Pam Turkin, Founder, Just Baked
Finalist, Consumer Products Even the most daring entrepreneurs wouldn’t consider the midst of a recession to be the best time to start a business, especially one in which they had no experience while using their entire retirement fund to do so. But that’s just what Pam Turkin did in 2009 when she launched Just Baked, […]
Richard Lunak, President and CEO, Innovation Works
WINNER / SUPPORTER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP It wasn’t a slam-dunk decision that Richard Lunak would take the position that had been offered to him and become president and CEO at Innovation Works. The not-for-profit company that was created to help entrepreneurs was itself struggling and had recently been investigated for its handling of a federal contract. […]
Joseph Carrabba, chairman, president and CEO, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
WINNER: Energy, Resources and Clean Technology Since opening its first iron ore mine in the upper peninsula of Michigan in 1850, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. has remained in the vanguard of the steelmaking industry, successfully adapting operations to major changes that drove many competitors out of business. In recent years, Cliffs Natural Resources, an international […]
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 […]