E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. Establishes “Entrepreneur of the Year Award”

In collaboration with the Columbus Black Achievement Awards program, E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. has established the “E.E. Ward Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”  The award recognizes a Columbus, Ohio-based business owner who best displays a vision and purpose for making the community stronger by not only being committed to success, but by being focused on making a mark of significance by taking on risk to create opportunities for the community as a whole.

The inaugural recipient of the E.E. Ward

Entrepreneur of the Year Award is Robert E. Lee III, Principal and President of Touchstone Hospitality, LLC.  Lee is highly respected by hospitality industry peers and community leaders with more than 25 years of visible business development and executive management achievements in hotels, fine dining and quick service restaurants and private clubs.

In April 2011, Lee opened the nation’s first Tim Horton’s Café and Bake Shop located in a U.S. airport at Port Columbus International Airport and today is a multi-unit franchisee with three locations in Central Ohio.  Additionally, in January 2014, Lee opened the nation’s first airport location for Columbus’ hometown favorite Donato’s inside Port Columbus International Airport.

Brian Brooks, President of E.E. Ward, presented the award on behalf of E.E. Ward.  Brooks serves on the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, the Quality Committee of the North American Agents Association, the Alumni Leadership Council at Franklin University and the Alumni Board at the Columbus Academy.

About E.E. Ward

E.E. Ward is a nationally recognized leader in the relocation and transportation industry offering comprehensive services including commercial and household moving, delivery services and logistics.  E.E Ward has received numerous awards for its high level of service, including, recognition as one of the 2014 “Inc. 5000” Fastest Growing Private Companies, Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio’s 2012 Torch Award for Ethical Enterprises and the BBB Business Integrity Award, Angie’s List Super Service Award, Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council 2010 Minority Business Enterprise Supplier of the Year, and the Columbus Board of Realtors Preferred Vendor for Moving Services.  E.E. Ward has been recognized as one of the nation’s oldest African-American owned businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.