Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
The Inland Empire’s entrepreneurial spirit took center stage recently as more than 800 guests gathered at the Riverside Convention Center for the 2025 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards, hosted by the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino. The black-tie gala honored the region’s most influential innovators and celebrated student entrepreneurs ready to launch their ventures.
Awards recognizing Inland Empire business leaders were presented throughout the evening of Nov. 18, applauding achievements across a wide range of industries. The 2025 honorees included:
- Design, Engineering & Construction Entrepreneur Award: Brett Brennan, Urban Habitat in Palm Desert
- Emerging Innovator Award: Zef Neemuchwala, Super Foam Corp in Riverside
- Food/Hospitality/Entertainment Entrepreneur Award: Melina Maza, TKB Bakery and Deli in Indio
- General Entrepreneur Award: Mark DiLullo, Threshold Aviation Group in Chino
- Healthcare Entrepreneur Award: Harry Jackson, 360 Human Services in Apple Valley
- Manufacturing Entrepreneur Award: Kathy Bodor, Plastics Plus Technology in Redlands
- Service-Based Entrepreneur Award: Zuriah McKnight, District & Charter Patrol in Ontario
- Service-Based Entrepreneur Award: Gabriela Mendoza, HR Direct Services in Ontario
- Family Business Legacy Award: The Cramer Family, Star Milling Co in Perris
- Top Female Entrepreneur Award: Kathy Bodor, Plastics Plus Technology in Redlands
- Best of the Best Award: Brett Brennan, Urban Habitat in Palm Desert
As the ceremony progressed, attention shifted toward one of the night’s most anticipated moments: the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition. The student pitches took place toward the middle of the program, giving the audience an opportunity to hear from the top finalists who had advanced during the qualifying round at Garner Holt Productions the week prior.
Before taking the stage, finalist Anjali Bawa shared her excitement at being selected. “I entered into the Garner Holt Fast Pitch Competition, and I made it to the Top 15 finalists, and then I made it to Top 5. So, now I will be pitching with other Top 5 finalists. I feel so excited and grateful. I just cannot explain this in words.”
Bawa, representing her venture “Flamingo Jeans,” joined fellow finalists Joseph Wagner with “DreamPatch,” Jacob Estrada with “BluCore Minerals,” Taslima Mosumder with “Bright Step,” and Brianna Lee with “Date in a Box.” Each student delivered a live pitch to an energized audience, who then cast votes to determine the winners.
After the votes were tallied, the top three were announced:
- 1st Place: Jacob Estrada
- 2nd Place: Brianna Lee
- 3rd Place: Anjali Bawa
Garner Holt, who has supported the competition for many years, expressed his pride in the students’ work. “I’m really excited to have helped the entrepreneur students that are up here today for the fast pitch awards,” he said. “It’s been my pleasure for many years now to host the students and support this part of the show where there’s a $7,000 pot that these final three students will share in and hopefully launch their businesses and their careers.”
The ceremony also highlighted the continued impact of Randall W. Lewis, whose $6 million endowed and estate gift earlier this year led to the naming of the Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship. His support strengthens CSUSB’s capacity to empower students, expand interdisciplinary entrepreneurial opportunities and champion innovation across the university.
During the program, Lewis reflected on his family’s entrepreneurial roots and the importance of preparing the next generation of innovators.
“To all the finalists and winners, congratulations,” Lewis said. “My parents were the first entrepreneurs I met who had the courage to start their own company. Thanks to my parents and my brothers, who carried on that vision and worked with me in the company to allow me to do some of the things I do away from work.
“Thanks to the 800 men and women in our company that do such a great job. And finally, thank you to my family, who are here tonight. We’ve got a good third generation in our family so I’m excited about what they’re going to do in the future,” he said.
He also reflected on what drives his commitment to supporting student entrepreneurs and CSUSB’s entrepreneurial programs.
“Entrepreneurship is really important to me,” Lewis said. “That’s why I felt so lucky to get the chance to support Cal State’s program. They are doing wonderful stuff.”
He emphasized the region’s strengths and challenges, noting, “Our region has tremendous opportunities, tremendous talent and tremendous resources. But we’re really facing some challenges now… So, we all have to realize entrepreneurship is more important than ever.”
He encouraged the audience to work collaboratively across sectors.“It’s all of us working together, the public sector, the private sector, the not-for-profit sector, to try to think how can we do what’s necessary for the times ahead.” He closed with a reminder grounded in unity, quoting Bruce Springsteen: “No one wins unless everyone wins.”
Throughout the evening, emcees Mike Stull, entrepreneurship professor and director of the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, and Stacey Alis, assistant director of the center, guided the program and underscored CSUSB’s commitment to cultivating bold, creative thinkers.
Reflecting on the significance of the event, Stull shared, “Entrepreneurs aren’t bold by accident – they’re strategic thinkers that are Bold by Design. What they achieve isn’t random; it’s purposeful. They take calculated risks, act with intention, and build ventures that reflect courage and purpose. That is what we celebrated at the 2025 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards – those who dared to dream big and designed a path to make it happen!”