Celebrating ambitious pioneers tackling our biggest challenges

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Kevin Jones, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Celero Commerce, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2022 Southeast Award finalist. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed.

Jones was selected by a panel of independent judges according to the following criteria – entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact – among other core contributions and attributes.

“I am humbled by this recognition from the team at Ernst & Young,” said Jones. “To me, this is a team award that honors the passion and drive of nearly 300 Celero employees and dozens of strategic partners. Furthermore, it proves our concept that small and mid-sized businesses around the country can grow sustainably with the right combination of bundled high-tech, high-touch commerce solutions.”

Celero Commerce, backed by LLR Partners, launched in Nashville in late 2018. The company has grown organically and through the acquisitions of eight companies, including multiple payments organizations and SaaS providers with offerings tailored to the needs of dozens of targeted industries and business categories. Celero now has employees spread across multiple US states, with hubs in Tennessee, Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 15, 2022. The regional winners will then be considered by the National independent judging panel, and National awards will be presented in November at the Strategic Growth Forum^®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2023.

For over 35 years, EY US has celebrated the unstoppable entrepreneurs who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 10,000 US executives since its inception in 1986. Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners have exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other members of the entrepreneurial community in over 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are presented by PNC Bank. In the Southeast, sponsors also include Cresa, King & Spalding LLP and ADP, LLC.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year^®

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind.

It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. ey.com/us/eoy

About EY Private

As Advisors to the ambitious™, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

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Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US.

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