The annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for New Jersey always has been a moment to laud the innovative efforts of individuals and companies that are transforming the business ecosystem in the state.
The 40th version of the event, held Monday night at the Liberty Science Center, certainly was the latest example of that.
Will Lewis, the CEO of Insmed, took it one step further.
After he was selected as one of the state’s eight winners, Lewis offered a heartfelt acknowledgement to the other 27 finalists — saying he was moved by their efforts to have an impact that goes beyond the business world.
Community spirit is the ultimate measure of success, Lewis told BINJE.
“It’s wonderful thing to be able to be in the presence of entrepreneurs, because they’re always driven by their original vision — they have this idea that they want to pursue, and they’re going to run through whatever wall is necessary in order to accomplish it,” he said.
“But when they then turn that energy toward aligning both what they’re doing from a business point of view, with helping to improve the communities in which they live and operate, it becomes a wonderful sort of crucible for creation of great outcomes for everybody — the businesspeople, the investors, but most importantly, the communities.”
The night was filled with such success stories.
Other winners included:
- Jonathan Ritz, Coaction Specialty Insurance
- Mike Rodgers, Critical Response Group
- Diane Levy, Undercover Chocolate
- Michael Ostroff, Patella Woodworking/RPG Acoustics
- Jordan Hu, RiskVal Financial Solutions
- Rashaad Bajwa, Integris
- Jason and Steve Parker, Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel
- Rosalie Delgado, a high school student in Perth Amboy and a participant in Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (or NFTE program), was honored as the student winner.
The impact of the event will go far beyond the night.
The eight winners earned a trip to EY’s Strategic Growth Forum, to be held in California this fall.
There, they will join other regional winners at a conference in which visionary entrepreneurs, Fortune 1000 trailblazers and the sharpest investment minds from around the country and across the globe converge.
One finalist will be crowned the overall national winner.
Of course, the purpose of the EY event always has been honoring many who are building communities for the overall good.
EY describes it this way: “We’re not just celebrating entrepreneurship across New Jersey, we’re fueling it — because when entrepreneurs come together, they don’t just build businesses, they generate momentum.”
That momentum can impact communities big and small.
Insmed, which makes its global headquarters in Bridgewater, aims to transform the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases.
The company’s mission is to champion those who are overlooked and underserved and are dedicated to supporting patients along their journey.
Its vision is to help small patient populations who are experiencing big health problems.
That sense of purpose — that desire to give back — has never been needed more, Lewis said.
“We all get better when we remember that we’re successful because of the communities in which we work,” he said. “I think redoubling our efforts to do that, particularly in today’s day and age, can’t be understated. It’s critical to the success of society.”
