Seven North Texas companies were named semifinalists Saturday in Ernst &Young's Entrepreneur of the Year contest.

Among the regional winners are chief executive officers at software company Skywire Software, hospitality chain Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and commercial real estate firm Retail Connection.

This is the 22nd year for the awards program, which recognizes leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success.

The regional winners will vie for the national award in their categories.

Three to four national finalists will be selected in each of the 10 categories from 26 regions at a banquet in Palm Springs, Calif., in November. One of the finalists will be named the winner for the category, said an Ernst & Young spokeswoman.

From those 10 national category winners, one company exec will be selected the national Entrepreneur of the Year to represent the United States in the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo in June 2009.

Winners are inducted into Ernst & Young's Hall of Fame.