Atlanta, GA, Aug. 10, 2021 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has announced that Allen and Erin Baler, Co-Founders of 4Patriots LLC in Nashville, Tenn., were named Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Southeast Award winners.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The award recognizes those who are unstoppable entrepreneurial leaders, excelling in talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation and future plans. Allen and Erin Baler were selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was announced during the program’s virtual awards celebration on July 29, 2021.
“This milestone recognition from Ernst & Young is a true honor, and one that we feel belongs to our entire 4Patriots team,” said Allen Baler. “Together, we have achieved impressive results while staying true to our core values… and being a great place for great people to do their best work. As a company, we’re more excited than ever about our future!” said Erin Baler.
4Patriots is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business that sells emergency preparedness, portable solar power, health/wellness, and camping and outdoor recreation products. The company nearly tripled last year and has served over 1 million customers to date. The mission at 4Patriots is to champion freedom and self-reliance and the company makes regular financial and product donations to a variety of organizations that support U.S. veterans, active-duty troops and their families.
For 35 years, EY US has honored entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies’ success, transformed their industries and positively impacted their communities. Allen and Erin Baler will go on to become lifetime members of the esteemed multi-industry community of award winners, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources.
As a Southeast award winner, Allen and Erin Baler are now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced on November 13 at the Strategic Growth Forum® , one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as:
- Michael Praeger, AvidXchange, Inc.
- Joe DeSimone of Carbon, Inc.
- Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani
- Tim Sheehan and Johnson Cook of Greenlight Financial Technology
- Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC
- Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn
- Jack Springer of Malibu Boats, Inc.
- Tricia Wallwork of Milo’s Tea Company
- Sara Blakely of SPANX, Inc.
- Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corporation
- Rich Hagins of US&S, Inc.
- Brad Keywell of Uptake Technologies, Inc.
- Jodi Berg of Vitamix
- Phyllis Newhouse of Xtreme Solutions
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation.
In the Southeast, sponsors also include Premium sponsors Cresa, King & Spalding LLP and PNC Bank; and Supporting sponsor Donnelley Financial Solutions.
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.
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