faba Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Inc. magazine goes behind the scenes with 26 entrepreneurs who best exemplify the extraordinary drive, creativity, and passion of American business. Our top 26 list, one for each year of Inc., spans the gamut of the entrepreneurial world, from names you know well, such as Richard Branson, Michael Dell, and Martha Stewart; to Tony Lee, a former janitor who bought out his steel manufacturing employer; to Craig Newmark, who has been almost the antithesis of a dot-commer with his no-frills Craigslist site. No matter what the accomplishment, each entrepreneur profiled here offers a fascinating case study in what it takes to thrive in today's economy. This Year's Winners and Why We Love Them Name We Love them... 1. Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Omnimedia because she took one for the team 2. Richard Branson Virgin Group because he's game for anything. In fact, everything. 3. Michael Dell Dell Computer for being brilliantly straightforward 4. Jim Sinegal Costco because who knew a big-box chain could have a generous soul? 5. Diane von Furstenberg Diane von Furstenberg Studio for staging an elegant comeback 6. Julie Azuma at Inc.com Different Roads to Learning for offering hope and help to the parents of autistic children 7. Fritz Maytag at Inc.com Anchor Brewing for setting limits 8. Ray Kurzweil at Inc.com Kurzweil Technologies and other companies because he is Edison's rightful heir 9. Craig Newmark at Inc.com Craigslist for putting the free in free markets 10. Jack Mitchell at Inc.com Mitchells/Richards because his family business makes an art of customer service 11. Frank Robinson at Inc.com Robinson Helicopter for whipping an entire industry into shape 12. Mark Melton at Inc.com Melton Franchise Systems for giving immigrants their shot at the American Dream 13. Michelle Cardinal & Tim O'Leary at Inc.com Cmedia and Respond2 for rewriting the rules for husband-and-wife teams 14. Mike Lazaridis at Inc.com Research in Motion because someone had to stand up for all those frustrated engineers 15. Trip Hawkins at Inc.com Electronics Arts and Digital Chocolate for still scrapping 16. Warren Brown at Inc.com Cake Love and Love Cafe because only in America will someone quit a secure job as a lawyer to start a bakery 17. Muriel Siebert at Inc.com Muriel Siebert & Co. for being a notable first with a worthy second act 18. Chuck Porter at Inc.com Crispin, Porter + Bogusky for verging on reckless 19. Katrina Markoff at Inc.com Vosges Haut for setting a completely unreasonable goal for her business 20. Barry Steinberg & Craig Sumerel at Inc.com Direct Tire and Auto Service for showing the power of the peer group 21. Victoria Parham at Inc.com Virtual Support Services for serving as a mentor to military spouses 22. Tom LaTour at Inc.com Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants for staying at fleabag hotels so that we don't have to 23. Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams at Inc.com Mitchell Gold for creating a true comfort zone Lets fill it out why we love them to make them feel better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Not suprised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Division Marduk Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Maybe they're ranked #27? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomShane Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 They asked Max if he wanted to be considered a "top entrepeneur" and he declined, claiming that he was non-demoninational. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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