Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

From the StoneBlog:

Stone Brewing Co. CEO & Co-Founder Greg Koch Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011

San Diego Award Winner Award Recognizes Entrepreneurial Excellence in Consumer Products Category

Escondido, CA | June 21, 2011 – Stone Brewing Co. today announced that CEO & Co-Founder Greg Koch received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 San Diego Award in the Consumer Products category. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award—celebrating its 25th anniversary—recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Koch was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala event at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla on June 16th.

"Receiving this award is a true honor," exclaimed Koch. "I’m proud to accept it on behalf of the intense—yet rewarding—work that my business partner Steve Wagner and I have put in over the past 15 years to help unite people who have exquisite taste with craft beers that have the same."

Shortly after delivering his formal acceptance speech—partially via bullhorn, culminating with a stage dive into the crowd—he explained to what he attributes the success of Stone Brewing Co. "The fact is that we have an awesome team of people that shares our passion for great craft beer, while promoting sustainability, environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, and giving back to our community. Plus, they’re willing to humor me by actually running with some of my wild ideas…occasionally even encouraging my eccentricities!"

As a San Diego award winner, Koch is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 National Award. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year National Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 12, 2011. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies, which will be held November 9–13, 2011.