Ernst & Young Florida Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2008 Award Recipients Named

Award Recognizes Entrepreneurial Excellence
ORLANDO, Fla.--(Business Wire)--
Ernst & Young LLP has announced recipients of the Ernst & Young
2008 Florida Entrepreneur Of The Year awards, recognizing outstanding
entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing
businesses. Award recipients were selected by an independent panel of
judges and the awards were presented June 5 at the Ernst & Young
Florida Entrepreneur Of The Year gala event at the Gaylord Palms
Resort.

"We congratulate this year's recipients and all the finalists on
their success," said Michael J. Brennan, Florida Host of the Ernst &
Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program. "This group of entrepreneurs
is truly remarkable for all that they have accomplished."

Recipients of the 2008 Florida Entrepreneur Of The Year award are:

-- Lifetime Achievement Award: Thomas A. James, chairman and CEO,
Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF) and chairman of its
subsidiary, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., (NYSE:SIPC), St.
Petersburg, (http://www.raymondjames.com): Raymond James
Financial is a Florida-based diversified holding company
providing financial services to individuals, corporations and
municipalities through its subsidiary companies. Its three
principal wholly owned broker/dealers (Raymond James &
Associates, Raymond James Financial Services and Raymond James
Ltd.) and Raymond James Investment Services Limited, a
majority-owned independent contractor subsidiary in the United
Kingdom, have a total of more than 4,850 financial advisors
serving approximately 1.7 million accounts in 2,200 locations
throughout the United States, Canada and overseas.

-- Central Florida

-- Master: Howard Lance, chairman, president and CEO, Harris
Corp., Melbourne (http://www.harris.com): Harris Corp. is
an international communications and information technology
company serving government and commercial markets in more
than 150 countries. The Company has annual revenues of
almost $5 billion and 16,000 employees.

-- Services: Harold Mills, CEO, Zero Chaos, Orlando,
(http://www.zerochaos.com): Zero Chaos is one of the top
minority-owned contract labor sourcing and management
companies in the country and serves Fortune 500 companies.
The company has earned a place on Inc.'s list of the
fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

-- Technology: Jay Freeland, President, CEO and director,
FARO Technologies, Inc., Lake Mary, (http://www.faro.com):
With more than 16,000 installations and 7400 customers
globally, FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:FARO) and its
international subsidiaries design, develop, and market
software and portable, computerised measurement devices.

-- South Florida

-- Distribution and Manufacturing: Amin Khoury, chairman, CEO
and founder, B/E Aerospace, Inc., Wellington,
(http://www.beaerospace.com): B/E Aerospace, Inc. is the
world's leading manufacturer of cabin interior products
for commercial passenger aircraft and business jets.

-- Emerging: Marc Siegel, president, China Direct, Inc.,
Deerfield Beach, (http://www.cdii.net): China Direct, Inc.
(AMEX:CDS) is a diversified management and advisory
services organization. A U.S. company doing business in
China, China Direct owns and consults business entities
operating in the People's Republic of China.

-- Health Services: Steve Geller, chairman and Edward
Goldman, CEO, MDVIP, Boca Raton, (http://www.mdvip.com):
MDVIP is the national network of physicians who practice
preventive and personalized healthcare, not just the
detection and treatment of disease as in most traditional
primary care practices. Participating physicians have
their own distinct practices and approach to medicine.

-- Real Estate and Construction: Beverly Raphael, president
and CEO, RCC Associates, Deerfield Beach,
(http://www.rccassociates.com): RCC Associates is a
general contracting firm specializing in the construction
of interiors for retail stores, restaurants, spas,
offices, medical facilities, hotels and small commercial
buildings.

-- West Central Florida

-- Financial Services: David Serlo, president and CEO, PSCU
Financial Services, Inc., St. Petersburg,
(http://www.pscufs.com): PSCU Financial Services is the
nation's largest credit union service organization and
serves more than 1,100 financial institutions nationwide.
As a non-profit cooperative, the Company is owned by more
than 500 member credit unions representing 11 million
cardholder accounts and more than 580,000 online bill
payment subscribers.

-- Retail and Consumer Products: Mark Johnston, CEO; Mike
Johnston, chairman; and Bob Johnston, president; The
Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., Tampa,
(http://www.meltingpot.com): With more than 130
restaurants nationwide, existing locations in 35 states
including the District of Columbia and Hawaii, and 36
locations currently in development, The Melting Pot
Restaurants Inc. is the country's premier fondue
restaurant franchise.

Florida award recipients are now eligible for consideration in the
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 national program. Award
recipients in numerous national categories, as well as the overall
national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient, will
be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on
Nov. 15, 2008. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst &
Young Strategic Growth Forum, the Firm's annual gathering of
high-growth, market-leading companies. The national Entrepreneur Of
The Year award recipient is then entered into consideration for the
global event held in Monte Carlo in 2009.

This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year award program celebrates
its 22nd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business
leaders in more than 135 cities in 50 countries around the world.
Awards are presented to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary
success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal
commitment to their businesses and communities.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The
Year awards are sponsored on a national basis by the Ewing Marion
Kauffman Foundation and SAP America.

Florida sponsors include Foley & Lardner LLP, Bowne and RFB
Communications Group.

Contact information

To make reservations for the national Entrepreneur Of The Year
awards gala on Nov. 15, 2008, please contact Beverly Eha, program
manager, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Florida Awards, at
813.225.4893 or beverly.eha@ey.com. Information is also available at
www.ey.com/us/eoy.

About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year

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
http://www.ey.com.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of 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.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member
firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

For Ernst & Young LLP, Orlando
RFB Communications Group
Suzie Boland, 813-259-0345 or 813-786-1019
sboland@rfbcommunications.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008