We celebrate the top 22 Entrepreneur of
the Year.
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The Slide Show
1. Martha
Stewart Martha Stewart Omnimedia
because
she took one for the team
2.
Richard
Branson Virgin Group
because he's game for anything. In fact, everything.
3. Michael
Dell Dell Computer
for being brilliantly straightforward
4. Jim
Sinegal Costco
because who knew a big-box chain could have a generous soul?
5. Diane
von Furstenberg Diane von Furstenberg Studio
for staging an elegant comeback
6. Julie
Azuma Different Roads to Learning
for offering hope and help to the parents of autistic children
7. Fritz
Maytag Anchor Brewing
for setting limits
8. Ray
Kurzweil Kurzweil Technologies and other companies
because he is Edison's rightful heir
9. Craig
Newmark Craigslist
for putting the free in free markets
10. Jack
Mitchell Mitchells/Richards
because his family business makes an art of customer service
11. Frank
Robinson Robinson Helicopter
for whipping an entire industry into shape
12. Mark
Melton Melton Franchise Systems
for giving immigrants their shot at the American Dream
13. Michelle
Cardinal & Tim O'Leary Cmedia and Respond2
for rewriting the rules for husband-and-wife teams
14. Mike
Lazaridis Research in Motion
because someone had to stand up for all those frustrated engineers
15. Trip
Hawkins for still scrapping
because "optimism is essential"
16. Warren
Brown Cake Love and Love Cafe
because only in America will someone quit a secure job as a lawyer 17.
Muriel
Siebert Muriel Siebert & Co.
for being a notable first with a worthy second act
18. Chuck
Porter Crispin, Porter + Bogusky
for verging on reckless
19. Katrina
Markoff Vosges Haut
for setting a co mpletely unreasonable goal for her business
20. Barry
Steinberg & Craig Sumerel Direct Tire and Auto
Service
for showing the power of the peer group
21. Victoria
Parham Virtual Support Services
for serving as a mentor to military spouses
22.
Tom
LaTour Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
for staying at fleabag hotels so that we don't have to
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The Slide Show
