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Meet the Michigan and Northwest Ohio judges

The success of the program relies on the efforts of our independent panel of judges. The panel comprises past Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award recipients and civic and community leaders who devote significant effort to review and deliberate the merits of each nominee.

Daryl Adams
CEO
Vantage Mobility
2022 regional award winner (The Shyft Group)

Daryl Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of Vantage Mobility, a leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles ("WAVs"). He is a respected industry leader with a proven track record of driving transformational growth and sustainable scale at global automotive companies. For over 35 years, he has served in leadership positions at automotive manufacturing businesses and has been responsible for operational improvements, investments in C-suite talent, increasing revenue and market share, and launching new products. Most recently, Daryl Adams served as President and CEO of The Shyft Group (NASDAQ: SHYF), a specialty vehicle manufacturer, where he doubled the company's earnings, strengthened the leadership team and led the development of multiple new products and solutions. Prior to The Shyft Group, he was CEO of Midway Products Group, a full-service automotive supplier. He began his career at Lear Corporation, where he spent over a decade across various departments, progressing to Vice President of Global Engineering and R&D.

Daryl’s international expatriate experience in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom combined with his global experience leading businesses, brings confident leadership to the table. Daryl is well versed in operational turnarounds, acquisitions and divestitures, advanced manufacturing, growth initiatives, product portfolio expansion including development of a BEV and setting the strategy, vision, focus, and goals that produce the best possible business results. Additionally, Daryl is the Founder and President of Ripple Effect Leadership, an executive leadership consulting company. He is currently on the board of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation and previously held board positions with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP).   Back to top

Diana Callaghan
Managing Director
Endeavor Great Lakes

Diana has over 15 years of experience working locally, nationally and globally serving innovative companies and high-impact organizations. She specializes in strategy design and implementation, operational efficiency, performance improvement, financial and impact sustainability, business intelligence solutions and financial analysis. Diana is the Managing Director of Endeavor, leading the organization’s Great Lakes efforts. Founded in 1997, Endeavor promotes economic growth by selecting, mentoring and accelerating the growth of entrepreneurs leading high-performing companies with the most potential to create economic impact. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman called the organization “the best anti-poverty program of all,” and innovative leaders like Reid Hoffman, Danny Meyer, Nick Beim, Bill Ford, Josh Silverman, Eric Roza, Edgar Bronfman, Dan Caruso, Joanna Rees and U2’s The Edge have joined the movement. Headquartered in New York City, Endeavor currently operates in nearly 41 growth markets throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America. It has over 2,300 selected founders in its portfolio (including the first $1b valued companies to come out of 12 countries). Endeavor’s 500 staff members around the world act as a concierge service to founders and help them access markets, mentorship, capital and leadership development support. Outside of her career, Diana has worked with organizations focused on accelerating entrepreneurship and impact around the world. She served as a consultant with entrepreneurs across Tanzania through a USAID fellowship and advised a leading impact organization in rural India on how to adopt innovative financial tools to support the empowerment of women living in extreme poverty. She currently serves as a board member of Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. Diana received her B.A. in Economics with high distinction and her MBA with distinction from the University of Michigan.  Back to top

Tamira Chapman
President and CEO
Storehouse In A Box LLC 
2023 regional award winner

Tamira Chapman is a visionary entrepreneur and accomplished attorney, renowned for her dynamic influence in the corporate and business sectors. As the founder of the Storehouse portfolio, she has expertly steered a thriving e-commerce business to capture the top market share and achieve a remarkable 97% customer retention rate. This exceptional leadership led Storehouse to be recognized as the 8th fastest-growing woman-owned company globally in 2022 by J.P. Morgan Chase and the Women President’s Organization. In 2023, Storehouse was honored as the Ecommerce Firm of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency.

Tamira played a pivotal role in a Fortune 10 organization, leading the charge in global E-commerce marketing and social media strategies. She established the organization's first social media center of excellence, shaping marketing, advertising programs, and developing key legal strategies for brand management and compliance as the company ventured into new startup acquisitions. Her legal expertise was further developed at a top law firm, where she represented Fortune 50 companies in high-stakes intellectual property cases, software, data licensing, and technology agreements. Her work significantly contributed to protecting intellectual property and fostering brand development for her clients.

Her remarkable achievements have earned Tamira numerous accolades, including being recognized as an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year regional award winner in Michigan and Northwest Ohio, ranking #4 on the Women 2 Watch list in 2022, receiving the Enterprising Woman Award, the MCAA Rising Stars Award, and inclusion in Crain’s 40 Under 40 list of high-achieving community leaders.  Back to top

Natalie King
Founder and CEO
Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC
2021 regional award winner

Natalie King, a visionary in clean energy, is the driving force behind Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC, and its subsequent venture, Dunamis Charge, Inc. Her leadership has propelled Dunamis to a multimillion-dollar status, employing over 150 individuals in Southeastern Michigan. King's strategic foresight has diversified Dunamis' offerings to include LED lighting, electric vehicle (EV) charger production, and comprehensive energy solutions, marking significant strides in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Recognized for her groundbreaking contributions, King has received accolades such as Crain's Notable Leader in Energy (2023), Corp! Magazine's Most Valuable Entrepreneur (2023), and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year® (2021) for Michigan and Northwest Ohio. The company's participation in the Stellantis National Black Supplier Development Program and Apple Impact Accelerator Program underscores its industry significance. Additionally, Dunamis' role as a Tier One Vendor to DTE Energy and its affiliation with the Cummins CARE BOA highlight its pivotal position in the EV charging sector.

King's expertise in clean energy and electrification earned her an invitation to the 2024 State of the Union address following her introduction of President Joe Biden at a 2023 SBA Women's Business Summit. King, along with Dunamis Charge, has also been favorably mentioned in several White House communications.

A Detroit native, King holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School. Her executive education from Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business further complements her leadership profile. Actively engaged in strategic roles within the National Business League and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Energy & Environment Committee, she champions diversity in EV infrastructure as Chairwoman of BEVI.

King's dedication extends beyond business to substantial community and charitable engagement. Her foundation, Doing the Work, is committed to addressing global social issues, while her organization of the Detroit Red Carpet Backyard BBQ underscores her commitment to local humanitarian efforts. Her leadership roles in Abayomi Community Development Corporation and The Yunion reflect her deep commitment to youth development and mentoring.  Back to top

Matt McAlear
CEO
The McAlear Group
2023 regional award winner and national finalist

Matt McAlear is CEO of The McAlear Group, parent company of SERVICE SPRING CORP (SSC), DRAINCABLES DIRECT (DCD) and INNOVATIVE MACHINE & MANUFACTURING (IMM).

Taking over as 4th generation CEO in 2017, Matt has expanded the reach of SSC by adding ten additional service centers to serve the overhead door industry. The expansion also created jobs across the country.

As part of his tenure, McAlear has focused on creating a positive work culture where employees not only excel professionally but also experience personal growth and fulfillment. For his commitment to culture and growth, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Michigan & Northwest Ohio.

Outside of the office, Matt is on the board of trustees for Owens Community College and a Northern Ohio Regional Board Member for Fifth Third Bank. In his free time, Matt enjoys rollerblading, biking and playing golf. He and his wife Jen have two daughters Norah and Everly. He is an active member at Calvery Church in Maumee, Ohio.

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Kelly Preston
President and CEO
Capital Steel & Wire
2023 regional award winner and national finalist

Kelly Preston is the owner and president of Capital Steel & Wire, an innovative manufacturer, distributor and supplier of steel bar and wire products, currently employing three shifts of manufacturing staff in multiple facilities in Mason and Dewitt, MI.

In 2001, Kelly Preston and Dustin Preston established Capital Steel & Wire, with Kelly serving as chief financial officer for several years before taking the helm as company president in 2015. Under Kelly’s leadership, Capital Steel & Wire has experienced significant business and financial growth.

For the past three years, the company has received national certification as a Women Owned Business by the WBENC and WOSB and is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries. This past year marked a pivotal year for Kelly as she was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 National finalist by Ernst & Young from a pool of 224 regional award winners from 197 companies. This prestigious, national award recognizes entrepreneurs who develop products and solutions that revolutionize industries and transform lives.

Kelly is also a member of the Executive Board for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and a past recipient of the Executive of the Year award from the Capital Area Manufacturing Council, where she previously served as vice president and treasurer.

Service and community hold a place close to Kelly’s heart. She is a member of several nonprofit organizations and other business groups, including the board of directors for Sparrow Health System. She is also a member of the Governing Board for Ele’s Place, a healing center for grieving children and teens. Kelly is a co-founder of the Lansing W/E group for women entrepreneurs and member of the Lansing CEO Network. She is also active in her local community of DeWitt and prioritizes her company’s annual corporate giving program, which supports several community and school organizations in the communities of Lansing, Mason and DeWitt. Back to top

David L. Stone, Esq.
Co-Founder and President
Trion Solutions
2019 regional award winner

David L. Stone, Esq., is President of Trion Solutions, Inc., one of the United States’ largest Professional Employer Organizations with hundreds of client businesses throughout the nation to manage payroll and taxes, benefits administration, workers’ compensation and regulatory compliance. He is recognized in the PEO industry as one of its most-respected corporate leaders. 

He was a winner of the 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards/Michigan-NW Ohio region, and represented the region at the national EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards competition in Palm Springs, Calif. He currently serves as a judge of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards/ Michigan-NW Ohio region.

Before his years with Trion Solutions, he was the owner and CEO of an HR administration company that merged with a similar firm owned by Trion Co-Founder and CEO Bonner Upshaw III to create Trion Solutions in 2012.  Trion has grown more than 40 percent every year since that time.  It is a certified minority-owned corporation and the largest privately owned PEO in the state of Michigan.

In addition to his management role as Trion President, he is a highly regarded attorney - specializing in human resources and other corporate-workplace issues.  Before running his own companies, spent several years in the Litigation Department at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan assisting counsel in all aspects of trial litigation.  Back to top

Barbara Yolles-Ludwig
Founder and CEO
LUDWIG+
2022 regional award winner

With a highly decorated marketing career that spans the realm of fast-food giant McDonald’s to major ad agencies McCann North America and Campbell Ewald (serving as Chief Marketing Officer at each), Barbara is best known for architecting brand and business solutions that change the destiny of a company. Before founding LUDWIG+, Barbara built in-house marketing teams and high-performing programs and business strategies for financial giants TMS and United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) — both of whom realized significant multiples in revenue growth. In the agency world, Barbara led the marketing and advertising for major brands, including 21st Century Oncology, PNC Bank, Vanguard Mutual Funds, Johns Hopkins Medicine, TJ Maxx Corporation, Zipcar, World Gold Council and many other nationally recognized companies.   Back to top