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Press release
21 Apr 2026
EY US unveils Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 East Central Award finalists
Recognizing ambitious leaders who are shaping the future of their industries
CLEVELAND, April 21, 2026 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 East Central Award. Now in its 41st 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 uplifting communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations drive economic growth and help shape the future of business. The East Central program celebrates entrepreneurs from Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Northeast and South-Central Ohio and Kentucky.
An independent panel of judges selected 32 finalists representing 28 companies based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
“This year’s finalists are bold entrepreneurs making a lasting mark on their industries and communities across the East Central program,” said Mike Denove, Entrepreneur Of The Year® East Central Program Co-Director and EY Partner.
“Chosen by an independent panel of judges, their companies are creating jobs, accelerating innovation and strengthening the regional business community. We’re thrilled to celebrate their success,” said Shannon Crone, Entrepreneur Of The Year® 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 2026 East Central finalists are:
- Josh Heuser | AGAR | Cincinnati, OH
- Paul Perkins | Amatrol, Inc. | Jeffersonville, IN
- Josh Steinrock | American Roofing & Metal | Louisville, KY
- Jon Rousseau | BrightSpring Health Services | Louisville, KY
- Tad Kilburn | CompIQ Solutions, LLC | Middletown, OH
- Ravi Kopuri | DATAECONOMY INC. | Dublin, OH
- Aaron Gaynor | Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians | Hilliard, OH
- Jordan Mitchell | ENCON Equipment | Jeffersonville, IN
- Darron Hacker and Matt Buchan | Exact Benefits Group LLC | Westerville, OH
- Gregg Darbyshire | G3 | ProCamps | Next In Line | Cincinnati, OH
- Sankalp Arora, PhD | Gather AI | Pittsburgh, PA
- Ilya Bodner | Goodwin Company | Columbus, OH
- Eric Cunningham | Green Cabbage | Warrendale, PA
- Justin Wilson | Hercules Manufacturing Co | Henderson, KY
- Milind Bhanoo | LayerZero Power Systems, LLC | Aurora, OH
- Thomas Womble | Liberty Tire Recycling | Pittsburgh, PA
- Kellen Campbell and Shawn Allen | MAC.BID | Cranberry Township, PA
- Dan Hayes | Midwest Integration & Automation | Wadsworth, OH
- Sandra Lausecker | Nature Pure LLC / Outward, LLC | Raymond, OH
- Karan Shah | Physician Care Coordination Consultants LLC (PC3 Health) | Louisville, KY
- Mark Anderson | ProMach | Covington, KY
- Hank Newman | Reconex | Solon, OH
- Pete Nelson II and Nick Dadas | SISU Lifestyle | Avon, OH
- Eric Rose | Sprints Inc. | Cincinnati, OH
- Michael Waxman and Tory Waxman | Sundays for Dogs, Inc. | Cleveland, OH
- George Schurr | Trenwa | Fort Thomas, KY
- Stacey Harralson | Wasteology Group Transportation | Louisville, KY
- Jeff Woda | Woda Cooper Companies, Inc | Columbus, OH
Learn more about the finalists at ey.com/us/eoyeastcentral.
Regional award winners will be announced on June 25 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®.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In East Central, sponsors also include regional platinum sponsor, VRC (Valuation Research Corporation), and regional silver sponsor, ADP.
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 80 countries and territories 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 national overall winner represents the US at the 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.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.