Spirit of Entrepreneur awards recognize Inland region’s top business people

Nearly 900 people gathered Nov. 15 at the Riverside Convention Center for the 21st Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards.

Sponsored by the Inland Empire Spirit of Entrepreneurship at Cal State Bernardino, the annual black-tie affair celebrates business acumen in the Inland Empire.

This year’s award recipients, chosen from 32 finalists, and the categories they were recognized in were:

• Prospero Collado – H&S Transport – Fontana  (GENERAL ENTREPRENEUR AND BEST OF THE BEST AWARD).
• Christine Holyfield – My Health Penguin – Rancho Cucamonga  (MARY ANNE FOX TOP FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR).
• Kirby Hays, Cal Pacific Constructors, Inc. – Riverside  (CORPORATE ENTREPRENEUR).
• Stephen Hasemeyer, Arcade Coffee Roasters – Riverside  (FOOD, HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT ENTREPRENEUR).
• Jeff Grange, Symbiosis – Redlands  (HEALTHCARE ENTREPRENEUR).
• Pete Benavidez – Blindness Support Services – Riverside  (NONPROFIT ENTREPRENEUR).
• Andrea K. Shoup, Shoup Legal – Murrieta  (SERVICE-BASED ENTREPRENEUR).
• Dana Walker-Jackson, Cinderella’s Closet – Rancho Cucamonga  (SMALL/EMERGING ENTERPRISE).

Five future business owners, all students from Cal State San Bernardino participated in the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition. Each gave a 90-second pitch to the audience about a start-up idea and was graded on their preparation, poise, and overall presentation.

The three finalists were:

• Samuel Moreno – SPIKED (Received a $4,000 award)
• Jeramy Sanchez – Business Spanish Solutions
• Ana Gonzalez – Bake with Me