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Tech trainer
selected isles’
top entrepreneur

Star-Bulletin staff

Local businessman Jeffrey P. Bloom, who has created three technology training and staffing companies over the past 10 years, has been chosen "Entrepreneur of the Year" for Hawaii by accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young.

Bloom's businesses include Computer Training Academy, which provides general business and Internet instruction, and JLM Hawaii Inc., which focuses on advanced technical training.

Bloom won the award at the Fourth Annual Hawaii Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards on Tuesday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The awards recognize entrepreneurs who have achieved success in such areas as innovation and financial performance and who have demonstrated a commitment to their business and community.

There were also award recipients in the following categories:

Emerging: Bruce M. Kim and Marc Rapoza, Inovaware Corp.
e-Products: Mark D. Wong, Commercial Data Systems Inc.
e-Software and Services: Michael J. Hartley, Cheap Tickets Inc.
Real Estate/Construction: Herbert N. Conley, Jr. and C. Scott Bradley, Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties.
Retail: Anne Yuri Namba, Anne Namba Designs Inc.
Services: Jeff Bloom, Computer Training Academy
Technology/Communications: Kathryn Weldon, Adtech Inc.
Wholesale/Distribution: Joseph J. Azzaro, H&W Foods Acquisition Corp.

The winners are eligible to participate in the national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition. The national awards will be announced Nov. 11 in Palm Springs, Calif.