The selection of the 2009 Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas started with hundreds of suggestions, which in turn led to dozens of formal nominations. After the panel of judges conducted site visits and interviews, the field was
narrowed to 29 finalists representing 28 companies. From this group, the judges made the difficult decisions that resulted in this year’s eight winners.
On the following pages, you’ll meet both the winners and finalists in this year’s competition. All have successfully built businesses, often in the face of daunting obstacles. All have displayed the perseverance, vision, drive,
and leadership required to create and maintain lasting companies.
The 2009 Entrepreneurs of the Year were honored June 12 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. They now become candidates for the national Entrepreneur of the Year awards, which will be announced in November in Palm Springs, California.
For more information on the Entrepreneur of the Year program, contact Wendy Fox in Ernst & Young’s Minneapolis office at wendy.fox@ey.com, or 612-371-6703.
