Valley Business People Named Entrepreneurs of the Year

The greater San Fernando Valley area was well represented at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards gala for greater Los Angeles taking place June 23 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. A total of six entrepreneur of the year awards were given in areas including: services; technology and online services; financial services; retail and consumer products; manufacturing; and media and entertainment. Adam Singer, CEO of North Hollywood-based IPC The Hospitalist Company Inc., won the entrepreneur of the year award in the services category. Steven Dunn, chairman and CEO of North Hills-based Munchkin Inc. won the award in the retail and consumer products division. Other finalists from the Valley included: James Hicken of the Bank of Santa Clarita; Therese Tucker of Calabasas-based BlackLine Systems; Arik Tendler of Van Nuys-based CaesarStone US; and Avi Wazana and Yoel Wazana of Van Nuys-based Micro Solutions Enterprises. An independent panel of regional business, academic and community leaders chose the winners from a group of 21 finalists. Regional award winners are eligible for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 national awards that will take place in Palm Springs in November.