EY US unveils Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2025 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award finalists

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

DETROIT, MAY 2, 2025 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Michigan and Northwest Ohio 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.

An independent panel of judges selected 35 finalists representing 31 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 Joe Lenglet, EY Partner and Entrepreneur Of The Year Michigan and Northwest Ohio Program Co-Director. 

"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 Laura Trosper, EY Partner and Entrepreneur Of The Year Michigan and Northwest Ohio Program Co-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 Michigan and Northwest Ohio finalists are:

• Scott Irwin | Aktion Associates | Maumee, Ohio
• Sunil Palakodati | Artivo Surfaces | Livonia, Michigan
• Jen Julien and Jon Julien | Braveworks, Inc. | Houghton, Michigan
• Mathew Vachaparampil | Caresoft Global Technologies, Inc. | Livonia, Michigan
• Sydney Williams, PhD | Designetics | Holland, Ohio
• Patrick Hines | Functional Fluidics | Detroit, Michigan
• Brian McKinney | Gayanga Co. | Detroit, Michigan
• Pat Gillespie | Gillespie Group | Lansing, Michigan
• Charlie Schaefer | Greyson Clothiers | Detroit, Michigan
• Nathan Baar | HealthBar LLC | Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Linzie Venegas and Jesse Venegas | Ideal Group | Detroit, Michigan
• Brett Logan | Immaculate Flight, LLC | Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Kevin Heras | InvestNext | Detroit, Michigan
• Catherine Matthews and Terry Matthews, DO | Lansing Urgent Care, PLC | Haslett, Michigan
• Avinash Rachmale, PE | LGC Global Inc. | Detroit, Michigan
• Dave Den Herder | Marceco | Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Gino Mersino | Mersino Water Solutions | Auburn Hills, Michigan
• Doug Callahan | MMI-es | Saline, Michigan
• Ryan Niles | Niles Industrial Coatings | Fenton, Michigan
• Todd Stamper | Priority Waste | Clinton Township, Michigan
• Zachary Verhulst | Pure Architects | Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Jocelyn Ho | Rare Plant Fairy | Detroit, Michigan
• Ime Ekpenyong, PhD and Vikki Columbus, RPh | ScriptGuideRX, Inc. | Detroit, Michigan
• Patrick Kelly | Signal Advisors | Detroit, Michigan
• Jim Schaefer | Storage Control Systems, Inc. | Sparta, Michigan
• Mark Tapper | Tapper's Fine Jewelry, Inc. | West Bloomfield, Michigan
• Anthony Ahee | Together Women's Health | Grosse Pointe, Michigan
• Stephen Ezell | Truly Free, Inc. | Williamsburg, Michigan
• Katie Balash | Vaughan Industries, Inc. | Detroit, Michigan
• Eric Hardy | W3R Consulting | Birmingham, Michigan
• Tifiany Walker | Walker Healthforce, LLC | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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

Regional award winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 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 Michigan and Northwest Ohio, sponsors also include regional Gold sponsor, Full View Productions, and regional Silver sponsors, KLA Laboratories Inc., P.I.E. Management L.L.C. and Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.

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

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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.

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All in to shape the future with confidence.

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