Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) is pleased to announce the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year^® Southeast Award. The Southeast program celebrates entrepreneurs from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This prestigious award program recognizes the ambitious leaders of high-growth companies who are creating a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for future generations.

The regional winners were chosen by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs and other business leaders. Candidates were evaluated based on their success in creating long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to their purpose and the demonstration of growth and substantial impact, among other key indicators.

Entrepreneur Of The Year honors many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to fortify it for the future.

“The 2024 Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Award winners are exceptional business leaders fueling innovation within their industries and growth within their companies,” said Chevy Arnold, EY Managing Director and Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Co-Director. 

"These entrepreneurs are shining examples of how to lead a scaling business and also care for employees, customers and communities,” added Kimberly Kicklighter, EY Managing Director and Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Co-Director.  

The Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Southeast Award winners are:

Anisa Telwar Kaicker | Anisa International Inc | Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Diane Alexander | Artisan Plastic Surgery and Artisan Beaute | Atlanta, Georgia

Wayne Foreman Jr. | CDF Doors | Gallatin, Tennessee

Shane Jackson | Jackson Healthcare, LLC | Alpharetta, Georgia

Dominik Mjartan | Optus Bank | Columbia, South Carolina

Deeannah Seymour | pH-D Feminine Health | Madison, Tennessee

Bill Bailey Jr. | Radiance Technologies, Inc. | Huntsville, Alabama

Dr. Jin Kim | Rezolut | Atlanta, Georgia

Rod McDaniel | S3 Recycling Solutions | Springfield, Tennessee

Rich Balot | Victra | Raleigh, North Carolina

Anthony Zappitelli | Zapps Wholesale | Shelby, North Carolina

These regional award winners will now move on to be considered for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, set to be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum^®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then represent the US as they compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year^® Award in June 2025.  

Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs. They receive exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in more than 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources. 

In addition to Entrepreneur Of The Year, EY US supports other entrepreneurs through the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program and the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network to help connect women founders and Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs, respectively, with the resources, network and access needed to unlock their full potential.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, Marsh USA, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Southeast, sponsors also include regional Platinum sponsor VACO, LLC, regional Gold sponsor King & Spalding LLP, and regional Silver sponsors ADP, Inc. and Babbit Bodner, Inc.