By Alexis Monteith/Contributor

Founding chairman and CEO of itel Yoni Epstein was named the 2024 Entrepreneurship Laureate by the Anthony N. Sabga Awards Caribbean Excellence programme at its recently held annual awards event in Barbados. The Montego Bay–based businessmen is the 13th laureate from Jamaica to receive one of the programme’s awards since they were established in 2005.

“I am truly honoured to have been bestowed this award for the work that itel has done throughout the Caribbean under my leadership,” Epstein expressed. “We have taken the BPO industry to the world and competed against massive global destinations and companies, and we’ve succeeded. At itel, the sky is the limit.”

The prize comes with TT$500,000, just over J$11 million, from the ANSA McAL Foundation, which Epstein will use to continue his intervention in addressing social needs in Jamaica.

Specifically, this will be done through itel’s 4Ys Foundation, which supports social initiatives in the areas of education, environment, innovation and sport.

The foundation, which was incorporated in 2019, has donated over US$1 million to charitable investments, US$270,000 to educational and innovation programmes, supported 1,800 youths, cleared 2,000 metres of beach and communities annually, supported over 50 athletes, and contributed over 2000 employee hours to charity initiatives.

The organisation has also participated in blood donations that have supported over 300 lives, procured US$60,000 in hurricane relief funds for The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian, and managed the Jamaican Government’s 888-ONE-LOVE hotline which provided critical updates for the public during COVID while taking reports from citizens.

To date, the ANSA McAL Foundation has recognised the work of 62 Caribbean nationals, and this year Epstein was one of five laureates who received an award at the gala ceremony held at Hilton Barbados.

The goal of the awards is to recognise significant Caribbean achievement and to encourage and support the pursuit of excellence by Caribbean individuals for the benefit of the region.

As the founding Chairman and CEO of itel, the Caribbean’s largest hom-egrown business process outsourcer, Epstein is being recognised “for his Caribbean success in the fiercely competitive global sphere of business process outsourcing”.

Among other things, the Foundation’s Committee and Regional Eminent Persons Panel cited that “his company’s growth has been occasioned, at least in part, by particular care and regard for the workplace welfare of itel employees”.

The Committee and Panel also acknowledged Epstein’s commitment to national welfare and Caribbean expansion, and for being a significant employer of Caribbean nationals.