Business Report Staff : DENVER - Three entrepreneurs who run companies in the Boulder Valley have been selected as regional finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Award.

Steve Hughes, chief executive and chairman of Boulder Brands Inc. in Niwot; Matt Larson, founder and CEO of Boulder-based Confio Software Inc.; and Justin Gold, founder and CEO of Boulder-based Justin's Nut Butter LLC are among 26 finalists for the Mountain Desert region, which encompasses Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

The awards program recognizes high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Finalists were selected by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on Thursday, June 20, at the Seawell Grand Ballroom in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.ey.com/2013-MtDesert-EOY-gala.

Other finalists are:

Mario Martinez, CEO, 360 Vantage, Chandler, Arizona.

Jeremy Ostermiller, CEO/founder, Altitude Digital, Denver.

Jeremy Freer, CEO, Angel MedFlight, Scottsdale, Arizona.

John Musil, founder/CEO, Avella, Phoenix.

Terry Shadwick, president/CEO, BluSky Restoration Contractors Inc., Centennial.

Gary Hammerslag, chairman/founder, Boa Technology Inc., Denver.

Marco Campos, managing principal/founder, Campos EPC LLC, Denver.

Sissie Roberts Shank, president/CEO, Chas Roberts, Phoenix.

Eric Roza, president/ CEO, Datalogix, Westminster.

Kenneth Weiner, founding partner/CEO, Eating Recovery Center, Denver.

Carol Keogh, president/CEO, ESI Ergonomic Solutions, Mesa, Arizona.

Bart Lorang, CEO/co-founder, FullContact Inc., Denver.

Hart Cunningham, CEO/co-founder, and Jeremy Bloom, co-founder, Integrate, Scottsdale.

Terry McDaniel, president/CEO, Inventure Foods Inc., Phoenix.

Steve Carley, CEO, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., Greenwood Village

Stacey Caron, president/CEO, Spellbinders Paper Arts LLC, Phoenix.

Mike Shehan, CEO/co-founder, and Steve Swoboda, COO/CFO and co-founder, SpotXchange Inc., Westminster.

Steve Bigari, CEO, Stellar Restaurant Solutions LLC, Colorado Springs.

Michael Garippa, chairman/CEO/president, SynCardia Systems Inc., Tucson.

Jeffrey Elowe, president/CEO, The Laramar Group, Greenwood Village.

Brad Jannenga, president/CTO, WebPT, Phoenix.

Regional award winners go on to compete at the national level. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on Nov. 16. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum.