Entrepreneur of the Year finalists announced

Entries ranged from successful start-ups in the manufacturing and engineering services sectors to a hair salon range and communication services businesses with some enterprises enabling job opportunities for up to 1200 employees. The diversity of entrants who made the finals proves that entrepreneurs in all industries can be successful, if they apply sound business principles and innovative solutions to their businesses.

Other categories in this annual benchmark competition include emerging entrepreneur, small business entrepreneur, medium business entrepreneur, innovative entrepreneur and the grand award of entrepreneur of the year.

Finalists

Category: Medium-sized business

• Lewis Thomas - Partners Hair Design
  
• Herman Kitshoff - Cash Crusaders
  
• Marc Sternberg - Spark ATM Systems
  
• Pierre Conradie - Alpha Group
  
• Troy Carelse - Foaming Concepts (Pty) Ltd
  
• Gradus Wendt - Pro Galvanising CC
  
• Francois Coetzee - Roadque Property Investments (Pty) Ltd

Category: Small business

• David Jansen van Vuuren - Cape Value
  
• Thidiso Marule - Marule Family Trust
  
• Malani Padayachee-Saman - Malani Padayachee Associates (Pty) Ltd
  
• Mark Vella - Massage on the Beach
  
• Santie de Bruyn - Witbank Nocom CC
  
• Lorraine Chitate - Zanami Lodge

Category: Emerging

• Elian Wienar - Epic Communications
  
• Phillip Muyoma - Limpopo Precast
  
• Pontsho Moshokwa - Molewaohle Farming and Water Management CC

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Johannesburg on 22 September 2011. For more information, go to www.eoy.co.za.