Entrepreneurship and startups in Arizona have played a major role in creating jobs and allowing the ecosystem to thrive. These efforts have not gone unnoticed and it has been announced that ten of the state’s best businesses are being recognized as finalists for the prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Awards from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
The awards honor specific companies for ethics, energy and excellence in entrepreneurship. Past winners include well-known names like Cold Stone Creamery, Ollie the Trolley and China Mist, as well as rapidly growing businesses, such as GlobalMed and WebPT. Finalists are recognized for creating a positive culture both internally and in the community as a whole.
“One key aspect about this outstanding group of companies is that they were started by local entrepreneurs who saw that classic ‘hole in the market’ and knew they could deliver a superior product or service,” explains Gary Naumann, director of the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W. P. Carey School of Business.
Among the finalists of the 17th annual Spirit of Enterprise Award are GPS Insight, a leading provider of GPS Fleet an asset-tracking software, and Symmetry Software, a subscription-based, payroll withholding-tax software. Earlier this year, AZTB reported about GPS Software being named the silver award winner in the Enterprise Product of the Year at the Best in Biz Awards 2013 International. AZTB also covered Symmetry Software’s plan to eliminate the tedious task of calculating a company’s payroll with the correct tax figures.
Hundreds of Valley business and community leaders will attend the annual awards luncheon where winners will be announced on Nov. 22 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix.
Learn more about the Spirit of Enterprise center here and stay tuned to AZ Tech Beat!
