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News: Top Entrepreneurs of Inland Southern California Unveiled at 2024 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards Gala! - Fri, November 22, 2024

Fri, November 22, 2024

Top Entrepreneurs of Inland Southern California Unveiled at 2024 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards Gala!

Riverside, Calif., November 21, 2024 – A sellout crowd of over 850 entrepreneurs, business/civic leaders, and community members recognized and celebrated a diverse spectrum of entrepreneurs at the 22nd annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards gala. The audience, along with the 34 finalists selected from a pool of nearly 300 nominees, enjoyed an incredible evening of awards and entertainment that reinforced the gala’s status as Inland Southern California's premier business event.

This year's award recipients recognized at the black-tie gala, chosen from the 34 finalists, include:

  • Mauro Gomez, Anita's Mexican Food – San Bernardino – MANUFACTURING ENTREPRENEUR & BEST OF THE BEST AWARD
  • Hilda Kennedy, AmPac Business Capital - Ontario – MARY ANNE FOX TOP FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR
  • Fadi Ballout, The Cupcake & Espresso Bar - Moreno Valley – FOOD, HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT ENTREPRENEUR
  • Naushad Imam Mohammed, World Wide Wings LLC - San Bernardino – GENERAL ENTREPRENEUR
  • Phillip and Sarah Saucedo, Integrated Care Communities Family of Companies - Moreno Valley– HEALTHCARE ENTREPRENEUR
  • Dr. Dale Marsden, Tomorrow's Talent - San Bernardino – SERVICE-BASED ENTREPRENEUR
  • Hekmat Sherzad, Alliant Global Security Services - Riverside – SMALL/EMERGING ENTERPRISE
  • Cesar Navarrete, Children's Fund - San Bernardino – SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR

    FAST PITCH COMPETITION

    As part of the event festivities, the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition was held for five future entrepreneurs to deliver a 90-second pitch about their up-and-coming venture idea to the audience and were critiqued on their overall preparation, poise and professional presentation. The top three pitches were recognized, and the top student walked away with a $4,000 prize. The fast pitch, which involves students from Cal State San Bernardino, is sponsored by local entrepreneur Garner Holt of Garner Holt Productions and City National Bank. The top 3 finishers were:

    • 1st Place - Alexis Luna - Skill Swipe
    • 2nd Place - Analis Mustelier - Safe Maps
    • 3rd Place - Brianna Lee - Campus Cravings
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