Sarah Znerold, president and founder of national boutique PR firm SZPR, Inc. in Carlsbad, California, received a Stevie Award for Best Young Entrepreneur in the 2006 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.  Her agency was also nominated for Best Community Involvement Program for its work for the Keep A Breast Foundation, helping to maximize awareness of breast cancer in young women.

Says Sarah Znerold about her Stevie Award: “I was honored to be included in this group of inspirational women. By opening my own business, I have had the exceptional opportunity to live my dream, and this is only the beginning.”

When asked to say what has motivated her over the past few years, Znerold responded: “Coming up with a big idea and bringing it to fruition, and the adrenaline rush of landing a highly sought-after media opportunity.”  She still has ambitions, however, including “becoming an awesome surfer,” or of one day hosting her own cooking or entertainment show.

But the most important motive for Znerold is “making a positive impact on the lives of others.”

So what did The Stevies judges see about Sarah Znerold and her company that was so special?

Following a Dream
In 2002, at the age of 25, Znerold decided to follow her heart and left the security of a full-time job at a well-known PR agency to found her own company, SZPR, Inc.  In four short years she had grown her business into one of the top ten PR firms in San Diego, according to the 2007 San Diego Business Journal report.

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Winner of a Stevie for Most Innovative Company at The 2007 American Business Awards in June, Imagination International Corporation grew from the simple but brilliant vision of its founder, entrepreneur Shane Yeend. Learn how it became a market leader in just five years.

Imagination International Corporation is a global, multi-platform games and media company that creates, produces, and distributes compelling interactive entertainment for the world.

In just five years the company transformed a brilliant idea into a brand new global consumer entertainment category: DVD Games. Today, Imagination is the category’s leader with its unique products available in up to 85,000 retail outlets worldwide. Imagination products are distributed in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia, and under license in 43 countries. The company now has offices in the USA, Europe, and Australia, and employs some 120 people around the world.

The Family that Plays Together, Stays Together
The idea for DVD Games came to Imagination’s founder and CEO Shane Yeend  in 2001 when he created content for, and assisted in the development of,  software that enabled DVD randomization.  The category has since grown to encompass 40 percent. of the traditional games market, grossing over $400 million per year worldwide.

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Phoenix Park Gas Processors of Point Lisas, Trinidad have won a Stevie Award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program in South America in The 2007 International Business Awards. We recently spoke with the company's president, Ed Tiah, about the company's business and its origins, and about the genesis of the program that garnered its recognition.

Pictured here with Ed is Joanne Salazar, the manager responsible for creating the honored program.

		Listen to the Stevie Award Podcast Interview

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Debt Consolidation Low Down: News, tips, and resources … in light of recent stock and credit market uncertainty, this should be helpful.
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Tech Dirt: News and info on tech business.