Entrepreneur of the Year.

Every year, EY awards entrepreneurs who are changing the way we do business. Let's meet the changemakers.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR

AWARD WINNER

DAVE DUROCHER, ALAN FAHRINGER, JOSEPH GRENNY, TIM STAY, LOLA ZAGEY

The Other Side Academy

At first, it seems an odd team to bring together. On one side are two successful entrepreneurs in Joseph Grenny and Tim Stay. And on the other is Dave Durocher, a former drug addict and criminal who spent almost 20 years in prison, and Alan Fahringer and Lola Zagey, who have a history of drug abuse, homelessness, and criminal behavior. But because of their differences, they have formed a cohesive, productive team that is focused on helping those battling drug addiction.

Mr. Durocher, Mr. Fahringer, Mr. Grenny, Mr. Stay, and Ms. Zagey have each faced the difficulties of drug abuse, either through personal experience or helping their family members battle addiction. Dedicating themselves to helping those facing addiction, they have truly made a difference in the lives of addicts, their families, and their communities. Completely peer-run, The Other Side Academy works more like a family than a business, with more than 75 students who are working on saving their own lives. Their innovative approach to drug addiction is preparing their students for life and teaching them to one day run their own Academy sites across the country.

CHRIS CONARD

Playworks Utah

Chris Conrad moved to a city he'd never lived in to launch an organization that would lose all funding and school partners a week before the launch. Before the move, he'd had a lot of momentum. He had eight school partners with verbal commitments as well as initial funding conversations with foundations. The stars were aligned. Or so it seemed. One negative story in the press led to a district mandate prohibiting all schools from using district funds for Mr. Conard's project. That didn't stop him. The business has since partnered with more than 78 elementary schools and helped more than 40,000 Utah kids.

STEPHANIE MACKAY

Columbus Community Center

Stephanie Mackay has spent 15 years at Columbus Community Center. Her personal and professional standards have been shaped by this legacy of social justice and compassion and she is determined to break through the institutional, social, and economic barriers that challenge individuals with disabilities every day. Compassion, humility, inclusion, and respect--these are the foundation of Ms. Mackay's professional and personal life. She is fiercely determined to improve the world for future generations of individuals who want to live in the world as equals with their peers.

BUSINESS SOFTWARE

AWARD WINNER

BEN PETERSON, RYAN SANDERS

BambooHR

Ben Peterson and Ryan Sanders cofounded BambooHR in 2008, joining forces to develop a company focused on making a difference in people's lives. Having previously worked together at MyComputer.com and MingleMatch, deciding to dive into the human resources software industry was uncharted territory, making it both a challenge and a risk. For the first three and a half years, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sanders sacrificed much to create a company focused on its people, creating a "culture at all costs" business model that is rewarding in every way they could imagine. Trusting in their vision, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sanders have created a sustainable and innovative business that provides a beautifully designed, intuitive solution to HR management teams across the world. Ranked among the top mobile apps of 2018 in PCMag and ITPro, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sanders continue to expand the depth and breadth of BambooHR's offerings.

Over the past decade, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sanders' candid friendship has enabled BambooHR to flourish and enjoy flexibility for the future. While Mr. Sanders is focused on deep thinking and analysis, Mr. Peterson emphasizes the relationships between teams and colleagues within the company, encouraging crucial conversations where needed. Both agree their relationship as co-founders and friends has helped them be better people outside of the office with their families and friends.

ERIC FARR, JOHN WADE

Brainstorm, Inc.

When John Wade and Eric Farr acquired BrainStorm in 2002, they saw an opportunity to help a frustrated, unmotivated customer workforce unlock their professional potential. That's why the duo chose to not just take on training, but to take on apathy itself. BrainStorm has done just that. The company...

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