OXNARD, CA - In our industry, we always have to applaud the leaders who planted a seed that sprouted into an operation booming with success. Steve Barnard, the Founder, President, and CEO of Mission Produce, is definitely one of those leaders, and he has recently been named an Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Greater Los Angeles Award finalist.
“I’m proud to represent Mission Produce among some of the most influential business people in the country,” said Barnard. “Over the last four decades, Mission has left an incredible mark on the industry, leading the way and setting the standard in the avocado business. It’s a great honor to have the opportunity to highlight the work we’ve done in such a prestigious program.”
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors business leaders whose ambition, ingenuity, and courage in the face of adversity pave the way for the future of the industry, a press release noted, and recognizes business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 different countries. Barnard was selected by a panel of independent judges for his work in evolving the produce industry as a whole.
Barnard founded Mission Produce in 1983, and during his tenure, the avocado industry has grown into a $6.5 billion industry, which is estimated to scale to $8 billion by 2023. As President and CEO of Mission, Barnard makes critical business decisions and steers the general direction of the entire company.
The nominees for the Entrepreneur Of The Year program are evaluated based on six different criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation, and future plans.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2022, according to the release.
Award winners will be announced during an exciting virtual celebration on July 29, and will become lifelong members of the community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the globe.
Congratulations to Steve Barnard on this momentous milestone in his career!
