EY Reveals Entrepreneur Of The Year Regional Finalists
Twenty-eight Midwest businesses are moving forward in Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneur Of The Year competition, and more than half are based in Minnesota.
On Friday, the professional services firm announced the “Heartland” division finalists in the 38th iteration of the yearly entrepreneurial competition. A total of 36 entrepreneurs across 28 companies will go on to compete for regional awards at a ceremony on June 20.
Of the finalists, 17 companies are Minnesota-based. A total of 20 Minnesotan entrepreneurs are moving forward in the competition.
The Heartland division is open to businesses based in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. EY’s parent company is based in London, while its U.S. division is based in New York City.
Dominic Iannazzo, Entrepreneur Of The Year program director and managing partner for EY’s Minneapolis office, said all of the Heartland finalists are “bold entrepreneurs creating a lasting impression in their industries and communities.”
“Selected by an independent panel of judges, these trailblazers demonstrate unwavering dedication to their companies, customers and communities. We are thrilled to recognize their success,” he said in a press release issued Friday.
The twenty Minnesota-based finalists and their businesses are:
- Sean Higgins of St. Paul-based BetterYou, developer of a wellness app designed to decrease burnout and dependence on technology.
- Alex French and Andrew Healy of Minneapolis-based Bizzy Cold Brew, maker of cold brew beverages.
- Margaret Murphy of Minneapolis-based marketing and customer experience agency Bold Orange Co.
- Ron Konezny of Hopkins-based Digi International, an “Industrial Internet of Things” tech firm
- Erin Pash of Mendota Heights-based Ellie Mental Health, a therapy franchise with more than 200 clinics
- Craig O’Halloran of Eden Prairie-based swimming instruction company Foss Swim School
- Paula Gamer of Minneapolis-based Gamer Packaging Inc., a custom packaging company
- Mark Watkins of Alexandria-based financial services firm Geneva Capital LLC
- Rick Bauerly of St. Cloud-based private investment and holding company Granite Partners
- Joel Peterson of Minneapolis-based office furniture maker iSpace Environments
- Jim Loffler and James Loffler of Loffler Cos., a professional services firm that operates out of a former Sam’s Club building in St. Louis Park
- Pat Chinander of Shoreview-based specialty retailer Love From USA Group Inc.
- Beth Wozniak of nVent, a St. Louis Park-based electrical enclosures manufacturer. TCB recognized Wozniak as the 2023 Person of the Year
- Ryan Bosshart of Minneapolis-based phData, a data engineering and machine learning startup
- Jeff Kiesel of Mendota Heights-based Restaurant Technologies Inc., which sells products designed to automate back-of-house functions in commercial kitchens
- Brian Roers and Kent Roers of Plymouth-based Roers Cos., a real estate investment firm
- Bret Weiss of Minneapolis-based engineering firm WSB
Finalists that go on to win Heartland awards will be eligible for the national iteration of the Entrepreneur Of The Year program.
TCB, which is a regional sponsor of the program, will profile all the Heartland award winners in an upcoming print issue.
