Robert Low, president, Prime Inc.
WINNER – Transportation Robert Low president Prime Inc. Robert Low believes that the center of Prime Inc.’s continued success over the years has been a strong management team. In assembling his team, Prime’s president looked for individuals who are talented enough to perform at a high level while still adhering to the organization’s culture. Once […]
Michael Sheldon, president and CEO, Network Hardware Resale LLC
Finalist — Distribution & Manufacturing Founded in a garage in 1986 by former IBM executive Chuck Sheldon, Network Hardware Resale LLC grew from the ground up with a focus on selling the best pre-owned networking equipment at faster response times and with lower failure rates than original equipment manufacturers. By 1996 the company, a reseller […]
Mark Thierer, chairman and CEO, SXC Health Solutions Corp.
WINNER: Health Sciences Mark Thierer had a vision for SXC Health Solutions Corp. to become the pharmaceutical cost management partner of choice. In his short time as CEO and chairman, he has transformed SXC from a boutique provider of pharmacy benefits management (PBM) software to a rapidly growing full-service company. His vision included three goals: […]
Steve Russell, founder, chairman and CEO, Celadon Group Inc.
FINALIST: Master Entrepreneur Steve Russell has learned from his experience that a successful business leader needs to have four key qualities: leadership, intelligence, drive and street sense — to which Russell has given the acronym LIDS. As the founder, chairman and CEO of Celadon Group Inc., Russell has continuously demonstrated these qualities, helping him to […]
Daniel Oh and Jeff Stroburg, Renewable Energy Group Inc.
WINNER – Energy and Chemicals Daniel Oh, president and CEO Jeff Stroburg, chairman Renewable Energy Group Inc. Jeff Stroburg and Daniel Oh share a passion for the success of their company, Renewable Energy Group Inc., but they arrived at that destination from different directions. Stroburg, the company’s chairman, grew up on a farm in Iowa […]
Lynn Mustazza, President and CEO, JAWOOD Business Process Solutions LLC
Semifinalist, Business Services Lynn Mustazza has been an entrepreneur since the age of 5, when she convinced her parents to purchase a Frosty the Snow Man snow-cone machine. With the machine in a wagon and the wagon in hand, Mustazza hit the streets, soon turning a 3-cent profit. Unfortunately, her venture was cut short when […]
Mark Symonds, President and CEO, Plex Systems Inc.
Semifinalist, Business Services As president and CEO of Plex Systems Inc., Mark Symonds has high standards for his company and his employees, but he also works hard to create a culture of fun and creativity. Symonds knows a major leadership challenge is putting the right people in place at a company to allow for growth […]
Brant and Brock Bukowsky, co-founders, Veterans United Home Loans
WINNER – Financial Services Brock and Brant Bukowsky co-founders Veterans United Home Loans Brothers Brant and Brock Bukowsky are no strangers to entrepreneurship. While students at the University of Missouri, they started a small business health care insurance company from their dorm room, and later, after Brock won a football ticket from a soda can, […]
Julia Poston embraced recessionary challenges to take Ernst & Young Cincinnati to new levels
How to ready your business for change and uncertainty
Melvin E. Clark Jr., CEO, G.W. Peoples Contracting Co. Inc.
FINALIST / CONSTRUCTION Melvin E. Clark Jr. grew up with the idea that helping people is a good and honorable thing — and he’s incorporated that philosophy into his life in business. The son of an evangelical minister, Clark has built a network of friends and associates who believe in his leadership style and who […]