ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy & Education President & CEO, Mark Claypool, Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award® Finalist

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Claypool, president and CEO of ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy & Education, was named a finalist for the 2016 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for the southeast, which includes Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The awards program, which is celebrating its 30^th year, recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

ChanceLight, formerly known as Educational Services of America (ESA), is the nation's leading provider of behavioral health, therapy and education solutions for children and young adults. Claypool, who was nominated in the services category, is a frequent speaker about the value of public-private partnerships in education and behavioral health, and has written a book, We're in this Together: Public-Private Partnerships in Special Education, about this important relationship. He is writing another book about how special education fails children with autism.

Finalists were selected by a panel of independent judges. Award recipients will be announced at a black-tie gala on June 23 at the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum in Nashville, Tenn.

About ChanceLight
ChanceLight™ Behavioral Health, Therapy & Education is the nation's leading provider of behavioral health, therapy and education solutions for children and young adults. We change the direction of children's lives by offering them the opportunity to create successful, independent futures.

ChanceLight serves more than 13,500 clients and students across our three divisions. ChanceLight Behavioral Health serves those with autism spectrum and related disorders. ChanceLight Therapy works with infants, toddlers, young children and teens who have pediatric developmental delays and physical challenges. ChanceLight Education includes our alternative education Ombudsman program, which partners with more than 120 school districts to educate at-risk students; and Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, which partners with more than 115 school districts to operate schools and programs for students with special needs.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

SOURCE ChanceLight