EY US unveils Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 Midwest Award finalists

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

CHICAGO, April 22, 2025 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Midwest 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 Midwest program celebrates entrepreneurs from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

An independent panel of judges selected 29 finalists 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 Ram Ramanan, Entrepreneur Of The Year Midwest Program 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."

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 Midwest finalists are:

• Austin Kreinz | Atomix Logistics |Cudahy, Wisconsin
• Brian Mandelbaum | Attain | Chicago, Illinois
• Dan Blumenthal | Blue River PetCare | Chicago, Illinois
• Stefan Batory |Booksy Group Corp. | Chicago, Illinois
• Adam Kroener and Amanda Kroener | Carbliss | Plymouth, Wisconsin
• Matt Burow | Catalyst Construction | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Gregg Majewski | Craveworthy LLC | South Elgin, Illinois
• Ganesh Iyer | Etnyre International | Oregon, Illinois
• Teira Gunlock | First Stop Health | Chicago, Illinois
• Neil Araujo | iManage | Chicago, Illinois
• Ryan Puckett | Introl Solutions Inc. |Chicago, Illinois
• Brian Deck | JBT Marel Corporation | Chicago, Illinois
• Jim Popp | Johnson Financial Group | Racine, Wisconsin
• Christian Herrmanns | MonoSol, A Kuraray Company | Chicago, Illinois
• Leo Tropeano | Mugsy | Chicago, Illinois
• Stephen Smith | NOCD | Chicago, Illinois
• Giacomo Fallucca | Palermo Villa Inc. | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Jim Oberman | Payroc World Access, LLC | Bartlett, Illinois
• Kurt Bechthold | Plexus Corp. | Neenah, Wisconsin
• Ken Gorman | Power Wellness Management, LLC | Chicago, Illinois
• Bobby Bacci | Prominence Advisors | Chicago, Illinois
• Austin Lehman | Remodel Health | Indianapolis, Indiana
• Wendell Jisa | Reveal | Chicago, Illinois
• Robert Mueller | RIM Logistics | Bartlett, Illinois
• Jeff Liegel | S&L Companies | Portage, Wisconsin
• David Rabie | Tovala | Chicago, Illinois
• James Bascharon | Vetnique | Naperville, Illinois
• Kurt Bechthold | Walbec Group | Waukesha, Wisconsin
• Sean Brown | YCharts, Inc. | Chicago, Illinois

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

Regional award winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 11, during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the 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 the Midwest, sponsors also include LaSalle Staffing, Inc. and Becker Professional Education.

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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