Hungry Howie’s President Steve Jackson Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2007 Award Winner in the Central Great Lakes Region
Hungry Howie’s Pizza, the ninth largest pizza chain in the country, announced today that company president Steve Jackson has received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2007 Award for the Central Great Lakes region in the Restaurant / Hospitality Services category. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Jackson was selected by an independent panel of judges and was recognized at the competition‚s regional awards presentation in Dearborn, MI on June 14.
“Building this business over the past 34 years has been a labor of love, and it is rewarding to be honored by people who understand the challenges of establishing a presence in a competitive marketplace like ours,” said Jackson, who heads the 565-store pizza franchise known for its signature flavored pizza crust. “It is truly an honor not only for me but all of us at Hungry Howie’s. I may be the figure head to accept this award but without everyone’s hard work to make Hungry Howie’s the great company it is, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.”
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 21st anniversary this year and continues to honor entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
“Ernst & Young is honored to recognize extraordinary business leaders such as Steve Jackson and the companies they have built,” said Frank Maselli, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program director for the Central Great Lakes.
As a Central Great Lakes award winner, Jackson is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2007. The national Entrepreneur Of The Year celebration is part of Ernst & Young’s Strategic Growth Forum. The overall national Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are pleased to have Bank of America as the national presenting sponsor, as well as SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as national sponsors.
In the Central Great Lakes region, local sponsors include UHY Advisors, the law firm of Safford & Baker, Smart Business Network, News / Talk 760 WJR, and Ultra Marketing.
About Hungry Howie’s Pizza
Hungry Howie’s is the ninth largest pizza chain in the U.S. and the originator of flavored crust pizza, offering eight flavors of crust ranging from sesame seed to ranch and Cajun. The company currently has 565 stores in 21 states and continues to open new outlets at the rate of 50 per year. Hungry Howie’s was founded in 1973 and began franchising in 1982.
About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards
The Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program was created and is produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006, honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 125 cities and 40 countries.
