Michael Vasquez, CEO, St. Gregory Centers Inc.

FINALIST After a family friend lost his life to drug use, Michael Vasquez delved into the reasons behind the low 15 percent national success rate of traditional drug and alcohol treatment centers. Utilizing his findings, Vasquez has since driven change in the areas of addiction treatment, recovery management and center operation as CEO of St. […]

James Lind, CEO, McKees Rocks Industrial Enterprises Inc.

FINALIST / INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING James Lind has climbed from the very bottom to the very top at McKees Rocks Industrial Enterprises Inc. through hard work and determination. He started as summer help during college. However, he quickly surpassed his peers in responsibilities and caught former President Jack Klee’s eye due to his strong initiative and […]

Michael Werner, president and CEO, Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC

Turnaround – Finalist In the midst of the worst housing market depression in recorded history, Michael Werner, president and CEO of Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC, has managed to revitalize the Chicago plumbing products manufacturer. Werner has transformed Gerber from a company that was just days away from bankruptcy and liquidation into one of the strongest […]

Rhonda Shear, president, Shear Enterprises LLC

AWARD RECIPIENT – Retail and Consumer Products Rhonda Shear president Shear Enterprises LLC Rhonda Shear has continued to reinvent herself over the years, evolving from successful actress to traveling comedian to self-made businesswoman. In 2003, she acted on the desire to own her own company and invested all she had to found St. Petersburg, Fla.-based […]

Arnold Burchianti II, Founder, President and CEO, Celtic Healthcare

FINALIST / HEALTH SCIENCES As a practicing physical therapist right out of college, Arnold Burchianti II, Celtic Healthcare founder, president and CEO, noticed a stark disconnect between the various disciplines of health care providers that were caring for a patient. Nurses were not communicating their patients’ needs to physical therapists and physical therapists were not […]

David Clarke, co-founder and CEO, BGT Partners

FINALIST – Services David Clarke co-founder and CEO BGT Partners David Clarke co-founded BGT Partners by envisioning the massive potential that the Internet had for interactive work. As the company’s co- founder and CEO, Clarke’s pursuit of this vision has been critical in establishing the business as a leading global digital agency, whose clients include […]

Eric Lofquist, founder, co-owner, president and CEO, Magnus International Group

WINNER: Distribution and Manufacturing Eric Lofquist is always looking for the next great idea for Magnus International Group. The private holding company has evolved into a diverse producer of sustainable products that include all-natural waxes and renewable fuels as well as custom-made and all-natural animal feeds. It also has a business unit that recovers all-natural […]