Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Opens Nominations For 2007 OEN Entrepreneurship Awards
PORTLAND, Ore., March 26, 2007 -- The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) announced today that nominations for its 14th annual OEN Entrepreneurship Awards are now open. OEN gives the awards each year to recognize entrepreneurial achievement in companies throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. Individuals and companies that want to participate in this process can download the nomination form from the OEN website, at
www.oen.org/events_awards.aspx. Nominations must be submitted electronically to OEN by April 6th.
The 2007 OEN Entrepreneurship Awards will be given in four categories: OEN Development Stage Company of the Year; OEN Working Capital Stage Company of the Year; OEN Growth Stage Company of the Year; and the OEN Entrepreneurship Award, which recognizes outstanding commitment to entrepreneurship by an individual person. In addition, OEN will award the OEN Entrepreneurship Award for Nonprofits, a special award meant to celebrate the extraordinary creativity and entrepreneurship that nonprofits often display.
The two-part nomination process makes it easy to participate. The brief initial form allows nominators to complete their applications quickly. Finalists will be asked to complete a more thorough process in May and June.
“This Awards program is the entrepreneurial community’s biggest celebration of the year,” said OEN President and Executive Director, Linda Weston. “Entrepreneurship is vital to our regional economy. Recognizing those who have successfully built and grown sustainable businesses is one of the best venues to motivate others. We’re curious and eager to welcome companies to participate in this year’s Awards program.”
Recipients of the 2006 OEN Entrepreneurship Awards were:
• Development Stage Company of the Year: ImTech
• Working Capital Stage Company of the Year: SawStop
• Growth Stage Company of the Year: Tripwire
• OEN Entrepreneurship Award: Michael Wright, WellPartner
• OEN Entrepreneurship Award for Nonprofits: Our United Villages
This year’s award winners will be announced at OEN’s annual awards celebration and dinner, to be held September 20 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.
About OEN
Founded in 1991, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is a not-for profit corporation dedicated to providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and improving the business climate for emerging, growth-oriented companies in the Pacific Northwest. The organization has nearly 3,000 members throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. For more information about the OEN, call 503-222-2270, or visit its web site at www.oen.org.