ERNST & YOUNG ANNOUNCES ANDREW LEFKOWITZ AS AN
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR® FOR THE EAST CENTRAL REGION
The co-founder of biotech startup Locus Fermentation Solutions becomes a finalist for the national award
SOLON, Ohio (June 18, 2019) Andrew Lefkowitz, the co-founder, chairman and CEO of biotech startup Locus Fermentation Solutions (Locus FS), has been named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® for the East Central region. The social responsibility-focused Cleveland leader joined finalists from Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Winners were unveiled at a special black-tie gala in Cincinnati on June 13.
Lefkowitz is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven record of building and exiting businesses—specifically focusing on using non-GMO microorganisms or “probiotics”. His business model and culture-focused management approach have led to national and regional recognition for him and his companies. A panel of independent judges selected Lefkowitz as a winner of the EY award, which recognizes entrepreneurial leaders of high-growth companies who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world.
“There are many successful entrepreneurs in this world, but to build something truly remarkable, you can’t let anything stand in your way,” EY Americas Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director Debra von Storch said in a press release published by the program. “EY is proud to honor the 2019 winners who are inspiring innovation without limitation and fueling growth and prosperity by being truly unstoppable.”
After a successful legal career, Lefkowitz first made headlines as a pioneer in the probiotics industry with the development of his original Cleveland-based startup Ganeden, Inc. He built Ganeden into the premier IP-based probiotic supplier in the world, before turning the focus to founding Locus FS—a company dedicated to developing “probiotic”-based solutions as cost-effective, safer alternatives to chemicals that address pain points in a variety of industries. In less than five years the two businessmen have grown Locus FS to operating companies with solutions for the oil & gas and agriculture industries, more than120 employees and seven offices in four states.
“EY’s entrepreneur award highlights the commitments business leaders have—to financial success, to the wellbeing of their employees and to environmental sustainability and social responsibility—and I’m honored to be selected as part of a talented and impressive list of winners,” Lefkowitz said.
As a regional winner, Lefkowitz is now eligible for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards. That honor will be announced Nov. 16 in Palm Springs, California. The national awards gala is the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
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ABOUT LOCUS FERMENTATION SOLUTIONS
Founded by probiotic experts, Locus Fermentation Solutions (Locus FS) utilizes the power of microorganisms to create environmentally-friendly, yet highly effective probiotic-based solutions that reduce chemical usage and successfully address pain points in top global industries. The company’s world-class team of scientists from seven countries designed unique microbrewery-type fermenters to cost-effectively product tailored products focusing on challenges including climate change, sustainable growing, agricultural productivity, skin diseases, water contamination, safe oil production and more. Products are commercialized under industry-specific operating companies. Locus FS currently accelerates technologies for use in agriculture (soil “probiotics” that increase crop yields and reduce carbon footprints) under Locus Agricultural Solutions, and in oil & gas (well maintenance and enhanced oil recovery treatments that increase production in declining wells and improve worker safety) under Locus Bio-Energy Solutions—with additional operating companies in development. For more information, visit LocusFS.com.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. For more information, visit ey.com/eoy.