The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® (EOY) award honors entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, hard work and perseverance have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures. Founded in 1986, the program has grown to become the only worldwide award event of its kind. People like Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com and Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corp. are all past Entrepreneurs Of The Year. This year’s Upstate New York, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia program recognizes 25 entrepreneurs from 22 companies. Of particular interest, nine of the finalists are Pittsburgh Technology Council Members. Here’s a look at this year’s finalists:

Peter Augustine, President, New Era Cap Company

Beginning his career with New Era in 1990, Peter Augustine has served the company with distinction as Controller, CFO, COO, and since 2003, as President of New Era. While all of New Era’s competitors have embraced the wave of globalization and sent production overseas, Augustine’s innovative strategic leadership has enabled New Era to produce quality products, providing jobs right here in the U.S. Augustine recently led the company and its employees through contentious negations to craft a new labor agreement that is being hailed as a model of cooperation and productivity by both management and labor.

Anthony J. Baynes, Sr., Chairman, Extra Mile Transportation

Since its founding in 1995, Anthony Baynes has built Extra Mile Transport into a company that has been one of Inc. magazine’s 500 Fastest Growing Companies three years in a row. By responding to his customers’ evolving transportation needs and building his companies around human capital and ingenuity, Baynes has developed a process that maintains enviable growth, low employee turnover, satisfied customers and thriving suppliers.

John J. Bernabei, President, Tri-State Medical Group

Starting with a single pharmacy financed using his father’s house as equity, John Bernabei has grown and developed that single pharmacy into Tri-State Medical Group, a thriving and successful company with 50-plus employees supplying a diversity of medical and pharmaceutical services to the entire region. Focusing on customer service and value, Bernabei and Tri-State Medical Group serve the region’s needs and make a significant contribution to their community’s health and well-being.

Patrick L. Colletti, President, Net Health Systems

Patrick Colletti tasked Net Health Systems to serve the chronic, non-healing wound market because those suffering from chronic wounds inflict financial strain on our government and private healthcare systems as well as the aging information technology infrastructure of the healthcare industry. With an average growth rate of 70 percent over the last three years and a recent partnership with the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Colletti has poised Net Health Systems to explore strategic growth opportunities using its innovative corporate culture to address the acute needs of our evolving healthcare systems.

Peter M. DeComo, Chairman and CEO, Renal Solutions

A seasoned, innovative entrepreneur embarking on his fifth start-up, Peter DeComo became Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Renal Solutions Inc. (RSI) in July 2000. DeComo has more than 25 years of successful leadership experience, primarily in health sciences. His broad entrepreneurial and leadership expertise provide RSI with unique competency, enabling it to undertake launching the company’s products into the evolving home hemodialysis market and negotiating the terms of the acquisition and sale of the company to Fresenius Medical Care. In addition, Peter is well known in the community as an innovative first mover with high ethical standards.

Denise Desimone, CEO, Advanticom, Inc.

Denise joined Advanticom as CEO in 2005. Her mission has been to successfully grow Advanticom to be the best, most efficient and productive information solutions company. Advanticom is a top provider of integrated voice and data infrastructure. Advanticom is a full-service IT company that designs, engineers, assembles and services voice and data communications systems. With Desimone’s leadership, Advanticom has partnered with technology giants, including Cisco Systems, Microsoft and Toshiba, all while developing a company culture that empowers each individual employee.

Walter J. Dollard, President and Michael Gunniers, Principal, Premier Automation LLC

Walter Dollard and Michael Gunniers have transitioned Premier Automation LLC from a former division of Electro-Mec, an industrial motor repair business, into a nimble and adaptive company that offers reliable problem solving and custom electrical control solutions to the changing needs of local manufacturing industries. Both Dollard and Gunniers focus Premier’s approach toward custom solutions that have become an industry hallmark. In a time when more industries look for general outsourcing partners, Premier’s custom approach provides a unique solution in the industry, and the model in itself challenges Premier’s employees to constantly invent and innovate.

Steven Erenrich, President and CEO, Patete Kitchen & Bath Design Center and Luxury Bath Systems

The innovative approach taken by Steve Erenrich and his companies differs from any other kitchen or bath business model in the tri-state area. The concept, “Custom Creation to Expert Installation,” sets Patete Kitchen and Bath Design Center as the premier kitchen and bath studio in the area. In March 2008, Erenrich won the Steady Star of the Year Award from the Sen Design Group. With the recent addition of a Luxury Bath Systems Franchise, Patete is poised to expand its products and services even further into the tri-state area.

Brandon W. Fisher, Founder and President, Center Rock, Inc.

Brandon Fisher founded Center Rock, Inc., in 1998 as a small drilling company that soon shifted and grew to become the region’s leading servicing distributor of drilling products that now employs 71 people and continues to expand. Fisher’s innovative and adaptive leadership has seen Center Rock through abrupt industry changes and guided Center Rock’s successful growth while competing with larger companies like Smith International and Atlas Copco. Center Rock’s quick responsiveness, unique products and 24-hour customer service are the hallmark of Fisher’s entrepreneurial commitment and a key ingredient to his company’s advantage over larger competitors. Louis Gentile, President, Gentile-Meinert & Associates, Inc. Louis Gentile is the Founder and President of Gentile-Meinert & Associates – a full-service private investigations and security firm. After a law enforcement career that culminated in his tenure as Director of the Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Control of the Pennsylvania State Police, Gentile brought his experience and expertise in organized crime, overt/covert investigations and electronic surveillance to private investigation and security. Currently, Gentile-Meinert serves clients worldwide from four offices (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Denver and Erie) and provides second-to-none quality in vulnerability analyses, expert witnesses, security, subpoenas, undercover operations, litigations support and civil/criminal investigations.

Inderpal Guglani,

Founder and CEO, Guru.com Coming from a traditional financial background, Inder Guglani has an unconventional approach to risk-taking. Beginning with three people huddled around a computer in Inder’s basement, Guru.com’s origins began in 1997 and the company has grown to compete in the global freelance marketplace and secure a position at the top of its industry. Today, Guru.com is a poised, agile company that is leading and expanding the frontiers of the global economy under the unflagging entrepreneurial leadership of Guglani.

James Hensler, President and CEO, Horsehead Corporation

Jim Hensler holds a passion for analyzing problems and developing solutions. Horsehead Corporation (the only recycler of Electric Arc Furnace Dust in the country) represents the fourth bankruptcy Hensler has turned around. Beginning as President and CEO of Horsehead in 2004, Hensler ascertained the necessary path to rebuilding the business while cutting unnecessary costs. Overseeing Horsehead’s restructuring, Hensler paid particular attention to product quality and implemented the Six Sigma Training program. Now the zinc smelter from Monaca, Pa. is operating with far greater efficiency and the company’s fortunes have gone from grim to launching its IPO in 2007 just three years after filing for bankruptcy.

Scott Kallick, President, and Gina Kallick, COO, Continental Laundry Systems, Inc.

Twenty years ago, the entrepreneurial spirit of the husband and wife team of Scott and Gina Kallick became the catalyst of their career changes, their relocation from Chicago and subsequent acquisition of a small multi-family laundry business in Pittsburgh. Today, Scott and Gina have expanded Continental Laundry services to include operations in 14 states. The couple’s management style compliments each other and allows each equal partner to excel in their respective areas of responsibility, illustrating the ingenuity and problem-solving skills they’ve drawn on to lead Continental Laundry Systems.

Dennis Lejeck, President, Black Knight Security

As Founder and current President of Black Knight Security (BKS), Dennis Lejeck worked to form a company following his vision to bring a breath of fresh air to a stagnant industry. Lejeck’s treatment of security as a career option rather than a minimum wage job created higher standards for security officers at BKS, influencing the entire industry. Lejeck’s entrepreneurial endeavors have resulted in BKS’ stature as an up-and-coming security company poised for future success.

John Manzetti, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse

John Manzetti’s vast experience prior to becoming President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG), demonstrates his history and familiarity with entrepreneurial success. As CEO of two medical services organizations, Manzetti has managed turnarounds, adaptated to widespread industry changes and exhibited visionary leadership. As Chairman of the PLSG, a unique public/private partnership designed to drive innovative healthcare solutions into the marketplace from university research and entrepreneurs in the region, Manzetti has led the push to dramatically increase direct investments, forge new partnerships and set the PLSG on a course to make even greater contributions to this region in the future.

Sean McDonald, President and CEO, Precision Therapeutics

In 2001 Sean McDonald joined Precision Therapeutics, a diagnostic services company dedicated to providing actionable clinical information to personalize cancer treatments. Previously, McDonald founded Automated Healthcare in 1992, developing the first robotics-based solution to hospital pharmacy management. Automated Healthcare was acquired by McKesson Corporation in 1996 for $65 million. This history of entrepreneurial leadership and expertise is instrumental in McDonald’s role of recruiting and developing a successful management team to Precision in the areas of Finance, IT, HR, sales and marketing and clinical trials.

James J. McNamara Jr., President and CEO, Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.

James McNamara’s entrepreneurial spirit and leadership have led the former IBM Microelectronics Operations in Endicott, N.Y., to success through vertical integration supported by a significant vision for electronics packaging and solutions that include a strong influence on materials science. Excellence in customer service, error-free quality and manufacturing know-how, coupled with lab resources for reliability second to none, were the basis for Endicott’s growth. When the former IBM subsidiary was transformed in 1992, no one believed a new North American electronics start-up company without a solid customer base would survive. Today, Endicott Interconnect continues to grow and thrive under McNamara’s watch.

Eric Oberg, Chairman, Oberg Industries, Inc.

As a second-generation owner, Eric Oberg is steeped in manufacturing processes and possesses a wealth of experience that helps him lead Oberg Industries to maintain its status as a premier tool and die shop that continues to grow despite the vagaries of economic instability, offshore outsourcing and rapidly rising material costs. Oberg leads his team to find new markets offering the best chances at not only business survival, but growth within a shrinking market. With continued investment in the latest high-tech machinery and a keen eye for developing strategies to adapt to changing industry conditions, he has Oberg Industries poised to continue its growth in the future.

D. Raja, CEO, Computer Enterprises, Inc.

As an entrepreneur starting a business more than 16 years ago, Raja consistently grows CEI and delivers profitability year after year. It’s unusual for a company to totally self-sustain and stabilize in a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry. The success of CEI is built on Raja’s belief in hard work and superb character. Integrity, passion, teamwork and execution are the framework of CEI, and under Raja’s leadership the company continues to provide IT solutions that embody the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit of its founder.

Julie Shimer, President and CEO and Kevin Cahill, CFO and Executive Vice President, Welch Allyn, Inc.

Headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, N.Y., Welch Allyn is an internationally recognized manufacturer of innovative medical diagnostic equipment and therapeutic devices. With a legacy that goes back nearly 100 years, Shimer and Cahill lead Welch Allyn’s growth, creating and developing innovative products to address changing needs in healthcare. Cahill and Shimer, who became the first female President of Welch Allyn in 2007, work together to ensure a prosperous future and the continued success of one of America’s most innovative companies.

Peter Whiting, Chairman, President and CEO, PTC Alliance Corp.

Under Peter Whiting’s leadership, a resurgent PTC has risen from near insolvency just a few years ago to success as a high-service business in a traditional, mature manufacturing industry. Using innovative approaches to managing both human and technical capital, Whiting has moved PTC into a growing and thriving company that provides products to some very sophisticated, international customers. To do this, PTC now leads the industry by actively seeking out opportunities to add value to the basic product offering by either developing tailor-made solutions to the customer’s needs or by investing in capital equipment to further process the basic product and overcome challenges for customers.

Xiaoyan Zhang, President and CEO, KIT Solutions, LLC

Xiaoyan Zhang developed KIT Solutions as an extension of his personal philosophy – success can be achieved through hard work, integrity, technological excellence and consistently exceeding customers’ expectations. Zhang’s unshakable belief in these principles enabled him to lead his employees through the dot-com crash and into the present providing innovative products that compete against the efforts of far larger competitors and allow KIT to maintain continued growth now and into the future. ■