GENBAND CEO Charlie Vogt Named 2008 Ernst & Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year
July 1, 2008, Plano, TX – GENBAND Inc., a market-leading developer of next-generation IP gateways and application solutions, today announced that the company’s CEO, Charlie Vogt received the 2008 Ernst & Young Southwest Area North (North Texas/Arkansas/Oklahoma) Entrepreneur of the Year award at the annual awards banquet in Dallas, Texas, June 28th. This prestigious award recognizes men and women who excel at growing and sustaining market-leading businesses. They are pioneers, innovators and foremost -- our nation’s preeminent entrepreneurs. Vogt is the recipient of the Technology category, one of several achievement areas including fields like healthcare, real estate, and retail/hospitality. All award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges composed of area leaders from business, academic and civic organizations.
In the technology sector, Vogt is a well known industry luminary with two decades of executive tenure and an admirable track record. He was instrumental in the operational and financial growth of five standard-setting start-ups that either became public companies or were acquired.
Entrepreneurial spirit is fundamental to everything Charlie does. About receiving this year’s EOY award, he says: “I am honored to be among the finalists of this prestigious award and humbled to be recognized as this year’s winner. Successful entrepreneurship is about making good things happen. I believe in building things, always have. I have spent a career building businesses. I have always gravitated towards the most challenging project or the job no one wanted. Entrepreneurs require what I call “VRL” – Vision, Risk and Leadership. When you get all three ingredients working together, the output is rewarding.”
Celebrating entrepreneurs and the businesses they build and grow has been a priority for Ernst & Young for more than two decades. “The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award is judged by other entrepreneurs, so it has real meaning,” says Vogt.
At the helm of GENBAND, Vogt leads one of the most dynamic telecom equipment suppliers in the communications market. GENBAND is an innovator of IP technology that enables fixed and mobile operators to transport and route multimedia services over the internet. Tekelec’s Chairman of the Board and 2001 recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year award Mark Floyd said of Vogt: "It seems Charlie turns everything he touches to gold. He has had a remarkable career the last 2 decades, and has excelled in everything he tackled."
Vogt became President and CEO of GENBAND in September 2004. GENBAND’s Chairman of the Board, General Partner of Seven Rosen Funds and 1992 recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year award, Dr. Jon Bayless says: "Charlie is one of my best hires -- to any of my investment companies. He took a frail company with a couple of million dollars in revenue, made it the number one media gateway company globally, spanning 60 plus countries worldwide, and grew the company more than twenty five times its size in 4 years."
In the same span of time, GENBAND has successfully secured business with more than half of the world’s top 100 network service providers, partnered with six of the world’s largest telecom equipment manufacturers, extended its global reach to over 60 countries, executed four acquisitions, reversed a negative trending operational plan and grown revenues from 5 to 94 million. The company’s employee population has grown from 90 to 550 and has Centers of Excellence in Texas, China, and Brazil. Today GENBAND is recognized as the world-wide market-share leader in media gateway shipments and labeled as one of the nation’s fastest growing private companies.
Vogt says: “At GENBAND, our tagline is Driving the Network Evolution. We think of it as being more than just a tagline; it defines our role and mission. We’re working with the most forward looking communication companies who are transforming today’s voice, data and video networks to enable new and enhanced communication and entertainment services.”
About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards
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.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 130,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve potential. For more information, please visit www.ey.com
About GENBAND
GENBAND is a leading supplier of next generation IP gateway and application solutions. These high-performance gateway and application platforms enable fixed wireline, mobile, and cable network service providers to rapidly deploy new multimedia services. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, GENBAND has research and development facilities in Texas, China, and Brazil. Additional information is available at www.genband.com.
Contacts:
Kim Lee Frank Puglia
GENBAND Inc. GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3766 +1.972.265.3612
kim.lee@genband.com frank.puglia@genband.com
