Twenty-eight companies from the Midwest are advancing to Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneur Of The Year competition, and more than half of them are based in Minnesota.
On Friday, the professional services firm announced the finalists for the 38th “Heartland” category of its annual entrepreneurial competition. A total of 36 entrepreneurs from 28 companies will compete for regional awards at the June 20 ceremony.
Seventeen of the finalists are based in Minnesota. A total of 20 Minnesota entrepreneurs are participating in the competition.
The Heartland Division is open to companies based in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. EY’s parent company is based in London and its US division is based in New York.
Dominic Iannazzo, Entrepreneur of the Year program director and managing partner in EY’s Minneapolis office, said all Heartland finalists are “bold entrepreneurs who will leave a lasting impression on their industries and communities.” He said that.
“Selected by an independent panel of judges, these pioneers demonstrate unwavering dedication to their companies, customers, and communities. We are excited to recognize their success,” he said Friday. stated in a press release issued.
The 20 Minnesota-based finalists and their businesses are:
- Sean Higgins of St. Paul-based BetterYou is a developer of wellness apps designed to reduce burnout and technology dependence.
- Alex French and Andrew Healy of Bizzy Cold Brew, a Minneapolis-based cold brew company.
- “We’ve seen a lot of changes in the past few years,” said Margaret Murphy of Bold Orange Co., a Minneapolis-based marketing and customer experience agency.
- Ron Konezny of Digi International, a Hopkins-based “industrial Internet of Things” technology company
- Erin Pash of Erie Mental Health, a Mendota Heights-based treatment franchise with more than 200 clinics.
- Craig O’Halloran of Foss Swim School, an Eden Prairie-based swimming instruction company.
- Paula Gamer of Gamer Packaging Inc., a custom packaging company based in Minneapolis.
- Mark Watkins of Geneva Capital LLC, an Alexandria-based financial services firm
- Rick Bauerly of Granite Partners, a St. Cloud-based private investment and holding company.
- Joel Peterson of Minneapolis-based office furniture manufacturer iSpace Environmentals
- Jim Loeffler and James Loeffler of Loeffler. The professional services company operates out of the former Sam’s Club building in St. Louis Park.
- Pat Chinander of Shaw Review-based specialty retailer Love From USA Group Inc.
- Beth Wozniak of nVent, a St. Louis Park-based electrical enclosure manufacturer. TCB Wozniak recognized as 2023 Person of the Year
- Ryan Bosshart of phData, a data engineering and machine learning startup based in Minneapolis
- Jeff Kiesel of Mendota Heights-based Restaurant Technologies sells products designed to automate back-of-house functions in commercial kitchens.
- Brian and Kent Roers of Plymouth-based real estate investment firm Roers Cos.
- Brett Weiss of Minneapolis-based engineering firm WSB
Finalists who win the Heartland Award will be eligible to participate in the national Entrepreneur of the Year program.
TCBthe program’s regional sponsor, will profile all Heartland Award winners in its next print issue.
