Green Mountain Energy Company's CEO Paul Thomas Named Finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award in Central Texas
Austin, Texas – Austin, Texas-based Green Mountain Energy Company today announced that Chief Executive Officer Paul Thomas is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award in the Central Texas region. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
Thomas was selected as one of nine finalists by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a gala event on June 3, 2010 at the Austin Hilton.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Ernst & Young as an ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award finalist,” said Thomas. “This recognition wouldn’t be possible without the passion and commitment of each Green Mountain employee who helps the company fulfill its mission to change the way power is made.”
Thomas has more than 30 years experience in the energy industry, including executive positions at Amoco and BP. In 2000, Thomas was excited for the opportunity to make a difference for the environment and leapt at the chance to become Green Mountain’s Chief Operating Officer, later becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2002.
Green Mountain, which was founded in 1997, helped pioneer renewable energy as an option for retail electric customers. The company became the first retail electric provider in Texas to offer renewable energy when electricity competition began in 2001. The company has two primary business units: residential electricity and commercial electricity. Both divisions also offer carbon offset and renewable energy certificate products. Thomas led the company to profitable growth and expanded to new markets while staying true to the company’s environmental mission.
The “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year” awards program celebrates its 24th anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the “Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year” national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 13, 2010. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards are nationally sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP.
In Central Texas local sponsors include Austin Business Journal, IPS Advisors, DLA Piper, ADP, Bridgepoint Consulting, Bowne, Cabot and The Silverton Foundation.
About Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain, the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions, was founded in 1997 “to change the way power is made.” The company is the longest serving green power marketer in the U.S. and in 2009 was ranked the “Highest in Business Customer Satisfaction with Retail Electric Service” by J.D. Power and Associates1. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of clean electricity products from renewable sources such as wind and water, as well as a variety of carbon offset products. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 11.3 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. For more information, visit GreenMountain.com.
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique 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 award of its kind, Ernst & Young 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 135 cities in 50 countries.
About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited located in the U.S.
1Green Mountain Energy Company received the highest numerical score among business electric service retailers in Texas in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Texas Business Retail Electric Provider Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on responses from 2,231 businesses measuring 7 retailers and measures opinions of businesses with their electric service provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed May-June and September-October 2009. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
