YPSILANTI ? The New Enterprise Forum celebrated its 25th anniversary Thursday night at Eastern Michigan University’s Student Center where Tom Porter received the 1st Annual Tom Porter Leadership Award ? an honor that acknowledged his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the entrepreneurial community.
Dick Sarns received a 25th anniversary Lifetime Achievement Award for his long career of innovation and entrepreneurship. He and his wife Norma founded the Sarns medical device company, and the NuStep rehabilitation device company ? both established Ann Arbor companies employing many in our community. They continue to give back with their support of health care and education causes, and are sharing their wisdom with new companies through their family investment activities.
Farnam Jahanian accepted the 2010 NEF Entrepreneur of the Year award, in recognition of his role in founding Arbor Networks, and shepherding its launch and rapid growth. The company was sold to Tektronix Communications in 2010 and provides network security products around the world. He gave a great talk about the Arbor Networks story.
Three of the entrepreneurs who made NEF Showcase Presentations in 2010 were recognized for their outstanding efforts:
Best Technology ? Sean Ainsworth of RetroSense
Best Presentation – Jeff Eusebio and Bob Masterson of Family Mint
Best Business Model ? Robert Fulk of Inventure Enterprises
All of the attendees received the NEF 25th anniversary history booklet ? listing all of the showcase presenters, speakers, board members, officers and NEF award winners for the last 25 years.
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