Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business honors Auburn's top alumni, student entrepreneurs

Before his moving company raised more than $22 million in venture capital and grew to serve customers in 86 cities, Bellhops co-founder Cameron Doody roamed Auburn-area apartment complexes and went "door to door" in search of business. Before her fast casual restaurant concept took off, Chicken Salad Chick founder Stacy Brown used the kitchen of her Auburn home as a point-of-sale and flavor lab for meals that now satisfy diners in eight states.

Auburn University's Raymond J. Harbert College of Business recently honored Doody and Brown for their ability to grow thriving companies from humble beginnings. Doody, a 2009 supply chain management graduate, earned the Auburn University Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Brown, a 1999 communication alumna, earned the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Top Tigers awards luncheon on April 22.

The Harbert College of Business, in partnership with Business Alabama and Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors, also honored 60 "Top Tigers," fast-growing companies founded, owned or led by Auburn alumni. Montgomery Transport topped the list in the large revenue category of $20 million and above in annual revenue, Muscle Up Marketing took first in the medium revenue category of $5 million to $20 million and Meridian Global Consulting earned top honors in the small revenue category of $500,000 to $5 million. Companies were evaluated on the basis of percentage revenue growth. Top Tigers companies collectively averaged 44 percent revenue growth across all categories.

Entrepreneur and original ABC "Shark Tank" panelist Kevin Harrington served as keynote speaker for the event and as a judge for the Tiger Cage student entrepreneur competition. Envelope Aerospace, a team composed of sophomore engineering major Troy Ferguson, senior engineering major Shawn Majzlik and sophomore media studies major Dennis French, won the $10,000 grand prize and $30,000 in legal assistance for their concept, which focuses on improving the reliability and cost effectiveness of using aerostats to obtain weather data.

For information about Young Entrepreneur and Entrepreneur of the Year, go to http://harbert.auburn.edu/news/alumniawards.php. For information about Tiger Cage, go to http://harbert.auburn.edu/news/Envelope%20Aerospace%20wins%20Tiger%20Cage.php. For information about Top Tigers Companies, go to http://harbert.auburn.edu/entrepreneurship-summit/large-company-rankings.php.

by Troy Johnson