Plex Systems’ CEO reaches finals for Entrepreneur of the Year

The head of one of Metro Detroit’s fastest-growing companies is one of the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in the Central Great Lakes region.Mark Symonds serves as the president and CEO of Plex Systems, an enterprise resource planning software and website services company. The software lets manufacturers in the automotive, defense and life sciences industries work more efficiently.Plex Systems, formerly Plexus Systems, grew its revenue by 33 percent in 2008 by adding 52 new customers. The Auburn Hills-based firm also expanded its payroll from 98 employees in 2006 to 128 today. It hopes to add another 20-40 people this year. “That I was selected as a finalist is actually recognition of what the team at Plex Systems has achieved,” Symonds says. “Every day our staff exhibits the commitment to excellence and the perseverance that are the true hallmarks of entrepreneurship. I accomplish very little on my own. It is the hard work of all the people at Plex that make us successful.” The Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes outstanding business people who are leading dynamic businesses that are growing at a fast pace. The winner will be announced at a gala at the Ritz-Carlton Dearborn on June 11.Source: Mark Symonds, president and CEO of Plex SystemsWriter: Jon Zemke