Beall's, Tech Data leaders win statewide recognition

One CEO and one board chairman from the Gulf Coast are among the winners of the 2015 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Robert Dutkowsky, CEO of Tech Data Corp., in Clearwater, and Robert Beall, chairman of Beall's Inc., in Bradenton, were among the recipients recognized during a black-tie gala Thursday night at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Dutkowsky won in the corporate innovator category, while Beall won in hospitality and retail. EY, formerly  Ernst & Young, is a tax advisory and business consulting firm.

Dutkowsky and Beall joined other nominees, who included:

• Ron Antevy of e-Builder, Plantation
• Jerry Brown and Tom Brown of Florida Food Products Inc., Eustis
• Daniel Cane of Modernizing Medicine Inc., Boca Raton
• Ricky Caplin of The HCI Group, Jacksonville
• Kenneth LaRoe of First Green Bank, Mount Dora
• Jamarlin Martin of Moguldom Media Group, Fort Lauderdale
• Marcelo Young of Transitional Foods, Miami
• Sam Zietz of TouchSuite, Boca Raton

Regional winners are eligible for the national award later this year in Palm Springs, Calif., according to a release. Winners there could go on to compete on the world stage, chosen from business leaders in 145 cities and 60 countries.