COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 8, 2023) – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Cameron Mitchell of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) is honored with the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 East Central Lifetime Achievement Award. Mitchell will be recognized alongside Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 East Central Award winners during a special celebration on June 14, 2023, at The Columbus Athenaeum in Columbus, Ohio.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by EY US to a distinguished, renowned business leader who has made outstanding contributions as an entrepreneur. Mitchell was the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 1999 East Central Region Retail/Food Service Award winner.

“We’re thrilled to honor Cameron Mitchell with the Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Shannon Crone, East Central Program Co-Director. “He’s well deserving, with 30 years in business demonstrating extraordinary entrepreneurial achievements, creativity, leadership and vision as well as a commitment to community and national affairs.”

CMR celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023, with 45 award-winning restaurants under 20 unique concepts and multiple restaurants set to open throughout the year. As he enters the fourth quarter of his career, Cameron’s vision is to leverage the success of CMR to elevate the hospitality profession nationwide as well as the community he calls home.

Over the past three decades, Cameron has committed himself to supporting future restaurateurs through partnerships with various hospitality programs. In addition to his support of the Culinary Institute of America, Cameron chaired the capital campaign for Columbus State Community College, raising $11 million to develop a state-of-the-art hospitality management and culinary arts building, Mitchell Hall. Additionally, Cameron donated $500,000 to the Scarlet and Gray Advantage Program at The Ohio State University and created the Cameron Mitchell Matching Gift Fund to support scholarships for hospitality management undergraduate students.

Further, Cameron is a respected national advocate for the restaurant industry, especially working tirelessly to secure federal assistance throughout the pandemic. His book, “Yes is the Answer, What is the Question?” published in November 2018 and was included in Forbes’ “12 Best Business Memoirs of All Time” in August 2019.

In addition to the company’s 30th anniversary, Cameron also will celebrate his 60th birthday the night he receives the award, marking a significant milestone both personally and professionally.

“I am truly humbled to be recognized by EY for my contributions to our company, industry and community through these many years,” said Mitchell. “None of these achievements would be possible without our incredible associates providing the genuine hospitality for which CMR is known. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate these personal and professional milestones, and I am honored to receive this recognition.”

Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In East Central, sponsors also include Valuation Research Corporation, Donnelley Financial Solutions and Frost Brown Todd LLC.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

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About Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, celebrating 30 years in 2023, is an independent, privately held restaurant group known for developing compelling dining concepts offering outstanding cuisine complemented by genuine hospitality. Cameron Mitchell founded the company in 1993 on the powerful guest philosophy, “Yes is the Answer. What is the question?” Today, that commitment to delivering extraordinary guest experiences fuels 45 award-winning restaurants under 20 unique concepts, including the nationally acclaimed Ocean Prime brand. The company also operates a separate, highly successful catering division, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, and a dynamic food hall hosting 10 kitchens, 3 bars and a rooftop, Budd Dairy Food Hall. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, a sister company of CMR, currently operates 22 locations in five states. CMR is partnering with Crawford Hoying to introduce a luxury boutique hotel at Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio in 2026. For more information on CMR, please visit CameronMitchell.com.

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Media Contact: Hannah Schuller
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