EY Announces Winners For The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Gulf Coast Area Award

2016 Marks 30 Years of Ingenuity in America 

EY today announced that Jonathan Jones of Jones Companies, received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Award in the Diversified and Industrial Products category in the Gulf Coast Area. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award program. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Jonathan Jones was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event at the Hilton Americas – Houston on June 16, 2016.

“The definition of an entrepreneur implies a single person building and leading a dynamic business; however, being named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 winner is a testament to every Jones employee who works hard, every day in the pursuit of greatness,” stated Jones. “Without them, this honor would not have been possible.” Jones Companies was founded in 1949 as a small lumber business in south Mississippi. During several logging expeditions, a need emerged for temporary access ways to transport heavy equipment through wetlands. This prompted the design of construction mats, which led to the discovery and development of products and services in the energy industry. Today, Jones Companies, headquartered in Columbia, Mississippi, consists of 12 privately owned entities including construction mat leasing, pipeline pipe logistics, pipe traceability software, portable refrigerated storage equipment, paper and plastics recycling, mobile fuel management, as well as other products and services that support power line and pipeline companies.

Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation and discipline have propelled their companies’ success, invigorated their industries, and benefited their communities. Now in its 30 th year, the program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, Robert Unanue of Goya Foods, and Mindy Grossman of HSN. Recent US national winners include Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn; Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani; and 2015 winners Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks.

As a Gulf Coast Area award winner, Jonathan Jones is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum TM, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The US Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in Monaco, June 2017.

SPONSORS

Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are sponsored nationally by SAP America, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Gulf Coast Area, sponsors also include BBVA Compass, Colliers International, DLA Piper, ADP, SolomonEdwards, Pierpont Communications and the Houston Business Journal.

ABOUT EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique 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, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

ABOUT EY’S STRATEGIC GROWTH MARKETS PRACTICE

EY’s Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high- growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

ABOUT EY

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