SUGAR LAND, Texas,June 21, 2016(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.(NASDAQ:AAOI), a leading provider of fiber-optic access network products for the internet datacenter, cable broadband, and fiber-to-the-home markets, today announced that Dr.Thompson Lin, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2016 Award in the Technology category in the Gulf Coast Area.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award program. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.Dr. Linwas selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event at theHilton Americas-HoustononJune 16, 2016.
"I'm very humbled to have been awarded this great honor. Entrepreneurship is centered on building and developing a great team, and AOI's team is second-to-none in our industry. I'm very proud to have the opportunity to lead such an outstanding group of over 2,700 talented and dedicated AOI employees who strive every day to develop innovative products that define and shape the technology industry."
Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation and discipline have propelled their companies' success, invigorated their industries, and benefited their communities. Now in its 30th year, the program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs asHoward SchultzofStarbucks Coffee Company,Robert UnanueofGoya Foods, andMindy Grossmanof HSN. Recent US national winners includeReid HoffmanandJeff Weinerof LinkedIn;Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani; and 2015 winnersAndreas BechtolsheimandJayshree Ullalof Arista Networks.
As a Gulf Coast Area award winner,Dr. Linis now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 national program. 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 inPalm Springs, California, onNovember 19, 2016. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum TM, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The US Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award inMonaco,June 2017.
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are sponsored nationally by SAP America,Merrill Corporationand theEwing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
In the Gulf Coast Area, sponsors also includeBBVA Compass, Colliers International,DLA Piper, ADP, SolomonEdwards,Pierpont Communicationsand theHouston Business Journal.
AboutApplied Optoelectronics
Applied Optoelectronics Inc.(AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical products, including components, modules, and equipment. AOI's products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the CATV broadband, internet datacenter, and fiber-to-the-home markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all three of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities inSugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities inTaipei, Taiwan andNingbo, China.