Triangle executives dominated an awards ceremony for Carolinas' entrepreneurs in Charlotte on Thursday night.

Of the nine winners, six were CEOs of fast-growing companies based in this area. The annual Ernst & Young awards give corporate leaders bragging rights with their peers, but also can help their companies attract customers and investors.

The local winners included Jud Bowman, CEO of Durham's PocketGear; Leah Brown, CEO of Cary's A10 Clinical Solutions; Craig Collard, CEO of Cary's Cornerstone Therapeutics; Lawrence Stern, CEO of Research Triangle Park's Talecris Biotherapeutics; Chuck Swoboda, CEO of Durham's Cree; and Stephen Wiehe of Cary's SciQuest.

The last time, Jud Bowman went solo.

In 2001, when Ernst & Young first nominated Bowman as an entrepreneur of the year, the then-20-year-old traveled alone to Charlotte for the awards ceremony, figuring he wouldn't win. He did.

This week, when he returns to Charlotte as a finalist again, he'll bring his mother, girlfriend, and several board members and employees from the technology company he now runs, Durham-based PocketGear.

"We're thinking of renting a bus and all driving over together," Bowman said. "Even if I don't win, it's a great excuse to put on tuxes, drink some champagne and celebrate."

The annual Ernst & Young awards, now in their 24th year, have become prestigious recognition for the state's entrepreneurs. A caravan of other Triangle business leaders who are finalists also plan to make the trip to Charlotte. Most will bring spouses, children, employees, investors or friends as they bask in the limelight on Thursday night.

Grace Ueng's passion, energy and inspiring recovery from a horrible bike accident five years ago are getting some national attention.

Inc. magazine included a two-page "CEO Passions" profile on Ueng in its latest issue, including a photo of her cycling with her former triathlon coach.

Ueng is head of a Cary-based consulting firm, Savvy Marketing Group, and works with numerous Triangle corporations and organizations. She also occasionally writes about marketing, CEO athletes and entrepreneurs for our Sunday Work&Money section.

Her bike accident in California broke her neck and led to months of therapy and a long road to recovery. That journey also was featured in a April 2006 Work&Money story.  

"The bike represents a comeback to me," she told Inc. "The ripple effect of my accident has been a revived passion for life."

Read the Inc. story here.

Ueng also recently started a blog about issues that small, fast-growing companies face. Here more here.

Christy L. Shaffer, who has been one of the Triangle's most visible business leaders for more than a decade, plans to step down as CEO of Inspire Pharmaceuticals.

The Durham drug company announced this morning that Shaffer will quit once a successor is in place. She joined Inspire in 1995.

Inspire also reported a net loss of $9.5 million for the second quarter. That was worse than a loss of $6.4 million during the same period in 2008.