Date: November 20, 2007
Contact: Eric Matanyi
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-4044
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: e-matanyi@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, November 20, 2007 - A recent client of the CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs at GSU has been named recipient of an Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. Dave Contorno, owner of UBuildIt in Mokena, Illinois, was one of 25 area entrepreneurs honored by The Business Ledger at its recent eighth annual awards presentation.
“We are again pleased to recognize the important role of entrepreneurs in our dynamic suburban community through this awards program,” said James E. Elsener, president and publisher of The Business Ledger. “Honoring 25 men and women who have contributed greatly to the economic strength of this area is in keeping with our mission of telling the stories of successful business owners and executives. It is further testimony to the great diversity of our area that so many different industries and businesses are represented by our honorees, showing why our suburban area is in the forefront of entrepreneurship and the formulation of ideas for new businesses.”
Contorno was honored with an Early Stage Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. His business, UBuildIt, allows clients to customize their own floor plans and build their dream home at significant cost savings, which range from 20 to 30 percent below appraised value. Last year, Contorno applied for and received a grant from CenterPoint Entrepreneurship Center for marketing and advertising professional services for his UBuildIt franchise.
“I would like to thank CenterPoint Entrepreneurship Center for its support and the matching marketing grant we received. I am truly honored to be recognized for the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. It has been a team effort. We have an excellent staff of professionals at UBuildIt and part of our success is the result of business partnerships like the one we’ve developed with CenterPoint.” said Contorno.
The matching award program is administered through The CenterPoint Entrepreneurship Center, with financial support from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), targeting high growth companies in the Chicago Southland region. The CenterPoint Entrepreneurship Center has awarded $130,000 in Challenge Grants to date.
Contact The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs at Governors State University by calling (708) 534-4929 or visit www.centerpointgsu.com for more information on the Entrepreneurship Center Challenge Grant.
