Salt Lake City — Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has announced Bret Rasmussen, CEO of KURU Footwear, a winner of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Mountain West Award. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed. An independent panel of judges selected Bret based on his entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

In response to this award, Rasmussen says, “In fifth grade I wanted to start my own shoe company. I’m in awe at how that childhood dream has materialized. KURU has improved the lives of millions by helping reduce their foot pain so they can pursue a meaningful life of purpose. I’ve definitely had my ups and downs as an entrepreneur and leader, and I’m honored to receive this award”. 

He continued, “I continue to be grateful for my team of employees who have rallied behind my vision to bring it to fruition. Without their hard work, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As they say, here’s to an overnight success a decade in the making”. 

About KURU Footwear: KURU Footwear is a direct-to-consumer shoe company on a mission to eliminate foot pain. Since the company’s launch in 2009, thousands of individuals have experienced the unique style, superior support, and unimaginable comfort of KURU. With its relentless focus on innovation and commitment to endless comfort, KURU continues to define the future of how footwear should feel. For more information, visit www.kurufootwear.com.

To view the full list of winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Mountain West Award, visit ey.com/us/eoy.

As a Mountain West award winner, Bret will now be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 National Awards, presented at the annual Strategic Growth Forum® in November. In June 2023, the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as: 

• Sheila Mikhail of AskBio
• Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks
• Joe DeSimone of Carbon, Inc.
• Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani, Inc.
• James Park of Fitbit
• Daymond John of FUBU
• Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC
• Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation
• Saeju Jeong of Noom
• Cherie Kloss of SnapNurse
• Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company
• Jodi Berg of Vitamix

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are presented by PNC Bank. In the Mountain West, sponsors also include Colliers International, Cresa, Diversified Insurance, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Silicon Slopes, Strong & Hanni Law Firm, Truss, and Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. For more information, visit ey.com/us/eoy.

About EY Private

As Advisors to the ambitious™, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices, and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private.

About EY

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