Entrepreneur Of The Year® Michigan and Northwest Ohio


About Entrepreneur Of The Year

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates bold leaders who disrupt markets, build category-defining companies and transform industries—while uplifting communities.

Founded in 1986, the program recognizes original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who sparked innovation and propelled established organizations to new heights; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business to fortify it for generations to come.

The Michigan and Northwest Ohio program includes the entire state of Michigan as well as northwestern cities in Ohio surrounding the Toledo area. Independent judges select regional finalists and winners, with regional winners advancing to national competition in November.


2026 regional finalists are building the economy of tomorrow

*Over the most recent three-year period

2025 award winners

Entrepreneur Of The Year Michigan and Northwest Ohio team

Joe Lenglet
Program director

Laura Trosper
Program director

Danielle Stanek
Program manager

JaMay Edwards
Program coordinator


Founded and produced by
EY logo

Presented by

PNC logo
Cresa
Marsh
SAP logo
Kauffman Foundation logo

Regionally sponsored by

Gold sponsor

KLA labs logo

Silver sponsors

Pie Management logo
P.I.E logo
PIE Management

Varnum
Adp logo

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