LAKE MARY, FL-Faro Technologies Inc., manufacturer of measurement hardware and software, announces that President and CEO Jay Freeland earned Ernst & Young’s 2008 Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Technology category.

Freeland came to Faro in October 2004 as president and COO, became co-CEO in February of 2006 and was confirmed as the CEO in December of that same year. Since then Faro has released nine new products, 12 new software versions, established an Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore, expanded its operations to Mexico, and grown from 438 employees to 825 worldwide. All the while, the company has maintained strong double-digit sales growth year after year.

“There are moments in life when the coach receives undue credit for the performance by a team of all-stars,” Freeland said during his acceptance speech at the gala event. “Certainly this is one of those moments. I’m honored by the recognition, and grateful to everyone at Faro who shares in this company-wide achievement.”