“CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwired – May 9, 2013) – GoHealthInsurance.com, the leading online exchange for individuals and families to compare health insurance quotes, is pleased to announce that Brandon Cruz and Clint Jones, two of GoHealth’s top executives, have been named finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2013 program in the Midwest. The award recognizes outstanding, high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
Collectively, this year’s finalists who were selected from a strong pool of nominations by a panel of independent judges, created nearly 10,500 jobs in the past three years, providing more than 48,000 jobs at the end of 2012. These companies also generated more than $6.1 billion of revenue in 2012 and grew employment by 21 percent and revenues by 26 percent between 2010 and 2012. Awards will be presented at a special gala event on June 27, 2013 at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, where regional award winners, like Cruz and Jones, will be considered for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of The Year Program.
Under the leadership of Cruz and Jones, GoHealthInsurance.com announced this past February that it would be adding 250 additional jobs this year to its current 350 person employee base. In 2012, GoHealth received $50 million minority investment from Norwest Equity Partners.
“”We’re humbled to be honored as finalists for this prestigious award alongside some of the nation’s most brilliant business leaders,”” said Clint Jones, CEO at GoHealth. Brandon Cruz, president at GoHealth, added, “”Helping to build GoHealth from the ground up and the ability to provide consumers a resource to health insurance has really allowed us to make an impact we are proud of.””
The annual award event which announces the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of The Year culminates in Palm Springs, California, on November 16, 2013. Now in its 27th year, the Entrepreneur of The Year Program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities in 50-plus countries throughout the world.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Midwest region, sponsors include: Winston & Strawn LLP, Benefitdecisions, LaSalle Network, PNC Bank, Smart Business magazine, Becker Professional Education, Merrill Datasite and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.
About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year®:
Ernst & Young 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 140 cities in more than 50 countries.
About Ernst & Young:
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a US client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.”
