Escondido, CA | June 21, 2011 – Stone Brewing Co. today announced that CEO & Co-Founder Greg Koch received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 San Diego Award in the Consumer Products category. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award—celebrating its 25th anniversary—recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Koch was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala event at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla on June 16th.
|
"Receiving this award is a true honor," exclaimed Koch. "I'm proud to accept it on behalf of the intense—yet rewarding—work that my business partner Steve Wagner and I have put in over the past 15 years to help unite people who have exquisite taste with craft beers that have the same."
|
Shortly after delivering his formal acceptance speech—partially via bullhorn, culminating with a stage dive into the crowd—he explained to what he attributes the success of Stone Brewing Co. "The fact is that we have an awesome team of people that shares our passion for great craft beer, while promoting sustainability, environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, and giving back to our community. Plus, they're willing to humor me by actually running with some of my wild ideas…occasionally even encouraging my eccentricities!"
As a San Diego award winner, Koch is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 National Award. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year National Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 12, 2011. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies, which will be held November 9–13, 2011.
ABOUT STONE BREWING CO.
Stone Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch in North County San Diego, CA. It is the 14th largest craft brewery in the United States and has been named "All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth" by
BeerAdvocate magazine - TWICE! A recently announced
$26.6M expansion plan (that includes a hotel among other lofty ventures) is underway, as are developments to become the first American craft brewery to
open a brewhouse in Europe. Visit
stonebrewing.com for more information.
ABOUT ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.
ABOUT ERNST & YOUNG
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US. For more information about our organization, please visit
www.ey.com.
