Entrepreneur Of The Year® Heartland

• Build valuable relationships with entrepreneurs who are leading successful businesses across a variety of industries.
• Increase exposure to potential customers, suppliers and investors.
• Recognize your company’s success within the local business community and celebrate your team.
• Gain access to exclusive peer-to-peer learning and networking experiences.
• Connect with EY subject-matter resources for guidance on fostering long-term value creation.

The entrepreneur

• The entrepreneur must be the CEO or president of a private or public company who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company.
• The entrepreneur may be the original founder, a multigenerational family business leader, or a transformational CEO of a company or subsidiary who is not the founder.
• The entrepreneur must have been in the role for at least two years by the application deadline.
• Previous finalists and applicants who did not win are eligible to reapply.
• Former award winners may reapply if they have founded or transitioned to a new company.

The company

• Companies must have been in business for at least two years to be eligible.
• Companies are most competitive when they demonstrate long-term value.
• Only for-profit businesses may apply.

Judging criteria

The independent panel of judges evaluates nominees on a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to:

• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Purpose
• Growth
• Impact
• Financial performance