Inside Tucson Business report

Entrepreneurs who gathered earlier this month at the Inc. magazine 500 conference in Tucson were asked to pick the person they admired most. Michael Dell, who in 1984 founded the computer company bearing his name, was the favorite among 38 percent of those attending.

Dell, who is now chairman of his company, beat out Bill Gates, of Microsoft software fame, who was picked by 23 percent of those participating.

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The 23rd annual Inc. 500 Conference and Awards Ceremony was held March 17-20 at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa during which more than 100 leaders of entrepreneurial companies participated in the poll.

The theme of the event was recognizing the remarkable achievements of the 2004 Inc. 500 winners. The companies achieved a median average annual growth rate of 145 percent between 1999 and 2003. There were 13 Arizona firms on the list including Tucson-based First Magnus Financial Corporation and CyraCom International.

Among other topics surveyed, a whopping 59 percent believed 10 years or more was fair prison time for WorldCom's Bernie Ebbers. As for running a company, 47 percent said they had the most confidence in Vice President Dick Cheney, followed by TV talkshow host Oprah Winfrey at 16 percent, the NFL's New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick at 15 percent, and actor-producer Mel Gibson at 13 percent.

Other poll findings:

• 78 percent disapprove of recent cutbacks in the budget of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

• 62 percent believe the United States will lead the world in entrepreneurship in 15 years.

• 53 percent think businesses will be better off by changing federal bankruptcy laws.

• 50 percent say U.S. corporations are continuing to lose the public's trust.

• 66 percent believe their employees would be better off by privatizing part of Social Security.

• 65 percent say federal taxes are too high.

• 58 percent find that retaining and attracting key employees is among their biggest business concerns.

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