2009-04-28 17:17:05 -
Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce today the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in the Upper Midwest. This group of exceptional entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of regional business, academic and community leaders. Winners will be announced at a gala event on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“For the past 23 years, Ernst & Young has honored outstanding entrepreneurs through our Entrepreneur Of The Year program,” said Kevin Klimara, Ernst & Young Partner, Strategic Growth Markets. “These entrepreneurs make a tremendous difference within our communities and for our larger economy. We thank them for the positive impact they’ve had in the Upper
Midwest.”
The Upper Midwest program recognizes companies based in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2009 are.
- Lee Anderson, Sr., Chairman, APi Group, Inc. (New Brighton, MN)
- Lewis Zeidner, President and CEO, ApothecaryRx, LLC (Golden Valley, MN)
- Richard Meeusen, Chairman, President and CEO, Badger Meter, Inc.
(Milwaukee, WI)
- Lisa Kolrud Hannum, President and CEO, Beehive PR Inc. (St. Paul, MN)
- Sean Cleary, President, Cleary Building Corp. (Verona, WI)
- Alan Lampe, CEO, Comm-Works (Plymouth, MN)
- Daren Cotter, Founder and CEO, CotterWeb Enterprises, Inc. (Mendota Heights, MN)
- Ross Bjella, President, DDN (Menomonee Falls, WI)
- Derek Dorr, President and Co-Owner, DECO, Inc. (Champlin, MN)
- James Janik, President and CEO, Douglas Dynamics LLC (Milwaukee, WI)
- Andy Nunemaker, CEO, EMSystems LLC (Milwaukee, WI)
- Joel Hazzard, President and CEO, Ergotron, Inc. (Eagan, MN)
- Roland Stephenson, CEO, Faith Technologies, Inc. (Menasha, WI)
- Reid MacDonald, President and CEO, Faribault Foods, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
- Michael Gauthier, President, and Stacy Gauthier, Vice President, Gauthier Biomedical, Inc. (Grafton, WI)
- Guy Mingo, Chief Operating Officer, Marsden Holding, LLC (St. Paul, MN)
- Frank Martire, CEO, Metavante Corporation (Milwaukee, WI)
- Paul Wagner, Chairman and CEO, Minnesota Wire (St. Paul, MN)
- Dr. Benjamin Liu, CEO and President, MSP Corporation (Shoreview, MN)
- Mark Platt, President and CEO, Multistack LLC (Sparta, WI)
- Ronald Konezny, CEO, PeopleNet, (Chaska, MN)
- Daniel Johnson, President, SearchAmerica (Maple Grove, MN)
- Mark Skogen, Owner, CEO and President, Skogen’s Festival Foods (Green Bay, WI)
- Peter Taunton, Founder and CEO, Snap Fitness (Chanhassen, MN)
- David Meyer, CEO, Titan Machinery (Fargo, ND)
- Michael Batten, Chairman and CEO, Twin Disc, Inc. (Racine, WI)
- Daniel Johnson, CEO, Verisae, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
- William Haack, Chairman and CEO, Zywave, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
Regional award winners will be eligible for consideration in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national program. Winners in numerous national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 14, 2009.
The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 23 rd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are pleased to have SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as national sponsors.
Regional sponsors for the Upper Midwest program include Faegre & Benson LLP, Clifton Gunderson LLP, Twin Cities Business and Manpower.
Locally, the program is sponsored by, Padilla Speer Beardsley and The Business Journal serving Greater Milwaukee.
Contact information
To make reservations for the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards gala on June 11, 2009, contact Kim Anderson at +1 612 371 6924 or
kimberly.anderson1@ey.com : mailto:kimberly.anderson1@ey.com .
Tickets are $150 per person. For more information about the program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy :
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About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique 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, Ernst & Young 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 135 cities in 50 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
For more information, please visit www.ey.com :
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Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of 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.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.
Wendy FoxErnst & Young+1 612 371 6703
wendy.fox@ey.com : mailto:wendy.fox@ey.com
