Dipak Jain of The Kellogg School to be awarded with Supporter of Entrepreneurship award

Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce today the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the Midwest. This group of exceptional entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of regional business, academic and community leaders. The winners will be revealed at a gala event on June 26, 2008 at the Hilton in Chicago.

“These finalists are the best of the best, embodying the unique spirit of entrepreneurism,” said Randall Tavierne, Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Markets Leader for the Midwest. “They positively impact our region in a major way, through jobs, community growth and development and innovation. Ernst & Young is proud to salute them.”

In addition to the finalists named, Patrick Ryan will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement award. Reserved for the select few who have exhibited excellence in business building over their professional career, Ryan has built Aon Corporation into a global leader. In addition, Dipak Jain will be awarded the Supporter of Entrepreneurship award for his efforts in building the Kellogg School of Management into one of the country’s leading business educational institutions.

The Midwest finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2008 are:
Christopher Dalton, President – Acquity Group – Chicago, IL
Glen Tullman, CEO – Allscripts – Chicago, IL
Dr. Michael A. Evans, Chairman – AIT Laboratories – Indianapolis, IN
Bejan Douraghy, CEO – Artisan – Chicago, IL
Patrick J. O’Rahilly, CEO – Aspen Marketing Services – West Chicago, IL
Shelly Sun, President – BrightStar Healthcare – Gurnee, IL
Mark Peters, President – Butterball Farms, Inc. – Grand Rapids, MI
Roderick J. Ratcliff, Chairman – Centaur – Indianapolis, IN
Shawn Riegsecker, Chairman – Centro – Chicago, IL
Tim Solso, Chairman – Cummins, Inc. – Columbus, IN
Dave P. Lindsey, President - DEFENDER Direct, Inc. – Indianapolis, IN
Mary Skipton, President – Energon, Inc. – Chicago, IL
Marcus Anthony Lemonis, Chairman – FreedomRoads – Lincolnshire, IL
Keith Robert Malmstadt, President – Great Lake Woods, Inc. – Holland, MI
James F. Fabris, President – Hurco Companies, Inc. – Indianapolis, IN
Steven E. Zuccarini, CEO – InnerWorkings, Inc. – Chicago, IL
Michael P. Polsky, President – Invenergy LLC – Chicago, IL
John E. Udelhofen, CEO – Laurus Technologies, Inc. – Itasca, IL
Jill Hebert, President – Matrex Exhibits – Addison, IL
Mark Sell, CEO – MD Logistics, Inc. – Plainfield, IN
Joseph Patrick Gaffigan, President and Christopher Randall, COO – MFC Capital Funding – Chicago, IL
Edwin S. Hooker III, CEO – Midland Paper, Packaging & Supply – Wheeling, IL
Robert A. Peterson, President – Norcross Safety Products L.L.C. – Oak Brook, IL
Billie K. Dragoo, President – RepuCare Inc. – Indianapolis, IN
Cary Chessick, President – Restaurant.com – Arlington Heights, IL
Dennis Marian Sponsel, President – RJE Business Interiors – Indianapolis, IN
Raja M. Parvez, President – Rubicon Technology, Inc. – Franklin Park, IL
David Allan Gupta, President – SD.I (System Development.Integration, LLC) – Chicago, IL
Hank Adams, CEO – Sportvision, Inc. – Chicago, IL
Michael J. Simmons, Chairman & CEO – T2 Systems, Inc. – Indianapolis, IN
Bruce Leon, President – Tandem Professional Employer Services – Oak Brook, IL
Mike Domek, Chairman – TicketsNow – Crystal Lake, IL
Robert Post, President – TravelCLICK, Inc. – Schaumburg, IL
Craig S. Datema, President – Triangle Associates, Inc. – Grand Rapids, MI
T. Kendall Hunt, Chairman & CEO – VASCO Data Security International, Inc. – Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Richard Keyser, CEO – W.W. Grainger, Inc. – Lake Forest, IL
Nicole P. Loftus, CEO – Zorch International, Inc. – Chicago, IL

Regional award winners will be eligible for consideration in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 national program. Winners in numerous national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 15, 2008. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

This year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 22nd anniversary. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.

In the Midwest, sponsors include Clifton Gunderson, Winston & Strawn, and Smart Business as regional sponsors, and SolomonEdwardsGroup and Grand Valley State University as local sponsors.

Contact information

To make reservations for the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards gala on June 26, contact Robyn Mallen of Ernst & Young at 312-879-3722 or robyn.mallen {at} ey(.)com by June 13, 2008. Tickets are $200 per person. For more information about the program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 130,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.
Contacts

Ernst & Young
Wendy Fox, +1 612 371 6703
wendy.fox {at} ey(.)com