KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(Business Wire)--
Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce the winners of the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in the Central Midwest region. This group of
leading entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of
regional business, academic and community leaders. The winners were revealed at
a gala event on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel.
"We congratulate these entrepreneurs on their significant achievements," said
Randy Buseman, Ernst & Young Partner, Strategic Growth Markets. "The
Entrepreneur Of The Year award salutes their efforts in business excellence and
community improvement. We would all do well to emulate their determination and
enthusiasm."
The Central Midwest program recognizes companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri
and Nebraska. The seven winners of the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The
Year 2009 award in the Central Midwest are:
* Master category: James E. Ferrell, Chairman / CEO, Ferrellgas (Overland Park,
KS)
* Wholesale distribution category: Robert A. Reynolds Jr., Chairman, President
and CEO, Graybar Electric Company, Inc. (St. Louis, MO)
* Technology category: August Grasis III, Founder and Chairman, Handmark (Kansas
City, MO)
* Life sciences category: Christopher E. Nelson, Ph.D., President, Kemin
Industries, Inc. (Des Moines, IA)
* Private equity/venture capital backed category: Dr. Nicholas Franano, Chief
Scientific Officer, and William Whitaker, Esq. VP/General Counsel, Proteon
Therapeutics, Inc. (Kansas City, MO)
* Consumer products category: Alisa Shakespeare, President, Shakespeare`s
Chocolate (Davenport, IA)
* Service category: Peter Spanos, Founder and CEO, Vetta Sports (St. Louis, MO)
Regional award winners will be eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young
LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national awards. 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 23rd
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.
Youth Entrepreneur Of The Year
In addition to celebrating regional business leaders, Ernst & Young also
recognized three high schools students during the Entrepreneur Of The Year
awards banquet on June 4. Through their work with the nonprofit agency Junior
Achievement, these students have already demonstrated significant promise as
entrepreneurs. Each student was named the Ernst & Young Youth Entrepreneur Of
The Year and given a $1,000 scholarship to further their interests in business.
The 2009 Ernst & Young Youth Entrepreneur Of The Year winners in the Central
Midwest are: Josh Day of Lafayette High School in Wildwood, MO; Kerysa Coleman
of Raytown South High School in Raytown, MO; and Emily VanderLinden of Dowling
Catholic High School in West Des Moines, IA.
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 Central Midwest program include Lockton Companies,
Inc. and The Kansas City Star. Locally, the program is sponsored by Faegre &
Benson LLP, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP and Smart Business magazine.
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.
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.
Ernst & Young
Wendy Fox, +1 612 371 6703
wendy.fox@ey.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
