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LifeSize Communications today announced that Founder and CEO Craig Malloy received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Award in Central Texas

LifeSize Communications today announced that Founder and CEO Craig Malloy received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Award in Central Texas. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Malloy was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala event in Austin, Texas, May 28, 2009.

Malloy is a pioneer in the Video communications market. Since founding LifeSize Communications, Inc. in 2003, he has led the company from the development of groundbreaking innovations to strong financial performance. Under Malloy's leadership, LifeSize in 2007 became the first company to deliver high definition Video communications products and the company posted 140 percent revenue growth in fiscal year 2008. LifeSize today claims more than 7500 unique customers and continues to add 600-800 new customers per quarter. Prior to LifeSize, Malloy founded ViaVideo Communications, Inc., which delivered the world's first video communications appliance. ViaVideo was acquired by Polycom Inc. in 1998, where Malloy acted as General Manager of the Video Division prior to founding LifeSize.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards celebrate their 23rd anniversary this year. The program honors entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptionality in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

'We are proud to recognize the achievements of Craig Malloy,' said Don Dwight, Ernst & Young LLP Partner and Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director for Central Texas. 'Winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year award build leading businesses and contribute significantly to the strength of our region's economy. Their success helps our area grow stronger.'

"I've worked with Craig since the early days at LifeSize and felt from the start that he has the experience, passion and unique ability to identify a tremendous technology opportunity and revolutionize an industry," said Vab Goel, LifeSize board member and general partner at Norwest Venture Partners. "Craig continues to set the bar extremely high and is driving one of the fastest growing companies in the Video Conferencing and Telepresence sector. Thousands of enterprise companies around the world are taking advantage of Craig's vision, which is the surest evidence that LifeSize is achieving its vision of changing the way individuals and corporations communicate with one another."

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award,' said Craig Malloy, Founder and CEO, LifeSize Communications. 'I have the privilege of working with a stellar team to build products that make the value of high-definition Video Conferencing available to everyone, everywhere. It's an exciting time for LifeSize, as we are experiencing triple digit growth and significantly expanding our customer base ' a testament that organizations are turning to HD Video communications as the new communications tool.'

As a Central Texas award winner, Malloy is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

This story can be viewed at Conferencing News