Dashboard


Alissa Leinonen of Gourmondo Co. Named Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Award Winner in the Pacific Northwest Region

06/20/2019 10:00 - United States, Washington, Seattle - (PR Distribution™)

Leinonen joins ranks of exceptional entrepreneurs in the Pacific Northwest

EY has announced that Founder & CEO Alissa Leinonen of Gourmondo Co. received the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Award in the Unstoppable category in the Pacific Northwest Region. As the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes entrepreneurs excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world. Leinonen was selected by an independent panel ofjudges, and the award was presented at a special black-tie gala event at King Street Ballroom & Perch on June 14, 2019. 

“I’m profoundly grateful to have received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award for the PNW region, and honored to be included in such an exceptional line-up of entrepreneurs,” said Leinonen. “To be recognized in the Unstoppable category was particularly meaningful for me, given the 23-year entrepreneurial journey I have been on.  If there’s one thing I have learned in business it’s that it doesn’t matter how smart, educated, or experienced you are, or even how much money you have, what matters is that you believe in yourself, that you are willing to take risks, and that you never ever ever ever give up.”

Gourmondo opened as a 470 square-foot cafe in Pike Place Market in 1996 and is now Seattle’s largest and longest running woman-owned, full-service catering and gourmet box lunch Company. A leader in the PNW catering industry, Gourmondo is a bustling operation of talented chefs and an exceptional team of over 250 people bringing authenticity and creativity with every meal that is prepared. Leinonen strategically and thoughtfully expanded her company to offer full-service social and event catering, a retail line of gourmet salad dressings, and a successful Corporate Café division. Leinonen launched Gourmondo with the vision of creating a business that offered high-quality, fresh, local ingredients from the best purveyors while infusing her deep personal and professional commitment to family and to the importance of giving back to her employees and to the community.Their newest café is slated to open July 2019 in Seattle, WA, maintaining what they are known for with a selection of fan favorites and fresh local ingredients. Their variety of partnerships including baguettes delivered daily from Le Panier bakery, custom spice blends from World Spice Merchants, artisan pastas from Lagana Foods, and fresh WA-grown produce from farmers across the state, will all be a part of the new location.

As a Pacific Northwest award winner, Alissa Leinonen is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 16, 2019. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Videos:  Alissa's inspirational video vignette and acceptance speech are available for viewing and download.

About Gourmondo Co. 

Gourmondo is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier catering companies, offering full-service social and event catering, gourmet box lunches, a retail line of gourmet salad dressings, and a successful Corporate Café division. Back in 1996, Founder and CEO Alissa Leinonen had a dream that she turned into a reality by refinancing her car and opening a 470 square-foot, four table café. Gourmondo has since grown extensively, tripling the size of the company in the last three years. They serve between 3,000-4,000 guests per day across all divisions and employee more than 250 individuals. Alissa is known for building her business around the working parent model, having led by example for many years raising her two children. The award winning company has received accolades locally and across the country. https://www.gourmondoco.com/

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy

Media Contacts: 

Lesa Linster, 206.550.1200, [email protected]

Lisa Willis, 617-968-2979, [email protected]

Media Contacts:


Full Name
Lesa Linster
Company
Linster Creative
Phone Number
2065501200
Website
Email
View Results in Google
Promote Your Business keyboard_arrow_right