American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC), the nation’s largest owner, manager and developer of high-quality student housing properties in the U.S., announced that CEO Bill Bayless was named the 2017 National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the category of Real Estate, Hospitality and Construction.
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Bill Bayless, American Campus Communities, CEO (Photo: Business Wire)
Now in its 31st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Award recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to building world-class businesses and supporting their communities. The Entrepreneur Of The Year® winners are chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and local community leaders. As the first and only truly global awards program 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 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
Bayless forged his vision of what would someday become American Campus Communities while he was still a student at WVU working as a dishwasher, grill cook, night desk attendant, and as a resident assistant at Summit Hall. In 1993, the 29-year-old Bayless co-founded American Campus Communities with an ambitious mission to improve housing and the quality of life for students. In 2004, he led the student housing industry to a new plateau when ACC successfully consummated its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first publicly-traded student housing company in the nation and introducing the sector to Wall Street and institutional investors.
Today, ACC has a team of 3,200 nationwide with 350 located at the home office in Austin, Texas. American Campus Communities provides modern, academically oriented student communities to nearly 130,000 students at more than 90 colleges and universities across the country. His vision, passion, and tenacious determination have not only fueled the success and prominence of American Campus Communities but have also served as a catalyst for the entire student housing industry becoming a well-respected asset class within the commercial real estate sector.
“Once again, the hard work and success of the American Campus Communities team have resulted in personal accolades,” Bayless said. “I am humbled and honored by this recognition and am thrilled that the entrepreneurial spirit of hard work, innovation and pursuing your passion thrives at our company. The timing of this honor is truly special as we are about to embark on our 25th anniversary. The ACC team’s commitment and dedication to put students first continues to inspire me to further build on the mission we set upon in 1993.”
Other Texas-based companies were recognized for innovation in their own Entrepreneur Of The Year categories, including:
- Consumer Products and Retail: Kendra Scott, Founder & CEO — Kendra Scott, LLC, Austin, TX
- Emerging: Dan Flaherty, Founder, and Jason McCann, CEO — VARIDESK, Coppell, TX
About American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities, Inc. is the largest owner, manager and developer of high-quality student housing communities in the United States. The company is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered equity real estate investment trust (REIT) with expertise in the design, finance, development, construction management and operational management of student housing properties. As of September 30, 2017, American Campus Communities owned 166 student housing properties containing approximately 102,500 beds. Including its owned and third-party managed properties, ACC's total managed portfolio consisted of 204 properties with approximately 131,300 beds. Visit www.americancampus.com.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and local community leaders. The program 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 awards program 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 145 cities in more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy
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About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
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Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements under the applicable federal securities law. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding markets in which American Campus Communities, Inc. (the “Company”) operates, operational strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. For discussions of some risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 under the heading “Risk Factors” and under the heading “Business - Forward-looking Statements” and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, including our expected 2017 operating results, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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Gina Cowart, 512-732-1000
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