Learning Ovations Chief Executive Receives Excellence in Entrepreneurship Nomination

The Founder and Chief Executive of Learning Ovations, Jay Connor, has received a nomination for the 2019 Orange County Business Journal’s Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards.

The Orange County Business Journal states, “the program is designed to recognize individuals who exemplify the American entrepreneurial spirit -- individuals who, by their creativity and determination, have established and nurtured successful business ventures.

Connor is being recognized as being the leading force of Learning Ovations in the launch of its research-based software, the A2i Professional Support System, which debuted in K-3 classrooms this year as part of a $14.65 million U.S. Department of Education scale-investment. A2i is an “Every Student Succeeds Act” Tier I program designated as having strong research-based evidence with a mission to radically improve reading outcomes on a systematic level.

The Irvine-based startup has rigorously tested the professional support system in seven separate randomized control trials in multiple states over 13 years, and currently holds a research partnership with the University of California, Irvine.

The winners of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards were announced at the awards luncheon on March 12, 2019 at Hotel Irvine, and included:

• Palmer Luckey, Anduril Industries

• Reza Jahangiri, American Advisors Group

• Heidi Hendy, H Hendy Associates

• Darin Anderson, Salas O’Brien

• Joe Duran, United Capital Financial Advisers