2007 UF Entrepreneur Awards to be held March 27

March 22, 2007

WHAT: The University of Florida Warrington College of Business Administration Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) will hold the 2007 Annual Entrepreneur Awards to honor successful entrepreneurs.

Awards to be announced:

• Distinguished Alumnus Entrepreneur of the Year – Recognizes the lifetime career accomplishments of a UF alumnus who has distinguished himself/herself in an entrepreneurial venture in a way that has brought distinction to UF.

  Last Year’s Winner: Manny Fernandez, co-founder of SI Ventures, a Ft. Meyers-based venture capital firm focusing on information technology and communications infrastructure companies. Fernandez has been the recipient of two “Entrepreneur of the Year” awards and is a member of the UF Board of Trustees, the UF Foundation Board and the UF Research Foundation Board.

• S. Clark Butler Entrepreneur of the Year – Presented to an outstanding UF alumnus under the age of 45 who has brought recognition to UF by creating a successful entrepreneurial venture.
  Last Year’s Co-winners: Ken Deckinger and Adele Testani, co-founders of HurryDate, a New York-based speed-dating business with events in 65 cities throughout the U.S., U.K. and Canada with present development into Australia, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa. Deckinger is HurryDate’s CEO and Testani is the president.
• Gainesville Entrepreneur of the Year – Awarded to the individual who has done the most to foster entrepreneurial opportunities within Gainesville.
  Last Year’s Winner: Roland Daniels, president of Saturn of Gainesville and a member of the UF Board of Trustees.

WHEN: Friday, March 27
6:00 p.m. – Reception
6:45 p.m. – Awards Dinner

WHERE: Hilton UF Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St., at the Southwest corner of the UF campus.

Interview opportunities: Award winners and Arnold Heggestad, director of UF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.