EY Announces Award Winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 East Central Award

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) is pleased to announce the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® East Central Award. The East Central program celebrates entrepreneurs from Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Northeast and South Central Ohio and Kentucky. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed. This group of esteemed entrepreneurial leaders was selected by an independent judging panel comprised of award alumni, leading CEOs, investors and other regional business leaders.

“EY has honored the curiosity, ingenuity, courage and drive of unstoppable entrepreneurs since 1986, and we are proud to continue the tradition again this year by celebrating this outstanding group of leaders,” said Mike Denove, East Central Program Director. “Each of these entrepreneurs has persevered to make their visions become a reality, and I have no doubt that they will benefit from and serve as valuable members of our global Entrepreneur of the Year community.”

The winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 East Central Award are:

• Mike Zelkind | 80 Acres Farms | Hamilton, Ohio
• Ilya Bodner | Bold Penguin | Columbus, Ohio
• Kevin Brock | Brock Air Products | Troy, Ohio
• Drew Anderson | Cleveland Kitchen | Cleveland, Ohio
• Vamsi Kora | Gathi Analytics, LLC | Dublin, Ohio
• Evan Pohaski | JLE Industries | Homestead, Pennsylvania
• Kristy Knichel | Knichel Logistics | Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
• Rob Strobel | Lithko Contracting, LLC | West Chester, Ohio
• Nate Morris | Rubicon Technologies, LLC | Lexington, Kentucky
• Abdul Akel | T-CETRA | Dublin, Ohio

Winners were evaluated based on their demonstration of long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries throughout the world who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all.

Regional award winners will be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2023.

Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of an esteemed community of multi-industry award winners, granting them unlimited access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni across over 60 countries, in addition to extensive support from EY resources and other members of the entrepreneurial community.