about the Supporter of Entrepreneurship or by calling 1-800-755-AWARD. Deadline award, please contact the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation at (888) 777-GROW, or visit its for nominations is April 4, 2003. Web site at www.entreworld.org. 5 AJury of Their Peers 2002 National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year judges: (standing, l-r) John Bello, SoBe Beverages; Joe Sansone, Pediatric Services of America; Dennis Frandsen, Frandsen Corporation; William Saito, I/O Software; (seated, l-r) Maxine Clark, Build-a-Bear Workshop; George Dalton, Call_solutions.com; Rebecca Smith, A.D. Morgan Corporation; Paul Sarvadi, Administaff. Selecting the best of the best entrepreneurs is a job for the experts. And when it comes to building a successful enterprise from the ground up, nobody knows what it takes better than someone who has already done it.