EVO, a leader in the payment processing industry, announced that Ray Sidhom, CEO, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award in Metro New York. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Ray was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala event at the Marriot Marquis, Times Square, NY on Thursday, June 25th, 2009.
Ray Sidhom is an out of the box thinker who believes anything is possible when you control your own destiny. Ray started selling credit card machines to retailers. By 1994, he was convinced of his prospects. He formed EVO with the goal of building an in-house infrastructure to process credit cards throughout the entire transaction cycle. Fourteen years later, the tools he developed serve the $20 billion in transaction volume for the nearly 200,000 he processes for every day. Ray is a champion to the independent sales organizations he works with, which he calls partners. Currently, EVO is investing in the growth of its partners that have helped it achieve its own phenomenal expansion. For Ray, controlling his own destiny has been a winning strategy.
“This accomplishment is a direct result of our employees, partners, and sales agents who have been dedicated to EVO’s success throughout the years”, said Ray. “I am proud of the revolutionary operating engine that has been built within EVO, and this would not have been possible without the contributions of people who inspire our team with their vision and leadership.”
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards celebrate their 23rd anniversary this year. The program honors entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptionality in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. “We are proud to recognize the achievements of Ray Sidhom,” said Jodi Burns, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year Program Director for Metro New York. “Winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year award build leading businesses and contribute significantly to the strength of our region’s economy. Their success helps our area grow stronger.”
As a Metro New York award winner, Ray Sidhom is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.
In Metro New York, local sponsors include Platinum Sponsors HSBC, Scherzer International and Vintage Filings, Gold Sponsor Curran & Connors and Silver Sponsors Solomon Edwards, WilmerHale and WithumSmith+Brown.
About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.
