Nominations sought for 2007 Ann Michel Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards

Nominations sought for 2007 Ann Michel Distinguished Entrepreneur AwardsFebruary 16, 2007Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

The Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) Center is currently accepting nominations for the 2007 Ann Michel Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards. The deadline for applications is March 12.

The awards are given annually to women who have started Central New York businesses with proven success in two categories: Small Business (fewer than 20 employees) and High Growth Venture (20 or more employees with annual revenues of at least $1 million). The winners will be selected by a subcommittee of the WISE Center board and announced at the 2007 WISE symposium, scheduled for April 12 at the Convention Center at Oncenter in Syracuse.

Nominees for either award should have founded and grown a company that has successfully increased its revenues and profitability over time, generated jobs and economic growth, made an impact in a particular market or industry, and exhibited innovation. Key criteria for the award will be demonstration of strong entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding leadership, balanced with a proven commitment to the community. For more information about award criteria or for a nomination form, visit http://www.whitman.syr.edu/eee/WISE/ann_michel.html, e-mail masava01@syr.edu or call (315) 443-0256. Applications will also be available at KeyBank locations throughout Central New York.

The awards are named to honor Ann Michel, founder and longtime president of Knowledge Systems & Research and the inaugural winner of the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award for High Growth Venture. She led Knowledge Systems for 21 years, nurturing it from a start-up consulting firm with six employees to an international powerhouse with more than 200 employees and international clientele. She died in November 2004 after a long illness.

Other past winners of the award include Suzanne Kondra De-Furia, Potter Heating & Air Conditioning (2006-Small Business); April Stone, CNY Infusion Services (2006-High Growth); Anne Messenger, Messenger Associates Inc. (2005-Small Business); Aminy Audi, Stickley, Audi & Co. (2005-High Growth Venture); and Julie Briggs, Syracuse Gift Basket Co., Inc. (2004-Small Business).

Launched in 2003 by the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship in the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, WISE fosters the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities by women from all walks of life. Each year, WISE sponsors events to promote entrepreneurial thinking among women in Central New York and to help entrepreneurial women stay connected. Since its inception, the WISE symposium has reached thousands of women in Central New York, successfully evolving into a year-round initiative supporting entrepreneurs through the newly established WISE Center (http://www.WISECenter.org).

For more information about the 2007 WISE Conference and about other WISE initiatives, visit http://www.WISEntrepreneur.com.