Michigan's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year(R)
Award Recipients Announced at June 22 Gala
DETROIT, June 23 Ten outstanding Michigan entrepreneurs
and their companies were honored at the 12th annual Michigan Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) awards for demonstrating excellence and
extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and
personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
At the ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, last evening, Ernst
& Young's Bryan A. Becker, Partner and Director of Entrepreneurial Services,
announced the award recipients:
* Burl Adkins, Global Technology Associates, Lincoln Park (Human Resource
Services)
* Sharon Cannarsa, Systrand Manufacturing Corporation, Brownstown
Township (Automotive Manufacturing)
* David Fry, Fry Multimedia, Ann Arbor (E-software and Services)
* J.C. Huizenga, National Heritage Academies, Grand Rapids (Educational
Services)
* Charlie Janis, Alloutdoors.com, Traverse City (E-business)
* Arnold Mikon, SmithGroup, Detroit (Real Estate and Construction)
* Scott Reilly, Peninsula Capitol Partners, Detroit (Financial Services)
* Chain Sandhu, NYX Inc., Livonia (Automotive Manufacturing)
* Ram Thuluri, RamaTech, Belleville (Precision Machining)
* Karen Wilson, Central Distributors of Beer, Romulus (Retail/Wholesale
Distribution)
Hosted in 46 regions in the United States as well as in 21 countries, the
Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year awards are part of a national program
founded in 1986 by Ernst & Young. The event was the culmination of an
intensive search to identify and recognize Michigan's outstanding
entrepreneurs.
Michigan's award recipients are now eligible to participate in Ernst &
Young's National Entrepreneur Of The Year awards competition, the pre-eminent
program honoring outstanding owners of fast-growing companies. The national
search will culminate at a black-tie awards gala held in Palm Springs,
California, on November 11, 2000, where the national Entrepreneur Of The Year
finalists and winners in national categories, as well as the National
Entrepreneur Of The Year, will be announced and celebrated by more than 2,000
attendees as part of the Entrepreneur Of The Year International Conference.
Previous Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners include a "Who's Who" of
business leaders, such as Michael Dell of Dell Computer Corporation, Jim
McCann of 1-800 Flowers, Steve Case of America Online, Ed Iacobucci of Citrix
Systems, Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee and Sheryl Leach of the Lyons
Group (creators of "Barney"). Richard Schulze, founder of Best Buy, was named
the 1999 National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Previous Michigan winners include:
* John Bamberger -- Panurgy
* Marilyn Barnett -- MARS Advertising Company, Inc.
* Fred Bauer -- Gentex Corporation
* Harold & Michael Brode -- Broder Bros. Co.
* Wally Bronner -- Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland
* John Burt -- Duro-Last, Inc.
* Jerry Campbell -- Republic Bancorp, Inc.
* William Cheeseman -- Mutual Insurance Corporation of America
* William Coyro, Jr. -- National Tech Team, Inc.
* Bharat Desai -- Syntel, Inc.
* Richard DeVos -- Amway Corporation
* Mel Farr, Sr. -- Mel Farr Automotive Group
* David Hamilton -- George Auch Company
* Richard Helppie -- Superior Consultant Holdings
* Scott Holman -- Bay Cast, Inc.
* Ned Homfeld -- Spirit Airlines, Inc.
* Rick Inatome -- Inacomp Computer Centers
* Selwyn Isakow -- Oxford Investment Group and Oxford Automotive, Inc
* Florine Mark -- The W.W. Group, Inc.
* Lynn Matson Kazanowski -- Business Television Video
* Peter Secchia -- Universal Forest Products
* Merton Segal -- Meadowbrook Insurance Group
* JoAnne Shaw -- The Coffee Beanery, Ltd.
* Mary Ellen Sheets -- Two Men & A Truck/International, Inc.
* Joel Tauber -- Tauber Enterprises
* Raj Vattikuti -- Complete Business Solutions, Inc.
* Ray Witt -- CMI International, Inc.
The independent panel of judges, which selected Michigan's award
recipients, consisted of:
* Marilyn Barnett, President & CEO of MARS Advertising in Southfield
* Richard Cook, President & CEO of X-Rite, Inc. in Grandville
* Richard Helppie, Chairman & CEO of Superior Consultants Company, Inc.
in Southfield
* J. Chris Holman, President & Publisher of the Greater Lansing Business
Monthly in Lansing
* James McLean, President & COO of Meijer, Inc. in Grand Rapids
* Chris Rizik, Managing Director of Avalon Investments, Inc. in Ann Arbor
* Rick Vlasic, Chairman & CEO of O.E. Automation, Inc. in Troy
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year
program is nationally sponsored by USA Today, CNNfn and CNN, the Nasdaq Stock
Market, and the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Ewing
Marion Kauffman Foundation. Recipients of the Entrepreneur Of The Year award
become lifetime members of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame. The
Michigan Entrepreneur Of The Year program is sponsored locally by; Bowne
Printing, Comerica Bank, Crain's Detroit Business, Dykema Gossett PLLC, Marsh
USA, Inc., McDonald Investments and WJR Radio.
Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) is a registered service mark of Ernst & Young
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The Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership has become a trusted
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for entrepreneurs, educators and youth nationwide. The Center is at the Ewing
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Michigan's 12th Annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year(R)
Year 2000 Award Recipients
Mr. Burl Adkins
Chairman and CEO
Global Technology Associates, Ltd. in Lincoln Park
2000 Human Resource Services Entrepreneur Of The Year
Success did not come easy for Burl Adkins. In fact, he struggled for the
first three decades of his life. But Burl's life would be changed forever by
a motivational speaker. During his talk, the speaker looked directly into
Burl's eyes and said, "You are responsible for where you are at in your life,
right now." At that point, Burl says, "The light went on."
In 1988, with one customer and about $15,000 in savings, he founded Global
Technology Associates on his kitchen table. Since its inception Global
Technology has set revenue records along with a reputation as a leader in
contract employment service to the automotive industry. The company employs
close to 500 people. With results like that, one doesn't have to read the
fine print to recognize that Burl is a winner.
Ms. Sharon Cannarsa
President and CEO
Systrand Manufacturing Corporation in Brownstown Township
2000 Master Entrepreneur Of The Year
Sharon Cannarsa started her career in the machining industry just out of
high school when she took a job as an office manager for a small company.
But it was in the '70s that Sharon decided to take advantage of the booming
oil industry and her years of working alongside management at the machining
company and start a company of her own. The company made oil couplings for
the oil industry.
When the oil boom declined, Sharon closed her company but retained some of
the equipment and in 1982 launched Systrand Manufacturing. Systrand
Manufacturing is a machining operation that supplies various transmission and
powertrain components to automobile manufacturers. Today, the company has
over 250 employees and is currently the ninth largest supplier of machined
automotive components to Ford Motor Company.
Mr. David Fry
President of Fry Multimedia, Inc. in Ann Arbor
2000 eSoftware & Services Entrepreneur Of The Year
Growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, David Fry never dreamed that
he would become the president of Fry Multimedia -- a leading e-Business
company headquartered in Ann Arbor. Fry was always drawn to math and physics,
and after attending Johns Hopkins and Harvard he worked for several large
companies including MIT and Apple Computer. At the same time, David was
watching his father, an entrepreneur, build one of the nation's largest
printing companies.
In the early '90s, David recognized that printed media would soon migrate
to Web-based electronic media, and in 1993, he opened Fry Multimedia as a
division of his father's company. David was right, and in 1999 his company's
revenues doubled. With clients such as Crate & Barrel, Eddie Bauer, and
Godiva Chocolatier, David Fry has followed in his father's entrepreneurial
footsteps while making his own strong imprint in technology.
Mr. J.C. Huizenga
Chairman
National Heritage Academies in Grand Rapids
2000 Service Entrepreneur Of The Year
J.C. Huizenga began life in 1950, as the son of a working class man whose
hard work and dedication would leave a lasting impression upon his son. In
fact, J.C. remembers his father's random acts of kindness for friends,
neighbors, and those in need throughout the community.
So it is no surprise that today, J.C. launched an educational endeavor
designed to provide a successful alternative to existing schools which provide
value to both student and shareholders. National Heritage Academies provides
management for public school academies and as a result strengthens the
community. This effort has resulted in the creation of 22 schools with a
combined enrollment of nearly 8,000 students. Growth has been rapid and so
have revenues. For 1999, National Heritage Academies posted multi-million
dollar revenues and J.C. has received "high marks" for his community-focused
efforts.
Mr. Charlie Janis
President
Alloutdoors.com in Traverse City
2000 eBusiness Entrepreneur Of The Year
In 1994, Charlie Janis attended an Internet conference that would change
his life. From that conference, Charlie adopted his new mantra, "content plus
community equals commerce." By early 1995, his new company, All Outdoors,
Inc. and its Web site, http://www.alloutdoors.com were up and running.
Soon after, Charlie approached all of the writers of the major outdoor
magazines and built a library of 5,000 archived articles and placed them on
his Web site. Through word of mouth, visitors flocked to the site. By mid-
1999, over 350,000 online visitors a month received coverage of local outdoor
news, tournament reports, hot spots to hunt and fish and much more. In
February of 2000, All Outdoors rose to the next level and opened an online
outdoor sporting goods store. Poised for success, Alloutdoors.com is on top
of its game!
Mr. Arnold Mikon
Chairman and CEO
SmithGroup Incorporated in Detroit
2000 Real Estate/Construction Entrepreneur Of The Year
In 1990 Arnold Mikon inaugurated a "Commitment to Excellence" that marries
client satisfaction and a well-trained empowered staff. The relationship
between the two involved the SmithGroup in such projects as the Ford Field,
the expansion of the University of Michigan and Comerica Park.
Arnold has drawn on the SmithGroup's 147 years of architecture,
engineering and planning roots and has transformed SmithGroup into a company
that focuses on diversification of services and that has expanded to a global
practice.
Arnold's guidance to create an "idea-driven" firm and his promotion of
SmithGroup's people as a source of creativity are the core values responsible
for the company's rapid growth. The structure of architecture and building is
changing dramatically, and Arnold's plans are evolutionary to the industry.
Mr. Scott Reilly
President
Peninsula Capital Partners L.L.C. in Detroit
2000 Financial Services Entrepreneur Of The Year
It is unlikely that one would have suspected that Scott Reilly, one of
five children growing up in a small North Dakota town, would become one of the
pioneers specializing in subordinated debt and other forms of structured
equity in the private equity markets. Scott was asked early in his career to
write a white-paper for a new investment class known as subordinated debt.
Scott's interest was piqued and his fate was sealed.
In 1995, Scott became president of Peninsula Capital Partners -- a private
investment company that provides structured equity to strong middle-market
companies. Today, with approximately $200 million of investment capital under
management, Peninsula Capital is already a nationally-recognized leader in its
field and has invested in such diverse businesses as retail pharmacies,
automotive supply and software development. Peninsula Capital is already a
nationally-recognized provider of structured equity capital, and providing
this equity to middle market companies means that Scott is truly an
"entrepreneur's entrepreneur."
Mr. Chain Sandhu
President & CEO
NYX, Inc. in Livonia
2000 Manufacturing Entrepreneur Of The Year
Born in a small village in what is now Pakistan, Chain Sandu lost his
father at the age of five, and Chain and his family worked in the fields for
their day's meal. Chain's mother instilled a strong sense of the importance
of hard work and a good education, and in 1969, Chain had just $8 in his
pocket when he, his wife and his four-year-old son immigrated to the U.S.
Chain secured a job at General Motors and held numerous positions, including
both "sealer" and "cleaner" and finally engineer. As an engineer, Chain
developed many innovative processes, just one of which saved GM annual savings
of $15 million.
Today, Chain is President and CEO of NYX -- a Michigan-based Tier I and
Tier II supplier of glove box latches, vacuum harnesses, storage compartments,
door handles, and grab handles to the automotive industry that employs more
than 700 people. The Michigan Minority Business Development Council
recognized Chain as their 1999 "Humanitarian of the Year." Chain's
accomplishments are truly an inspiration.
Mr. A. Ram Thuluri
President & CEO
RamaTech, LLC in Belleville
2000 Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year
Ram Thuluri emigrated to the U.S. from India in 1987 and is the founder,
President and CEO of RamaTech. RamaTech began less than 10 years ago, when
Ram purchased an unprofitable screw machining plant from his employer, Horizon
Technology Group and turned it around into a profitable, million-dollar
company. RamaTech is now a multi-million dollar precision machining company
employing more than 200.
Ram Thuluri has overcome many obstacles over the years, including the
tragic early death of his sister in 1993. Ram named his company after her
with the vision of creating the largest precision machining company in the
world. This way, she will never be forgotten. The idea of a young immigrant
with no working capital creating a multi-million dollar company may have
seemed like it would be impossible, but nothing has been impossible for Ram
Thuluri with the help of his family.
Ms. Karen Wilson
President
Central Distributors of Beer, Inc. in Romulus
2000 Retail/Wholesale/Distribution Entrepreneur Of The Year
In 1991, Karen Wilson was faced with a difficult decision. Her brother
and President of Central Distributors of Beer, had decided to retire. Karen
was faced with two options: sell the business with her brother or buy out her
brother's share, and takeover the responsibility of running the business.
After much consideration and against the advice of her mother who had been CEO
of the company for years, Karen decided to take over the business.
Under Karen's leadership, the company has grown into the largest Anheuser-
Busch distributor in Michigan. Karen restructured the organization to attain
a competitive edge in the marketplace and to better serve their customers.
These efforts led to increased sales and market share -- which is something
that Karen and her family can all toast to!
