Roth Named E&Y Entrepreneur Of The Year in New England

Cool Gear International, the Plymouth, Mass.-based designer and manufacturer of innovative hydration and food storage products, has named Donna Roth, Cool Gear founder and CEO, winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Award in New England.

The award recognizes outstanding high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. The finalists and winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and honored at a gala event at the Renaissance Waterfront on June 26.

“This honor is not only for me but also for my entire company,” said Roth. “It’s a tribute to the effort and contributions of the entire Cool Gear team.”

Now in its 27th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program has honored the leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company; Arthur M. Blank of AMB Group, LLC (The Home Depot, Atlanta Falcons); Pierre Omidyar of eBay Inc.; Ruth Fertel of Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.; Tom Adams of Rosetta Stone; Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn; and 2012 winner Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani Inc.

As a New England award winner, Roth is now eligible for consideration for the National Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Award. Winners in several national categories as well as the National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner will be unveiled at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2013.