Seven Charlotteans are among 27 finalists for the Carolinas’ 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards.

They are John Owens, president of Ameritrust Mortgage Co.; Joseph Drury, chief executive of Bojangles’ Restaurants; Kenneth Gill, chief executive of CPI Security Systems Inc.; Ryan Dienst, managing partner of Global Medical Imaging; Scott Ray, founder of Global Medical Imaging; Charles Raymond, CEO of Horizon Lines; and Kenneth Walker, CEO of Meineke Car Care Centers Inc.

The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses.

Last year, two local executives were among eight winners of the awards.

They are Miles Busby, president of Charlotte-based Source Technologies Inc., and John Forlines Jr., chairman of Bank of Granite Corp. of Granite Falls.

This year’s award recipients will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony June 16 at The Westin Charlotte hotel.

Winners selected from this group will be eligible for the overall National Entrepreneur of the Year award, as well as several other national awards

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2005/05/09/daily50.html