David Wiessman, chairman of Dallas-based Alon USA Energy, Inc., and Jeff Morris, president and CEO of Alon, have been named Entrepreneurs of the Year (EoY) in the Energy, Chemicals and Mining category by Ernst & Young. This honor recently was awarded to Wiessman and Morris at the 2007 Southwest Area-North regional ceremony, held at the Dallas Market Center.
Wiessman and Morris, co-founders of Alon, were chosen for the award based on four major attributes: vision, leadership, achievement and social responsibility. An independent panel of judges consisting of past winners, educators, business and community leaders evaluated the nominees and selected the recipients.
“David and I are grateful for being nominated and honored to be a part of such a prestigious group,” Morris said. “This award really recognizes everyone’s hard work and effort. The entire Alon team and family are the reason our company has been so successful.”
Since the first EoY awards were presented in 1986, Ernst & Young has celebrated the achievements of more than 12,000 outstanding entrepreneurs across the United States. Today, the program is global in nature and recognizes business innovators in 35 countries.
As finalists, Wiessman and Morris will participate in the national EoY competition, which will culminate in an event held in November in Palm Springs, Calif. National EoY winners will proceed to the World Entrepreneur of the Year competition in Monte Carlo in 2008.
Alon operates more than 300 convenience stores in West Texas and New Mexico under the 7-Eleven and FINA brand names and supplies motor fuels to these stores from its Big Spring refinery. In addition, Alon supplies approximately 900 additional FINA branded locations.