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Entrepreneur Of The Year® Midwest
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 Midwest program includes Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. 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 Midwest team
Veeral Patel
Program Director
Rick Clark
Program Director
John Federici
Program Director
Shawn Puechner
Program Director
Jenna Zappa
Program Manager
Ryan Hendler
Program Coordinator
Founded and produced by
Presented by
Regionally sponsored by
Platinum sponsor
Gold sponsors
Silver sponsor
