John Waggoner Wins Regional EY's Entrepreneur of the Year Award

John Waggoner, president and CEO, HMS Global Maritime, and chairman and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company, has won EY's Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Award in the automotive and transportation category for the Ohio Valley region. 

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards recognize entrepreneurs who excel in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. 

Now in its 31st year, the awards program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world.  

Waggoner is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur of the Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the national "Entrepreneur of the Year" will be announced at the Entrepreneur of the Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, CA, on November 18, 2017.

Waggoner was chosen by a panel of independent judges at a special gala event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cincinnati on June 15.

“I would like to share this award with my incredible team, who have supported me along the way and without whom this tremendous distinction would not be possible," said Waggoner. "I would also like to congratulate the inspiring entrepreneurs who were also nominated as finalists for this award." 

EY is a global organization that provides assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services and refers to one or more member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each a separate legal entity. The Waggoner announcement was made by Ernst & Young LLP, which serves U.S. based clients.  

American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) operates the U.S. flagged American Queen on the Mississippi and other U.S. heartland rivers and serves the Pacific Northwest with the American Empress. The new American Duchess will begin sailing the Mississippi in August.

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