Professional services firm Ernst
& Young LLP announced today the winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of
The Year(R) 2004 Award. The winners were selected by an independent panel of
judges comprised of local community and business leaders. The West Michigan
area winners of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year are:
-- Realizing Business Potential -- Keith D. Brophy, CEO, Sagestone
Consulting, Grand Rapids, MI.
Sagestone Consulting is a leading Microsoft Gold Partner and pioneer
in DOT NET (.NET) development and deployment, Web and wireless
technologies, and quality assurance. Keith continues to drive economic
improvements through innovative technology solutions in West Michigan
especially in the area of Life Sciences with such organizations as The
Robertson Research Institute and The Van Andel Institute. Last month
Sagestone Consulting beat out a field of 28 of the nation's most
prestigious software firms to win the inaugural Microsoft Public
Sector Award for 2004 Best Innovation in Education.
-- Financial Services -- Gary L. Tilkin, President/CEO, Global Futures &
forex, Ltd., Ada, MI.
Global Futures & Forex, Ltd. is a leading online currency-trading firm
serving clients in more than 100 countries. The company designed
DealBook, software that enables clients to bypass the paper path and
the physical trading floor of the futures exchange and allows
worldwide access to the market. The company, headquartered in Ada,
Michigan, opened a new office in the Sears Tower in Chicago and a New
York office is scheduled to open this month.
-- Business/Consumer Services -- Thomas H. Highley, President/CEO, The
Empire Company, Inc., Zeeland, MI.
The Empire Company, Inc. is a value-added distribution millwork,
logistic/marketing support company. Since 1993, Tom has led Empire's
growth from a regional to a multi-regional company during a time in
which nine of the Company's top 10 customers went out of business.
Today, The Empire Company has approximately 325 employees and four
locations with approximately 633,000 square feet of warehouse space
and continues to grow.
-- Real Estate/Construction -- Michael A. Garrett, President, Pinnacle
Construction Group, Grand Rapids, MI.
In 1996, Michael Garrett started Pinnacle Construction Group and did
not receive a salary during the first three years of operation.
Pinnacle Construction Group, selected as 2000's Small Business of the
Year by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, now employs more than 20
West Michigan construction professionals whose projects have won local
industry awards. Michael was chosen in 2002 as one of Grand Rapids
Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" Business Leaders.
-- Real Estate/Design -- Wayne E. Visbeen, President, Visbeen Associates,
Inc., Grand Rapids, MI.
Wayne started Grand Rapids-based Visbeen Associates, Inc., a
full-service architectural, planning and interior design firm in 1992.
He also owns 10 spin-off companies including Streetscapes, a
condominium development and Standing Stones, a residential
development. Grand Rapid Magazine, Cosmopolitan Home, The Grand Rapids
Press, Grand Rapids Business Journal and Better Homes & Gardens have
all featured Wayne's work.
-- Manufacturing -- Karlis Vizulis, President/CEO, Performance
Systematix, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI.
Based in Grand Rapids, Performance Systematix Inc. (PSI) was founded
in 1984. PSI can take products from concept to market very quickly. It
specializes in custom solutions and is able to work with difficult
media and substrates. Industries currently using their products
include: Biomedical, Biotech, Chemical, Healthcare, Industrial
Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical.
-- Emerging -- Daniel C. George, CEO, and Matthew P. Jung, President,
Comfort Research, Grand Rapids, MI.
Comfort Research is a furniture manufacturer and importer. While
enrolled at Hope College, Chip & Matt perceived a need among students
for comfortable and affordably priced chairs. Using a home sewing
machine, the two created the first generation of the "Foof" Chair and
founded Comfort Research in 1997. In 2001 Chip and Matt were the focus
of a Business Week small business supplement and are currently no. 186
on Inc. magazine's 500 list.
-- Master -- Rita Williams, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Gill Industries,
Inc., Grand Rapids, MI.
Gill Industries, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures metal
products to automotive, office furniture, recreation and outdoor power
markets. The company was founded in 1964, but it wasn't until after
Rita raised 12 children, finished an education in nursing and served
as an LPN that she became Gill's General Manager in 1985. Today, she
is CEO and Chairperson of the Board. Rita was recognized in 2003 by
the Grand Rapids Business Journal's as one of the 50 "Most Influential
Women in West Michigan." Rita is also the owner of the Sierra Room, a
casual upscale eatery in downtown Grand Rapids.
-- Lifetime Achievement Award -- John Gordon, Vice Chairman and Paul
Gordon, Chairman, Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, MI.
Gordon Food Service is the largest family-owned foodservice
distributor in North America. From modest beginnings as teen-agers
sent to Traverse City to sell "off the truck," they served in a
variety of roles before Paul became President in 1965 and John,
Secretary/Treasurer. Under John and Paul's guidance, Gordon Food
Service transitioned from a retail distributor to providing
foodservice to restaurants, schools and other institutions.
"Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners embrace the
entrepreneurial spirit and determination necessary to achieve success," said
Mark J. Yost, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director. "Ernst &
Young is proud of its history recognizing and supporting these outstanding
leaders and their companies."
The West Michigan award winners are now eligible for consideration for the
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 national program. Winners in
several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm
Springs, Calif., in November 2004. The overall national Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner is then considered for the world event
held in Monte Carlo.
The following independent panel of judges selected West Michigan's winners:
-- Dan Barcheski, President of the Young Presidents' Organization of West
Michigan and & CEO of Axios Incorporated
-- John Brown, Chairman, President & CEO of Stryker Corporation
-- J.C. Huizenga, Chairman and Founder of National Heritage Academies and
a 2000 Michigan EOY Award Winner
-- Birgit Klohs, President of The Right Place, Inc.
-- Anne Schieber, Business Reporter and host of WOOD TV 8's Market Watch
-- Patrick Thompson, CEO of Trans-Matic Manufacturing Company and this
year's judges' spokesperson.
-- Fred Keller, Chairman & CEO of Cascade Engineering and a 2002 West
Michigan EOY Award Winner.
Last year's West Michigan winners included:
-- Information Technology: Lisa Wehr, President, OneUp Web, Suttons Bay.
-- Consumer & Business Services: John D. Loeks, Jr., Owner, Celebration!
Cinema, Grand Rapids.
-- Distribution: R. Michael Snodgrass, CEO, President & Publisher,
Brilliance Audio, Inc., Grand Haven.
-- Real Estate/Development: Stanley J. Wisinski, III, Chairman of the
Board & CEO, SJ Wisinski & Company, Grand Rapids.
-- Real Estate/Construction: Scott Sanderson, President and Greg DeHaan,
Senior Vice President, Allen Edwin Company, Portage.
-- Manufacturing: Richard C. Davis, President, Second Chance Body Armor,
Inc., Central Lake.
-- Master: Donald W. Nugent, CEO & President, Graceland Fruit, Inc.,
Frankfort.
Sponsorship
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young, The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in
the West Michigan Area is Nationally sponsored by Microsoft and the Kauffman
Foundation and regionally sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, MARSH, Miller,
Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C., Seidman School of Business, Grand Rapids
Business Journal, WGVU and Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations. Recipients of
the Entrepreneur Of The Year award become lifetime members of the Entrepreneur
Of The Year Hall of Fame.
About The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Awards Program
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program was created and is
produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of
its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes outstanding
entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses. The
program honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award
programs in over 100 cities and 35 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to
restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality
of financial reporting. Its 103,000 people in more than 140 countries around
the globe pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism
to provide clients with solutions based on financial, transactional, and risk-
management knowledge in Ernst & Young's core services of audit, tax, and
transaction services. Ernst & Young practices also provide legal services in
those parts of the world where permitted. Further information about Ernst &
Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at
http://www.ey.com/perspectives . Ernst & Young refers to all the members of
the global Ernst & Young organization.
DATASOURCE: Ernst & Young LLP
CONTACT: Kristie Burns, EOY Program Director of Ernst & Young LLP,
+1-616-336-8392,
Web Site: http://www.ey.com/perspectives