(CEO Council Member) Scott Riley, CEO of Fintech was named as Florida's Entrepreneur of the Year winner in the Service Category by Ernst & Young's recent awards program, and Tony DiBenedetto, of Tribridge also won the Technology Category.  Created in 1986, the program honors entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, hard work and perseverance have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures. Ernst & Young presents its annual EOY awards to the most successful and innovative entrepreneurial business leaders around the globe in more than 135 cities in 50 countries worldwide.  The program honors entrepreneurs who have achieved exceptional success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.  Three CEO Council members were Florida finalists. They were honored at the 23rd annual awards ceremony on June 11, 2009 in Orlando.

Scott Riley, CEO of Tampa-based Financial Information Technologies (Fintech), heads up Fintech, the leader in processing regulated invoices electronically. His firm is the only company operating in all 50 states whose services allow retailers purchasing beer, wine, and spirits to pay their distributors electronically from headquarters rather than with currency, check or money order at each of the retailers’ individual locations.  Because of Riley’s leadership, commitment, vision and calculated risk-taking, the company has achieved profitability and is enjoying a growth that indicates long-term sustainability.

“We are proud to recognize the achievements of Mr. Riley,” said Mike Brennan, Ernst & Young partner and Florida Host of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program.  “Entrepreneur of the Year award recipients are not only successful in building their own businesses, but also contribute significantly to the strength of our region’s economy.”

As a Florida award recipient, Riley hopes to join previous Florida Ernst and Young Entrepreneurs winners Wayne Huizenga of Waste Management, The Miami Dolphins and Blockbuster Entertainment, and Chris Sullivan of Outback Steak House, in winning the National Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year award.  The 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.

Tony DiBenedetto, chairman and chief executive officer, Tribridge, (represented on the CEO Council by Managing Partner Chris Milan), manages the IT services firm that delivers and supports technology, business management and core infrastructure solutions for organizations spanning diverse industries. Tribridge helps customers strategically leverage IT investments to become more productive, profitable, competitive and secure through proven methodologies, process optimization and industry best practices. They are dedicated to building a community in which organizations derive long-term business value from practical solutions that guarantee customer success and maximum return on investment. Tribridge has customers, offices and team members across the U.S. and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2008 Microsoft Dynamics Worldwide Partner of the Year.

Also in the running as a Florida Finalist was (CEO Council Member)  Jacob Beckel, chairman and chief executive officer, AnazaoHealth Corporation, which leads with the expansion of scientific knowledge far outpacing anyone's ability to apply it to real world healthcare. They work with physicians, healthcare pharmacy managers, drug manufacturers and universities to create new pharmacological approaches using the latest technology. Then, they fill these prescriptions with a high level of consistency and quality. Anazao (Anna-zay-o) is the transliteration of an ancient Greek word that means, "to come to life again." The name, AnazaoHealth, suggests what the company does to improve patients' quality of life.