MILWAUKEE--(Business Wire)--
Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce the winners of the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in the Upper 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 11, 2009 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
"We congratulate these entrepreneurs on their significant achievements," said
Kevin Klimara, 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 Upper Midwest program recognizes companies based in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
North Dakota, and South Dakota. The winners of the Ernst & Young LLP
Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 award in the Upper Midwest are:
* Master category: Lee Anderson, Sr., Chairman, APi Group, Inc. (New Brighton,
MN)
* Manufacturing category: Richard Meeusen, Chairman, President and CEO, Badger
Meter, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
* Consumer products category: Joel Hazzard, President and CEO, Ergotron, Inc.
(Eagan, MN)
* Industrial/Manufacturing category: Mark Platt, President and CEO, Multistack
LLC (Sparta, WI)
* Technology category: Ronald Konezny, CEO, PeopleNet, (Chaska, MN)
* Services category: Daniel Johnson, President, SearchAmerica (Maple Grove, MN)
* Distribution category: David Meyer, CEO, Titan Machinery (Fargo, ND)
A special lifetime achievement award was presented to Jeffrey Curler, Executive
Chairman of the Board, of Bemis Company, Inc. which is based in Neenah,
Wisconsin. Curler was recognized for his leadership in building a business that
is now a major supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials
used by leading food, consumer products and manufacturing companies worldwide.
In 2008, Bemis Company reported net sales of $3.8 billion.
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
In addition to celebrating regional business leaders, Ernst & Young also
recognized two high schools students during the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards
banquet on June 11. 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 and
given a $1,000 scholarship to further their interests in business. The 2009
Ernst & Young Youth Entrepreneur winners in the Upper Midwest are: Matt Meis of
Stevens Point High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Ethan Pedretti of
Holmen High School in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
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 magazine and Manpower. Locally, the
program is sponsored by Padilla Speer Beardsley and The Business Journal serving
Greater Milwaukee.
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.
Wendy Fox
Ernst & Young
+1 612 371 6703
wendy.fox@ey.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
