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OAK BROOK, Ill. — vAuto recently celebrated founder and chairman Dale Pollak taking home honors as the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award for Emerging Companies in the Midwest Region.

Included in the Midwest program are Illinois- and Indiana-based companies. Pollak was chosen by an independent judge panel in the Emerging Companies category, and was presented the award during a gala held at the Chicago Sheraton last week.

"I am extremely honored to have received this award," said Pollak. "When I began this journey five years ago, I never dreamed that my vision for designing new methodologies and technologies for the used-car marketplace would evolve into vAuto — the product, the people and the remarkable success story."

Keith Jezek, vAuto's president and chief executive officer, added: "Dale is exceptionally deserving of being recognized as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year for the Midwest. It has been a remarkable experience to watch Dale's passion for the automotive industry transform into a successful company. We are so proud of Dale and honored to be part of his team."

In winning this award, Pollak has an invitation for the national awards gala that will be held Nov. 13 in Palm Springs, Calif. Comedian and late-night talk show host Jay Leno is hosting the event.