EY US unveils Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2025 East Central Award finalists

Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are shaping the future

CLEVELAND, May 2, 2025 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 East Central Award. Now in its 40th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and making a profound impact on communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations shape the future and pave the way for a thriving economy and a hopeful tomorrow. The East Central program celebrates entrepreneurs from Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Northeast and South-Central Ohio and Kentucky.

An independent panel of judges selected 29 finalists representing 26 companies for their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.

"This year's finalists are bold entrepreneurs making a lasting impact in their industries and communities," said Mike Denove, East Central Program Co-Director and EY Partner.

"Chosen by an independent panel of judges, these trailblazers show unwavering dedication to their businesses, customers and communities. We’re thrilled to celebrate their success." said Shannon Cone, East Central Program Co-Director and EY Executive Director.

Entrepreneur Of The Year honors many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.

The 2025 East Central finalists are:

• David Keehan | Advanced Polymer Coatings, Inc. | Avon, Ohio
• Andrew DeWitt | DEWEY’S PIZZA | Cincinnati, Ohio
• Barbara Kudis | Allegheny Petroleum Products Co. | Monroeville, Pennsylvania
• Yousuf Ahmad | AssureCare | Cincinnati, Ohio
• Alison Alvarez | BlastPoint | East Liberty, Pennsylvania
• James Cullinan | CityScapes Inc. | Hilliard, Ohio
• Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino | Core Specialty Insurance Holdings, Inc. | Cincinnati, Ohio
• Purba Majumder | Cybervation, Inc. | Dublin, Ohio
• Ravi Kopuri | DATAECONOMY | Dublin, Ohio
• Tommy Floyd | Denton Floyd Real Estate Group | Louisville, Kentucky
• Adam Edelen | Edelen Renewables | Lexington, Kentucky
• Richard Palmer | Eleeo Brands | Cincinnati, Ohio
• Jon Cocco | Feedall Automation | Willoughby, Ohio
• Ole Rosgaard | Greif, Inc. | Delaware, Ohio
• Stephen Hightower | Hightowers Petroleum Company | Middletown, Ohio
• Joe Huber and Alexa Lowe | Huber Equity Group and Verti Commercial Real Estate | Columbus, Ohio
• Tony Lamb | Kona Ice | Florence, Kentucky
• Chris Dischinger and Mark Lechner | LDG Development | Louisville, Kentucky
• Mitchell Eviston | Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC | Powell, Ohio
• Sandra Lausecker | Nature Pure LLC / Outward, LLC | Raymond, Ohio
• Neil Sethi | NexaMotion Group | Cleveland, Ohio
• Stacey Wade and Dr. Dawn Wade | NIMBUS | Louisville, Kentucky
• Colin Huwyler | Optimus Technologies, Inc. | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Peter Klekamp | PLK Communities | Kenwood, Ohio
• Greg Lignelli | System One Holdings LLC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Michael Vindler | Tronix3D | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Learn more about the finalists at ey.com/us/eoyec.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 12 during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum^®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, and SAP. In East Central, sponsors also include regional Platinum sponsors, DFIN (Donnelly Financial Solutions) and VRC (Valuation Research Corporation).

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 60 countries globally.

The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum^® in November where National finalists and award winners are announced. The overall National winner represents the US at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

About EY

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

All in to shape the future with confidence.

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