COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Kara J. Trott, founder and CEO of Columbus-based Quantum Health LLC, was named regional Entrepreneur of the Year in the prestigious annual Ernst & Young competition recognizing entrepreneurs in more than 40 countries.
Trott was the only winner from Central Ohio, and now competes for the national awards, which will be presented at a November ceremony in Palm Springs, CA. National winners will compete for the international honor to be awarded in Monte Carlo.
Trott was named the Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging Business category, one of nine awarded during a ceremony held Thursday night (June 16, 2005) for the South-Central Ohio and Kentucky region. The ceremony was held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center near Cincinnati.
Six other Central Ohio entrepreneurs had been named finalists, but none won their category during the Thursday ceremony. Cheryl Krueger of Cheryl&Co. was among the winners last year in the Central Ohio region, which for 2005 was combined with Southern Ohio and Kentucky to form a larger, more competitive region. Wayne Huizenga, founder of Blockbuster and other companies, was both a national winner and World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004.
J. Richard "Dick" Emens, also of Central Ohio, received the Michael J. Burke Award for Support of Entrepreneurship. Emens, a partner with the law firm of Chester Willcox & Saxbe, founded the Family Business Center of Central Ohio, which provides resources and support for family-owned businesses.
Trott, 43, was also recently named Woman Business Owner of the Year by The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Region V at a ceremony held last month Columbus. This award is presented to women whose business has achieved and sustained performance along a spectrum of criteria that includes innovativeness, growth, financial performance, response to adversity and contributions to the community.
Trott and Randy Gebhardt, COO of Quantum Health, were also selected by the SBA for a meeting with President George W. Bush on April 15, 2005, during which they explained their approach to healthcare management and cost control for small businesses.
The regional Ernst & Young competition was judged by eight independent business leaders and experts: Jay Barney, Professor and Bank One Chair for Excellence in Corporate Strategy at Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University; Bernie Barbash, President of Champion Window and Patio Room; Jerry Clum, CK Franchising; Eric Harter, President and CEO of ADSnetcurve; Pat Meyers, Dean of School of Business Administration, University of Dayton; Kent Oyler, CEO of OPM Ventures; Tony Shipley, Chairman of Queen City Angels; and Rebecca White, Director of Northern Kentucky University Center for Entrepreneurship.
"Obviously, I'm very pleased that our company is being recognized for its good work," said Trott. "I couldn't be more proud of all of our associates whose dedication and teamwork helps so many people receive high quality healthcare in a more efficient manner everyday. "
About Quantum Health LLC
Quantum Health LLC, based in Columbus, Ohio, operates coordinated healthcare programs for employee benefits plans, an important response to today's runaway healthcare costs and increasing patient dissatisfaction. The program achieves superior cost control through specialized plan designs, patient education, and a staff of Care Coordinators who advocate for patients and assist physicians and their office staffs in guiding patients through the confusing healthcare process. Over the past five years, the program has held participating employers' annual cost increases to just 5-6%, one-third the national average.
To learn more about Quantum Health or coordinated healthcare programs, visit www.quantumhealthllc.com or contact Jon Staub, Director of Marketing at (614) 846-4318, ext.142.
For more information regarding the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, see:
http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/US/EGCS_- _Entrepreneur_Of_The_Year_Awards_-_Overview (due to url length, please copy and paste into browser) or http://web002.ey.com/eoy/eoylook.nsf/AreaList/South+Central+Ohio+&+Kentucky
Quantum Health LLCCONTACT: Jon Staub, +1-614-846-4318 ext. 142, or Weekend Contact, Kara J.Trott, home phone, +1-614-888-5434, both of Quantum Health LLC
Web site: http://www.quantumhealthllc.com/
