HOUSTON, TX — Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announces that Mike Vellano, President and CEO of Vortex Companies (Vortex) was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Gulf Coast Area Award finalist. Now in its 34th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world.

"It is truly an honor to be a finalist in the Gulf Coast region, where there are so many successful entrepreneurs and thriving businesses," Vellano said. "Our company, which specializes in providing trenchless infrastructure repair and rehabilitation solutions, epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit and drive it takes to be successful in our highly competitive industry. None of this would have been possible without the incredible team we have assembled here at Vortex."

Award winners will join a lifelong community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees, and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience, and ingenuity.

Entrepreneur Of The Year is a competitive award program for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, to be announced in November during a virtual awards gala. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2021.

Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners also become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight, and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries.