San Bernardino News Daily Local news for San Bernardino, about San Bernardino.
The Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship (RLCE) in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino announced today that U.S. Bank, one of the country’s largest commercial banks, is set to be the Premier Sponsor of the 2026 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards. Now in its 24th year, the Spirit Awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the Inland Empire’s top entrepreneurial business leaders.
“At U.S. Bank, we are deeply committed to empowering business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed,” said Hector Zatarain, Inland Southern California Business Banking market leader at U.S. Bank. “Sponsoring the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards is a natural extension of our efforts to uplift the spirit of innovation and economic growth in the Inland Empire and beyond.”
As Premier Sponsor, U.S. Bank will play a key role in supporting the event’s expansion and reach.
“We are honored to have U.S. Bank continue its longstanding support of the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards as our exclusive Premier Sponsor,” said Mike Stull, director of the center and founder of the awards program. “This ongoing collaboration highlights the importance of championing and elevating entrepreneurs who are making a powerful impact in our region.”
Referred to as “The Oscars of Business” by top professionals, the Spirit Awards is a black-tie gala attended by nearly 1,000 people each year. The event features red carpet coverage, cocktail and VIP networking receptions, awards presentations, and three-course dining, highly anticipated, unveiled entertainment and an exclusive after party. This year’s event will occur on the evening of November 12, 2026, at the Riverside Convention Center. Learn more about the Spirit of the Entrepreneur at SpiritAwardsIE.com.
To nominate an entrepreneur, visit spiritawardsie.com/easyNomination.php. To learn more about the process and criteria visit https://spiritawardsie.com/content/nomination-process.
