Aspen News - Elliot Sainer Named Entrepreneur of the Year® by Ernst & Young

Aspen Education Group's Elliot Sainer Named Entrepreneur of the Year® by Ernst & Young

Sainer Recognized for Excellence in Consumer Services Category for Greater Los Angeles Region

(Cerritos, CA - June 28, 2007) -- Aspen Education Group, the nation's leading provider of education programs for struggling or underachieving young people, today announced that president and co-founder Elliot Sainer has been named the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® in the Consumer Services Category for the Greater Los Angeles region. According to Ernst & Young, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. The award was presented at an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® gala event at The Beverly Hilton on June 26, 2007.

"It is a great honor to be named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young," said Sainer. "Aspen Education Group was founded on the belief that we could make a positive difference in the lives of families, and being recognized is really a tribute to the dedicated and passionate staff of the entire organization."

Sainer has been in the behavioral healthcare and education fields for over 30 years. Prior to co-founding Aspen Education Group in 1998, he held several executive-level positions with healthcare and behavioral health organizations across the country. From the opening of its first residential therapeutic school almost 20 years ago to today, Aspen Education Group has grown to over 2,000 employees, with 37 residential, outdoor and weight-loss programs in 13 states and the United Kingdom. In 2006, the programs assisted more than 4,500 young people and their families from every state in the U.S. plus 32 foreign countries.

"I believe strongly that by providing value to our clients, Aspen will continue to grow and expand across the country so that we can help more families in need," said Sainer. "That truly is what is at the heart of this award - innovation, dynamic growth, but most importantly helping young people and their families get their lives back on track."

About Aspen Education Group
Aspen Education Group is recognized nationwide as the largest and most comprehensive network of therapeutic schools and programs. Aspen Education Group offers professionals and families the opportunity to choose from a variety of therapeutic settings in order to best meet a student's unique academic and emotional needs. Aspen Education Group has been profiled by major news and television organizations around the world, including U.S. News and World Report, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and People magazine, as well as on CNN, ABC's 20/20 and Good Morning America, NBC's The Today Show and Dateline NBC, National Public Radio and the syndicated television show Dr. Phil. Aspen is now a division of CRC Health Group, the nation's largest chemical dependency and related behavioral health organization. For more information about Aspen Education Group, visit www.aspeneducation.com or call (888) 972-7736.

About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards
The Entrepreneur of the Year® awards program was created and is produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006, honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 125 cities and 40 countries.

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