Terri Lee Rogers, president of OW Lee (Ontario, California), manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, firepits, and accessories, was chosen as the winner in the Manufacturing Entrepreneur category for the 2014 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award. The Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards program was founded in 2003 to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of California’s Inland Empire’s top entrepreneurial business leaders.

Since that time, the award has honored more than 250 entrepreneurs as finalists and has bestowed the coveted Spirit Award on 100 entrepreneurs. Finalists were chosen during an afternoon reception of networking, where Rogers gave a 60-second presentation on OW Lee and was interviewed by a series of judges.

Speaking before the winners had been chosen, Rogers says, “I am so honored to be a finalist for this very prestigious award in the Inland Empire community. I hope to win this award and dedicate it to my grandfather, Oddist W. Lee, who was the ultimate OW Lee entrepreneur.” In total, 27 finalists and nine winners were chosen from a pool of more than 130 nominees. The winners were announced at a black-tie gala held on November 13 at the Riverside Convention Center.