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Entrepreneur Of The Year® Heartland
About Entrepreneur Of The Year
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates bold leaders who disrupt markets, build category-defining companies and transform industries—while uplifting communities.
Founded in 1986, the program recognizes original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who sparked innovation and propelled established organizations to new heights; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business to fortify it for generations to come.
The Heartland program includes Dakotas, Iowa, Kansas*, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska (*excludes greater Wichita area). Independent judges select regional finalists and winners, with regional winners advancing to national competition in November.
2026 regional finalists are building the economy of tomorrow
*Over the most recent three-year period
2025 award winners
Entrepreneur Of The Year Heartland team
Jon DiGiacinto
Program Director
Kansas City, MO
Erin Donovan
Program Director
Minneapolis, MN
Ricky Margarit
Program Director
Minneapolis, MN
Zac Smith
Program Director
St. Louis, MO
Grant Wayland
Program Director
Minneapolis, MN
Kathleen Brown
Program Manager
Minneapolis, MN
Kara Ray
Program Coordinator
Houston, TX
Founded and produced by
Presented by
Regionally sponsored by
Platinum sponsor
Gold sponsor
Silver sponsors
