(Community Matters) Mike Bennett hosted tonight’s E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists Reception at his home in the hills of Tuscany, I mean West Austin – seriously, what an abode.
This year’s finalists: Hemi Thaker (Anue Systems, Inc), Gabriel Krajicek (BancVue), Don Shafer (BancVue), Glenn Garland (CLEAResult), Allen Lassiter Gilmer (Drilling Info Inc), Christopher Lavigne (LDR Spine), Hossein Hagigholam (Mamacita’s Restaurant & Cantinc Inc), Phil Miner (Miner Holding Company), Mark McLain & Kevin Cunningham (SailPoint). Social finalists: Lisa Fielder (College Forward), Frank Fernandez (Green Doors), Joyce McDonald (Frameworks Comm Develop) & Suzanne Santos (Sustainable Food Center). The winner of the social entrepreneur award receives a $100,000 grant for their nonprofit – thanks to the Silverton Foundation.
Heaps of friends, fellow judges & former winners in attendance including: Jack McDonald, Paul Hurdlow, Brett Hurt, Laura Kilcrease, Ed Taylor, Bill Morrow, Susan McDowell, Sam Goodner, Margo Weisz, Clayton Christopher, Tina Fernandez, Amy Warnke, Mike Blue, Ricky Richter & Teri Steffek.
The Awards Gala is June 9 at the Austin Hilton.
Community Matters 
Joyce McDonald from Frameworks is a class act. She has done a wonderful job helping the working poor secure housing…something that needs to be done on the national level.