EY US unveils Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2026 Midwest Award finalists 

Recognizing ambitious leaders who are shaping the future of their industries

Chicago, April 21, 2026 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2026 Midwest 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 Midwest program celebrates entrepreneurs from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

An independent panel of judges selected 37 finalists from 30 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 Midwest,” said Entrepreneur Of The Year^® Midwest Program Director Veeral Patel. “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!”

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 Midwest finalists are:

• Tim Huelskamp | 1440 Media | Chicago, IL
• Stephan Tanda | Aptar | Crystal Lake, IL
• Gregg Majewski | Craveworthy Brands | South Elgin, IL
• Susie Cranston, Eric Becker, Avy Stein | Cresset | Chicago, IL
• Dan Daniels | Daniels Health | Chicago, IL
• Tim Heitmann | Double Good | Burr Ridge, IL
• Luke Saunders | Farmer's Fridge | Chicago, IL
• Dan Pinto, Valentin Vasilyev | Fingerprint | Chicago, IL
• Jim Ryan | Flexera | Itasca, IL
• Orazio Buzza | Fooda | Chicago, IL
• Godard Abel | G2 | Chicago, IL
• Marc Brooks | Hyde Park Hospitality | Chicago, IL
• Pete Smith, Andy Smith | Impact Advisors | Naperville, IL
• Cory Lewis, Tedd Green, Doug Dayhoff | INCOG BioPharma Services | Fishers, IN
• Kevin Still | Keystone Cooperative | Indianapolis, IN
• Dhiren Jhaveri | Kuvare | Chicago, IL
• Matt Milim | Libra Solutions Group | Rosemont, IL
• Daniel Tataje | Mercy Dental Group | Madison, WI
• Dan Novaes | Mode Mobile | Chicago, IL
• Seshu Maramreddy | Mygo Consulting | Naperville, IL
• Aaron Letzeiser, Ryan Letzeiser | Obie | Chicago, IL
• Sandeep Bhargava | Provana | Lisle, IL
• Brent Brodeski | Savant Wealth Management | Rockford, IL
• David Chaimovitz | Setna | Lincolnshire, IL
• David Blitz | Studio Three | Chicago, IL
• Chad Sorenson | SunPeak | Madison, WI
• Bram Walters | SunVest Solar | Chicago, IL
• Nick Reasoner | TransLoop | Chicago, IL
• Brad Serlin | United Scrap Metal | Cicero, IL
• Avi Lev | Vitaline Clinical Hydration Solutions | Lincolnwood, IL

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

Regional award winners will be announced on June 11 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 Midwest, sponsors also include platinum sponsor LaSalle Network, gold sponsors Becker Professional Education and Big Picture, and 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. 

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