The period to nominate the best and outstanding entrepreneurs and cutting-edge businesses of Inland Southern California for the 2019 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards will close on Thursday, Aug. 1.
 
The annual formal gala award ceremony, presented by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE), will be held on Nov. 13 at the Riverside Convention Center.
 
Referred to as “The Oscars of Business” by top professionals, the Spirit Awards is a black-tie gala full of innovation, inspiration and networking. The annual event features red carpet coverage, main gala and VIP networking receptions, coveted awards presentations, and gourmet three-course dining, with highly anticipated unveiled entertainment.
 
Know of an Inland Empire leader that should be recognized and celebrated? Seize the opportunity and submit your nomination today. Nominate who you believe embodies what it means to be an entrepreneur that elevates our economic impact. Self-nominations are highly encouraged; bring distinction to your business and your teams. The process has never been easier and your nomination(s) may be submitted online at the Spirit of the Entrepreneur “Nominate and Entrepreneur” web page.
 
Nominees are evaluated based on their innovation, leadership, performance, character and entrepreneurial mindset. Once your nomination(s) have been received, Spirit staff will contact all nominees directly to complete a nominee profile for consideration by an independent judging panel that is commissioned by the event coordinators. This nomination process marks the first step in the journey from nominee to award recipient. Visit the “Nomination Process” web page to learn more.
 
Mark your calendars to secure your tickets as this event sells out every year. On Sept. 1, Spirit Awards ticketing will be available to secure online at the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards website.
 
Join us for the biggest celebration of the year to honor entrepreneurial success in the Inland Empire. Now in our 17th year, we invite you to share this invigorating experience in acknowledging the greatest innovators of our community. Learn more about the Spirit of the Entrepreneur at SpiritAwardsIE.com
 
About the Spirit of the Entrepreneur event founder – The Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE)
 
The Spirit of the Entrepreneur awards was founded by Mike Stull, director of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) and a professor of entrepreneurship, and is located in the Jack H. Brown College of Business & Public Administration on the beautiful campus of Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Most recently, IECE was recognized internationally by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and received the Entrepreneurship Spotlight Challenge award for demonstrating leadership in creating (and incubating) cutting-edge business innovations through enriched student learning and experiential education, which ranked them among the top 35 entrepreneurship programs globally. In 2010, the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) recognized IECE as having the top specialty entrepreneurship program in the nation.
 
IECE offers a wide range of programs and services including academic curriculum that leads to business degrees in entrepreneurship for undergraduate and graduate students as well as delivering experiential learning and student support programs such as the Fast Pitch Competition, Innovation Challenge, Entre Technician series, and Lunch with the Entrepreneurs.
 
In the local community, IECE offers existing and aspiring entrepreneurs a wide array of business advisory and mentoring services and consulting resources, including the Women’s Business Centers (IEWBC and CVWBC), the Small Business Development Centers (IESBDC) and the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), and the student internship and entrepreneurial training programs that help them achieve greater levels of success in their business ventures.
 
For more information about IECE, visit entre.csusb.edu.