EY is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its Entrepreneur Of The Year program, which recognizes CEOs and regional business leaders for their outstanding entrepreneurial accomplishments and major contributions to their communities.

Eight business innovators from seven Minnesota companies received the Entrepreneur Of The Year Heartland Award during a second-ever virtual awards program on July 27. Seven states in the nation’s midsection make up EY’s Heartland region. 

Executives from 19 other Minnesota companies were finalists for the award.

Twin Cities Business profiles these accomplished business leaders in this issue, including an up-close look at the Minnesota winners, who were interviewed by TCB’s Gene Rebeck and Burl Gilyard.

Nominees were evaluated on the following six criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation, and future plans.

Minnesota’s Heartland winners are eligible to compete for national Entrepreneur Of The Year awards, which will be announced in November.

EY’s 2021 Heartland Judges

Individuals who compete for EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are evaluated by an independent panel of judges.

In 2021, the eight-member panel of judges for the Heartland Region consisted of past Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipients and civic and community leaders.

REGIONAL JUDGES

Brian Allingham
Norwest Equity Partners

Robert Dunn 

Thompson Street Capital Partners

John Howe

Manna Pro Products LLC

Joe Keeley

College Nannies, Sitters & Tutors

Cindy Koebele
TitleSmart Inc.

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