Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2010 Award Finalist in Michigan and Northwest Ohio Region

Canton, MI, 05/24/10 – Gil-Mar Manufacturing Company today announced that Joseph Ruicci, Vice President, is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2010 Award in the Michigan and Northwest Ohio 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.  Joe Ruicci was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges.  Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 10, 2010 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Dearborn.

Gil-Mar Manufacturing Company was started in 1982, in rough economic times, by Gil Ruicci, my father and mentor in business. His original vision is the framework that Gil-Mar is built on today.  The original vision 27 years ago was to create a manufacturing facility with very strong design and testing capabilities and the most efficient machining processes. These specialized processes would be what would make us best-in-class and successful in the long-term. The team persevered, worked very hard, and we were profitable from our first month and never looked back.

– Joseph Ruicci

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 24^th 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 pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.

In Michigan and Northwest Ohio, sponsors include Charter One Bank, UHY Advisors MI, Inc., Smart Business, Hermanoff Public Relations, University of Michigan – Dearborn, Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, and 760 WJR Radio.

Company Boilerplate

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program

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.

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.