innovation, a key driver in economic growth, continues to thrive in the inland empire. this year's spirit award finalists represent a wide range of entrepreneurial companies using new business practices, processes or technologies
to reach higher levels of success. when pockets alvarez and his wife went looking for high-quality hardwood furniture for their son's room, they were unable to find anything they liked. since their company made adult
furniture, they decided to build a selection of high-end children's furniture. the response was overwhelming and soon the company focused its efforts primarily on furniture for babies and children. newport cottages
of riverside distributes its furniture nationally to boutiques, interior designers and specialty stores and also sold through the firm's retail location at newport beach's fashion island, the company's furniture is made
in riverside using old world crafting and customization techniques that are rarely if ever used by modern furniture makers. with sales growing and celebrities such as halle berry, kelsey grammar
and minnie driver choosing newport cottages furniture for their nurseries, alvarez appears to have a baby boom on his hands. at age 30, charles cole was a rock-climbing enthusiast living in yosemite.
after a slip while descending el capitan, he decided that climbers not only needed high-friction rubber on their climbing shoes, but on their walking shoes as well. cole immediately resolved to create a new rubber compound
that would help climbers on every angle surface. the compound cole developed, named stealth rubber, offered more friction than anything on the market did. the company five ten was born, and in 1986, climbing suddenly got easier.
because the soles actually stuck better to the rock, climbers could ascent routes that had previously been unattainable. now, the redlands, california-based company with locations in the us and europe,
makes shoes with their proprietary stealth rubber for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts and professional athletes including downhill mountain bikers, paddlers, hikers, trail runners and climbers. founded in 1976
by ralph weisbart, fontana-based a&r tarpaulins, inc. exists to create value for its customers based on its core competency of designing and producing products and services
that are either totally or primarily made of fabric. now under the stewardship of bud & carmen weisbart and their son ken, a&r operates three consolidated divisions, a&r tarpaulins, inc., ar tech and ar industries, focusing on customer
requirements for industrial, technical and architectural fabric products. with customers that include northrop-grumman, lockheed martin, space x and the boeing company, a&r continues to be the industry leader
in providing innovative products and solutions for industrial and engineered fabric products. a&r's commitment to high-quality fabric solutions is exemplified by a long history of satisfied clients and over two decades of achievement awards including
recognition in 2009 as family-owned business of the year from the us small business administration. these three entrepreneurs - pockets alvarez, charles cole iii and the weisbart, family, -
are this year's best and brightest innovators