This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The global professional services firm of Ernst & Young has named Patrick Byrne, founder and CEO of Cottonwood Heights-based Overstock.com, as the national Entrepreneur of the Year for 2011 in the retail and consumer products category.
Byrne, who turns 50 in 2012, launched the online discount retailer in 1999. It's now known as O.co.
"With a Ph.D. in philosophy from Stanford University, Byrne does not fit the mold of a typical CEO," said Bryan Pearce, director of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year program in the United States, Monday in a statement.
Pearce praised Byrne for "developing a new model in online marketing and in serving the global community through his philanthropic efforts." Byrne also founded Worldstock.com — to help village artisans market their wares online — along with The Main Street Revolution — designed to give small and minority-owned businesses an online vehicle to maximize sales.
"This is a great win for Overstock.com," Byrne said of the award.
This year, Ernst & Young LLP marked its 25th year bestowing the Entrepreneur of the Year awards. Along with Byrne, leaders in nine other categories were honored (see results at http://bit.ly/uZc5PS).
Byrne received the award at an event Saturday in Palm Springs, Calif. The Strategic Growth Forum is one of the nation's top gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges from approximately 300 regional award recipients.
Twitter: @catmck