Engineering, software, recruitment and golf are the businesses behind this year’s Southern Region winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program.

Jack Gringlas of CMG Engineering Group, Michael Howard of Frontier Software, Karen Cariss of PageUp People and Richard Sattler of Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links were named the region’s best entrepreneurs at an awards dinner in Melbourne last night.

Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Markets Managing Partner Jon Dobell says the winners show what can be achieved with leadership, innovation, determination and drive.

“The 16 Southern Region finalists in the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program between them employ more than 2,500 people and have a combined annual business turnover of $625 million, making a significant contribution to the local economy,” he says.

The Southern Region winners will go on to compete for the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national award in Sydney on 27 November 2008.

Jack Gringlas, CMG Engineering Group (Products)
After completing an electrical engineering degree, Jack Gringlas joined the family business in 1976 and became managing director seven years later when his father retired. At the time the company turned over $1.3 million per year and employed 50 staff. Since then Jack has expanded the business nationally and internationally.

Richard Sattler, Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links (Services)
Despite beginning with no knowledge of golfers, golfing or the golfing industry, Richard Sattler has turned what was a cattle and potato farming property into a world class golf facility. After battling limited funds, a shortage of skilled labour and unpredictable weather conditions, Richard opened Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links in 2004. Within four months of opening in it was ranked the number one public access course in Australia and is now ranked 35th in the world.

Michael Howard, Frontier Software (Technology)
Michael Howard was working as a contract project manager in the early 1980s when he was asked to recommend a software solution for superannuation. This inspired him to develop CHRIS – Complete Human Resource Information Solution – an innovative product that integrated HR and payroll with a single database. Since then Michael’s company Frontier Software has gone on to provide HR software solutions to some of Australia’s largest companies and is growing a significant presence overseas.

Karen Cariss, PageUp People (Young Entrepreneur)
When Karen Cariss received a flood of applications for a web developer role she was advertising during the late 1990s, she realised there had to be a more streamlined way of sorting through and replying to all the applicants. Karen talked to a web developer and her company PageUp People was created and now provides some of the world’s largest organisations with a web-based talent management system that manages all facets of their recruitment process. PageUp People now has offices around the world.

Adam Garone, Movember Foundation (Social Entrepreneur)
Adam Garone and his partners Luke Slattery and Travis Garone founded Movember – “the month formerly known as November” – in 2003, to raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer and male depression. The moustache-growing charity event is now an annual calendar event not only in Australia but around the world.

Frank Costa (Champion of Entrepreneurship)
The Costa brothers took over the family fruit and vegetable operations in 1959 with Frank as Executive Chairman, a position he still holds today. Since then, the Costa Group has grown to be the largest privately owned grower, packager, marketer, distributor and exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables and grains in the southern hemisphere. In 1997 Frank was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to youth and the community. In 1998 he was elected President of the Geelong Football Club – a position he still holds – and in 2001 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in recognition of his services to Australian Rules Football. In 2006 the Costa Group received the Australian Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award and also the Australian Agribusiness Employer of Choice Award.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program
Since Ernst & Young’s global program started in Australia in 2001, over 800 leading Australian entrepreneurs have been recognised for their entrepreneurial spirit. Entrants are assessed by a leading panel of independent judges on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction and national/global impact. Their relationships with their local communities are also taken into account.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year is one of the leading business awards programs in Australia and the only program of its kind with an international platform. Founded and produced by Ernst & Young, and launched in Australia in 2001, it celebrates entrepreneurs who build and lead successful businesses. The international recognition of the awards positions finalists and winners as world-class entrepreneurs and provides a benchmark for entrepreneurial excellence.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program is conducted across five regions with these winners progressing to the national awards ceremony in November. In total across the nation, there are 83 entrepreneurs in this year’s awards. Independent judging panels drawn from a broad range of successful Australian businesses assess the entrepreneurs on their innovation, integrity, influence, strategic direction, and national or global impact.

The Australian Entrepreneur of the Year is invited to represent Australia at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year held annually in June in Monte Carlo. Former Australian winners have included Peter Farrell of ResMed Limited (2001), John Rothwell AO of Austal Limited (2002), David Bussau AM of Opportunity International (2003), Robert Gerard AO of Gerard Corporation (2004), Tony D’Antonio and Peter Hosking of Global Machinery Company Worldwide (2005), Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar of Atlassian (2006) and Shane Yeend of Imagination (2007).

The program was first established in the US in 1986. Entrepreneur of the Year winners outside of Australia include Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems (1987), Michael Dell of Dell Computer (1989), Howard Schultz of Starbucks (1991), Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com (1997), Eddie Jordan of Jordan Grand Prix (2000), Narayana Murthy of Infosys Technologies (2003), Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Entertainment (2005), Guy Laliberte of Cirque du Soleil (2007) and Dr Jean-Paul Clozel of Actelion (2008).

In Australia the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program is sponsored by Westpac Business Banking, Qantas and supported by the Federal Government through Austrade.