The McIntosh Law Firm’s Passion to Succeed Award for the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year was presented to Joshua Tarbutton, Ph.D., P.E. - Founder and CEO of Bravo Team in Cornelius. Robert "Bob" McIntosh, Firm Funder presented the award along with 2024 Chamber Board Chair Jeff Tarte.

McIntosh stated: 

Dr. Joshua Tarbutton founded Bravo Team in 2018, and under his leadership, the company has experienced remarkable growth, earning a place on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list at No. 489. The firm, headquartered in Cornelius, has evolved into a powerhouse engineering firm that serves a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, life sciences, and food & beverage.

Bravo Team’s three-year revenue growth of 210.12% placed it as the second-fastest-growing company in Charlotte Business Journal’s Fast 50 program. The company now employs nearly 30 engineers and operates from a 16,000-square-foot facility, featuring a machine shop, 3D printers, and laser cutters to support rapid prototyping and innovation.

Dr. Tarbutton’s entrepreneurial approach is deeply rooted in his military background, where he served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves, including a year-long deployment in Iraq. His military service instilled in him a strong sense of discipline, leadership, and resilience, which he has successfully applied to running a high-performing engineering firm

Joshua exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding entrepreneur—vision, leadership, and the ability to scale a business through innovation and strategic execution. His transition from military service to entrepreneurial success, his commitment to fostering innovation, and his ability to build a high-growth company in a competitive industry make him a deserving recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

On receiving the award, Tarbutton added, “We came to North Carolina in 2016 to teach at UNCC. My wife and I have a saying when things work out: We say, "we're accidentally awesome." We just get up and try and sometimes it works out. But if you're "accidentally awesome", you need somebody who's actually awesome, and that's our company’s president Dan Hoch. I met Dan when I joined the senior design program where he was the chair. Dan directed and organized thousands of projects as the chair and I couldn't run and organize the company without Dan. You all know there's no way I'd be up here without Dan and his wife Cindy behind me. We love the Lake Norman community. You guys are very welcoming. We moved a lot but have found a home here.”