Entrepreneurship award finalists announced

The finalists for this year’s Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards have been announced.

Thirty two entrepreneurs haven been selected from a pool of more than 300 nominees, 125 applications and 53 semifinalists, according to a statement.

Judges met with each of the 53 semifinalist Oct. 3, then met privately and selected the semifinalists.

The Spirit of the Entrepreneur event is presented by the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University San Bernardino and U.S. Bank. It seeks to identify the best entrepreneurs and businesses in the Inland Empire during the past year.

This year’s finalists, by category, are:

DESIGN, ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION ENTREPRENEUR

• High-Light Electric Inc – Erwin Mendoza – Colton
• A.R. Construction Inc. – Kurt & Peggy Rothweiler – Ontario
• RSVC Company – Mark Aldaco – Riverside
• Shell Roofing Solutions Group – Rudy Gutierrez – Chino
• Urban Habitat – Brett Brennan – Palm Desert

EMERGING INNOVATOR

• BluCore Minerals LLC – Raymond Moorehead Jr. and Jacob Estrada – San Bernardino
• From The Land – Gina Oliver – Yucaipa
• Stored Power Technology Inc. – Jenny Zhang – Riverside
• Super Foam Corp – Zef Neemuchwala – Riverside

FOOD/HOSPITALITY/ENTERTAINMENT ENTREPRENEUR

• Adventure RV California – Marisol Hill – San Bernardino
• Coffeecito House – Brittnee Chavarria – Riverside
• TKB Bakery and Deli – Melina Maza – Indio

GENERAL ENTREPRENEUR

• Affordable Avionics Inc. DBA Araina Aviation – Deepun Desai – Chino
• Complete Coach Works – Kallie Arevalo – Riverside
• Inland Leaders Charter Schools – Mike Gordon – Yucaipa
• Oak Tree Learning Center – Jennifer Carter – San Bernardino
• Ridgeway Vison, Inc DBA Idyllwild Realty – Shane Stewart – Idyllwild
• Threshold Aviation Group – Mark DiLullo – Chino

HEALTHCARE ENTREPRENEUR

• 360 Human Services – Harry Jackson – Apple Valley
• Cedar House Life Change Center – Jamie Lamb – Bloomington
• Visionaire Optometry Spa – Sana Shakil-Ansaro – Riverside
• Visitinghome LLC – Dyiana Donaldson Comeau – Corona

MANUFACTURING ENTREPRENEUR

• A19 Artisan Lighting – Cinnamon Alvarez – Ontario
• Ecko Ice Products – Eric Rogers – Ontario
• Metroll – Ashneel Chand & Diorem Marchan – Fontana
• Plastics Plus Technology – Kathy L. Bodor – Redlands

SERVICE-BASED ENTREPRENEUR

• Arrowhead United Way – Dr. Gwen Dowdy Rodgers – San Bernardino
• CMAX Commercial Maintenance Inc – Frank Gutierrez – Ontario
• District & Charter Patrol – Zuriah McKnight – Ontario
• HR Direct Services Inc. – Gabriela Mendoza – Ontario
• Oili – Colton Telford – Temecula
• Post and Jam – Warren Burley – Temecula

The 23rd annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship awards gala is scheduled to be held Nov. 18 at the Riverside Convention Center. Attendees can BOOK TICKETS ONLINE HERE Starting October 10.