2013 "Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award" Winners Named

Sharlene Vichness President of Language Directions in

 Roseland Named Winner

Roseland, N.J. — The New Jersey Chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO NJ) and The Star-Ledger/NJ.com recently announced the winners of the first annual Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award – an award honoring New Jersey-based companies that exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit of the state. The Award was conferred at a gala featuring a keynote address from legendary marketer and NJ-based entrepreneur, AJ Khubani, and honored entrepreneurs in three levels of distinction separated by 2012 revenues: Up to $1M, $1M-10M, and $10M+. The 2013 Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award winners are as follows:

WINNER: Revenues Over $10 Million • Evan Steele, SRSsoft

WINNER: Revenues Between $1 Million - $10 Million • Leon Baptiste, LB Electric Co., LLC

WINNER: Revenues Up to $1 Million
• Sharlene Vichness, Language Directions, LLC

Entries were judged by EO, The Star Ledger, and a celebrity judge: JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC's Your Business. This award recognizes these local entrepreneurs for their drive, perseverance, business creativity and business success stories with an award as well as a year's membership in EO (for qualifying businesses), valued at $4,700. Winners who did not qualify received a year of mentorship from EO. The Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award was created as a way to recognize and connect successful New Jersey entrepreneurs, and to help cultivate even more business growth within the state by increasing awareness of EO and the significant resources it offers.

"The Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award recognizes these hardworking men and women who are so important to the business landscape of New Jersey," said Ramberg. "It was an honor to judge these awards and my heartfelt congratulations goes out to the winners and I thank EO NJ and all who entered for nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in New Jersey."

About Language Directions:

Language Directions (www.landguagedirections.com) is a full service language training company specializing in customized short and long-term instructional programs, offering all levels of training support such as American English as a Second Language (ESL), Accent Reduction, Spanish At Work, Food & Alcohol Safety (ServSafe®) and other industry compliance issues that require effective communication. Through strategic partnerships with prime contractors, Language Directions delivers language and cultural training to the U.S. military.

Instruction is designed to meet corporate or individual requirements to help busy working individuals to deal with language challenges and cultural concerns. Instruction is offered on-site in businesses or associations with flexible scheduling for client convenience.  

Language Directions is an official TOEIC® testing center providing convenient metro NY-area, flexibly scheduled TOEIC® competency tests. Proudly certified by WBENC as a WBE, by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a WOSB, and a SBE/WBE by the state of New Jersey. Language Directions is also registered with SAM (formerly CCR and ORCA). For further information contact: info@LanguageDirections.com or 973-228-8848.

About the Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award
:

Entrepreneurs’ Organization New Jersey (EO NJ) and The Star- Ledger have partnered to create the Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award to honor those who are building and leading successful and growing businesses in the Garden State. The Garden State Entrepreneur Excellence Award in New Jersey recognizes entrepreneurs who make a difference in their industry, with their employees and team, and with the community. For more information on the award, visit www.GardenStateEntrepreneur.com.

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