Salt Lake City, UT, April 11, 2018 – EY today announced that Rich Linton, CEO and Mike Linton, EVP of VLCM are a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 Awards in the Utah Region. As the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes business leaders who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
VLCM started as a company that was selling center-pivot irrigation systems to farmers. Rich Linton and a college roommate began with little money but a lot of ambition. In 1982, IBM rolled out their first-ever personal computer. Immediately afterward, they began looking for qualified dealers to sell and service their exciting new product.
"We thought farmers could use computers to make their life a little easier, and we applied to be an IBM reseller. We were chosen out of a pool of three-hundred applicants to distribute the IBM PC throughout the West, and so we expanded from just a handful of employees to over one-hundred employees today." - Rich Linton, VLCM Founder & CEO
By 1983, Rich was applying IBM’s new technology to Snyder Irrigation, and by 1985, Valcom Salt Lake City, LC (now doing business as VLCM) was left as a sole entity. For over thirty years now, VLCM has adapted and evolved amid the fast-moving industry of information technology—becoming a leader in the community and expanding its reach throughout the Rocky Mountain West.
Rich Linton and Mike Linton were selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special black-tie Gala on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.
Now in its 32nd year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world.
To learn more about the Utah program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy/utah_region. Join the conversation on social media by following us @EY_EOYUS and using #EOYSLC.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, the Kauffman Foundation and Merrill Corporation.
In the Utah Region, local sponsors include CAPTRUST, Corporate Alliance, Digital Bytes Production & Design, Diversified Insurance Group, Silicon Slopes, Strong & Hanni Law Firm, The Community Foundation of Utah, The Summit Group and Utah Business.
About VLCM
VLCM is a leading IT solutions provider for the Rocky Mountain Region, with offices in Salt Lake City, Lehi, St. George, Boise, Denver, and Albuquerque. VLCM provides end-to-end, customized IT solutions for both public and private sectors. Their 3-decades of expertise has landed VLCM in the CRN MSP 500 and Tech Elite 250 lists, the Utah Fast 50, and more.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the 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 awards program of its kind, 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 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
