Local named among 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year Southeast Award winners

Ernst & Young LLP announced the winners of its 41st annual Entrepreneur of the Year Southeast Award.

The Southeast program celebrates entrepreneurs from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. For over four decades, EY US has celebrated ambitious entrepreneurs who are transforming industries, impacting communities and creating long-term value.

Regional winners were selected by an independent panel of past winners, top CEOs and business leaders. Judges evaluated candidates on long-term value creation, entrepreneurial spirit, purpose-driven commitment and significant growth and impact.

Among the 12 winners, five were from metro Atlanta, including one local winner - Tisha Thompson of Kennesaw, founder and CEO of LYS Beauty.

Thompson has over 18 years of industry experience in clean beauty product development, brand management, marketing, finance and operations. Founded in 2021, LYS Beauty is a Black-owned, female-founded and led brand redefining clean beauty with inclusive, high-performance formulas at an accessible price.

These regional award winners will now move on to be considered for the Entrepreneur of the Year National Awards, set to be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The National Overall Award winner will move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in May 2027.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs. They receive exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries - all supported by EY resources.

For more information, visit ey.com.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 5:31 AM.