ATLANTA – July 12, 2012
Guardian Pharmacy, LLC, one of the largest long-term care pharmacy companies in the U.S., announced that Fred Burke, CEO and co-founder, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2012 Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee Award in the “Healthcare” category. This highly coveted and prestigious award recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
“I’d like to thank Ernst & Young for highlighting and honoring the profession of entrepreneurship, which means a lot to those of us who consider this our chosen profession,” said Burke. “We are especially pleased to be honored because our business model serves as an incubator for local entrepreneurs, and its success is the result of the diligence and vision of the entire Guardian team.”
Founded in 2004 by Fred Burke, Kendall Forbes and David Morris, Guardian Pharmacy LLC has grown from 70 to more than 800 professionals. The company recently completed a record-breaking 2011 adding five new pharmacies and boosting revenue 35 percent over 2010. The combined Guardian entity serves more than 40,000 long-term care patients nationally through 20 pharmacies across 12 states.
Additionally, the company has been recognized as one of Atlanta’s fastest-growing private companies for five years consecutively in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Pacesetter Awards rankings and Georgia’s Fast 40 Awards.
Winners were selected by an independent panel comprised of previous winners, leading CEOs, private capital investors and regional business leaders. Burke is now eligible for the U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 17, 2012 during the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum.
About Guardian
Guardian Pharmacy, LLC, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is one of the nation’s largest institutional pharmacy companies and ranks among Georgia’s fastest growing companies. Guardian’s pharmacies focus on providing outstanding client service to long-term care facilities including assisted living, skilled nursing, and others. Founded in 2004, Guardian has experienced a 46 percent compounded annual growth rate which the company attributes to its unique Local-Autonomy business model. Pharmacy operators participate in local ownership and benefit from Guardian’s experience in high-growth, specialty pharmacies.
About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year®
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award 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 award 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 140 cities in more than 50 countries.