Alan Woll, CEO, Network Polymers Inc.
FINALIST: Industrial and Engineered Products and Materials Alan Woll knew he wasn’t going to reinvent the wheel when he co-founded Network Polymers Inc. 26 years ago. His avenue for success lay in differentiating from competitors through outstanding customer service offerings and quality, sustainable products. The Akron-Ohio based company is a global leader and single source […]
Benny Lee, CEO, DuraComm Corp.
FINALIST Benny Lee CEO DuraComm Corp. Benny Lee had become the majority shareholder of DuraComm Corp., an industrial power supply builder and distributor, and right away, he knew something had to be improved. Lee, who is now CEO and sole owner, saw that the company was tied to one large national customer, which he believed […]
Mike Morhaime, co-founder, president and CEO, Blizzard Entertainment Inc.
WINNER – Technology Mike Morhaime co-founder, president and CEO Blizzard Entertainment Inc. In February 1991, Michael Morhaime co-founded Blizzard Entertainment Inc. with Allen Adham and Frank Pearce. Morhaime, who now leads the company as president and CEO, has grown the company from a third-party development studio into a premier publisher of entertainment software, including 13 […]
Dr. David Kent, Owner, Lifestyle Lift
Winner, Services Lifestyle Lift, a facial cosmetic surgery practice based in Troy, Mich., was founded in 2001 by Dr. David Kent. The idea for Lifestyle Lift originated one day when Kent was treating a patient for some other issues. The patient asked if he could do something to improve her appearance that would be less […]
Charles Sanders, Founder and CEO, Urban Lending Solutions
WINNER / SERVICES Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Charles Sanders launched his mortgage service company, initially called Urban Settlement Services, out of the basement of his home in 2002. Ten years later, thanks to Sanders’ entrepreneurial drive and his ability to recognize and react to changing market conditions, Urban Lending Solutions has ballooned to employ […]
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Scot Lowry, president and CEO, Fathom
FINALIST: Services and Management Solutions Scot Lowry has always taken on entrepreneurial challenges with the goal of successfully growing a venture — not generating the highest salary. He started his first company without outside capital, leveraging credit card debt, and used all of his savings to purchase his second company. The experience he gained from […]
Allen DeBevoise, founder, chairman and CEO, Machinima Inc.
Finalist – Interactive Media/Internet Machinima Inc. has been described as an “MTV for gamers.” The West Hollywood, Calif.- based company is a next generation video entertainment network for video gamers, providing comprehensive editorial and community programming focused on gaming. Machinima tools, applications and technologies are aimed at enabling gamers to be highly engaged and active […]
David Hagan, president and CEO, Boingo Wireless Inc.
Finalist – Technology When the founder and CEO of Boingo Wireless Inc. left to start another business in 2004, the business was in pretty bad shape – burning through $1 million monthly, running in the red. So when David Hagan, the president of the company, had the opportunity to take a job paying three times […]
TJ Farnsworth, Founder and CEO, SightLine Health LLC
FINALIST / HEALTH CARE & HEALTH CARE SERVICES TJ Farnsworth, founder and CEO of SightLine Health LLC, was born and bred an entrepreneur. He grew up in a household where his mother, a schoolteacher, started a series of her own successful businesses, and his father, an attorney, started his own boutique practice. He never thought […]