We're so proud of Salas O'Brien's CEO, Darin Anderson, who was just recognized as the 2016 EY (Ernst & Young) Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for Professional Services in Orange County and the Inland Empire region.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, marking its 30th anniversary in the U.S., is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, recognizing those who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance and commitment to their businesses and communities.

“I have been blessed,” Anderson said. “It is a wonderful testament to my partners and wife, Lori. We stayed focused, worked diligently, hammered through challenging times, kept great relationships with our team and clients, and always did the right thing.”

The award marks the culmination of an extraordinary decade for Salas O’Brien, which has grown by more than 1,200 percent while the industry as a whole has shown no growth. With about 300 employees, including 44 employee-shareholders, the company currently operates 14 offices around the country, serving a range of clients including Microsoft, Ritz-Carlton, Verizon, AT&T, TMobile, Bloom Energy, Starbucks, Four Seasons and numerous universities such as Stanford, Cal-Tech, USC, LSU, Texas A&M, UCSF and UC Berkeley. Additionally, it plans, develops and maintains the critical environments that are critical to the infrastructure of hospitals, school districts and all levels of government. Salas O’Brien designs “for the good of our world” – a core principle that means delivering high-quality and sustainable projects that lower construction costs, minimize change orders, and reduce operating and utility expenses.

Anderson attributes this success to the “maniacal focus on quality delivery” that is maintained by all team members and the strong business relationships that have been forged over the years. Anderson also credits the support of his family, who were in attendance when he received the award at the EY regional gala on June 17.

“I can’t tell you how much it touched my family,” he said. “My son (13) and daughter (11) were so engaged in and excited about the program and event. To see my son’s reaction of total love and enthusiasm when my name was announced was a moment I will cherish as a highlight of my life. They totally got it and were overwhelmed with emotion. It was rewarding to know that my kids have an appreciation for the effort, sacrifices, passion and character that it takes to make anythingm great happen. They have an even better appreciation for our company and the impact we are making in our world.”

Anderson will represent the region in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on Nov. 19.