Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards

Past recipients

2007

Micro-Entrepreneur Award:
Amish Furniture Haus - Tim and Shelby Huchthausen, Duluth , MN

Emerging Entrepreneur Award:
Next Generation Ophthalmics - Robert and Jacquie Honstrom, Grand Rapids , MN

Established Entrepreneur Award:
Tritec of Minnesota, Inc. - Mitchel C. Robertson, Virginia, MN

Mature Entrepreneur Award:
Cutsforth Products, Inc. - Dave Cutsforth, Cohasset , MN

Innovation Award:
Iracore International, Inc. - Daniel O. Burkes, Hibbing , MN

Special Award Presentation:
Entrepreneurial Leadership in the Public Sector - Daniel Russell

 

2006

Micro-Entrepreneur Award

Lake Country Machining, Steve and Clara Mikkelsen, Two Harbors

 

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Carlson Media, Inc., Sandy and John Carlson, Duluth

Established Entrepreneur Award

Little Bear Lodges, Inc., Donald and Roxanne Kain, Grand Rapids

Mature Entrepreneur

Fraboni Wholesale Distributor Inc., Mark Thune and Wayne Thune, Hibbing

Innovative Entrepreneur Award

Ascendview, Mike Dobe, Duluth

Lifetime Achievement

Jim Marshall and Cindy and Paul Hayden, Duluth

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

Kjell R. Knudsen, Dean of the UMD Labovitz School of Business and Economics

2005

Micro-Entrepreneur Award

Inhaler Fishing Tackle Company, Derek Vekich, Bovey

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Premier Plastics, Bob Menne III, Hoyt Lakes

Established Entrepreneur Award

Citon Corporation, Steven Dastoor and Sean Dean, Duluth

Mature Entrepreneur

Northshore Manufacturing, Inc., John Anderson, Two Harbors

Recognizing Emerging Technologies

Points North Consulting, Inc., John Foucault, Duluth

Lifetime Achievement

Edgar Hetteen, founder of Polaris and Arctic Cat, and co-founder of ASV

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

Dale S. Lewis

2004

Micro-Entrepreneur Award

Old House Lights - Greg Lyons

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Rapids Rental & Supply - Drew Prochazka

Established Entrepreneur Award

Northstar Aerospace - John Eagleton

Mature Entrepreneur Award

ASV, Inc. - Gary Lemke

Recognizing Emerging Technologies Award

Mesabi Nugget - Larry Lehtinen

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

Thomas Renier

Lifetime Achievement Award

John Goldfine

2003

Micro-Entrepreneur Award

Superior's Choice Fish - Stan Hansen & Bruce Ekstrom

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

The Whistling Bird - JoPat and Toney Curtis

Gazelle (Enterprise) Entrepreneur Award

Trail Center Lodge - Sarah Hamilton

Mature Entrepreneur Award

Northland Machine Inc., - Marv Gustafson

ENTER (Exploring New Technologies Emerging Regionally) Award

Apprise Technologies - Christopher Owen

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

William Henning

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mike Ives

2002

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Sinex Aviation, Barry Sinex

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

Northern Lights and Lumber, Inc. - Tim Olson

Mature Entrepreneur Award

CustomerLink - Kim Ellerman

ENTER (Exploring New Technologies Emerging Regionally) Award

Razor Edge Systems, Inc. - John Juranitch

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

Dr. Michael Johnson

Lifetime Achievement Award

Bonnie Fena

2001

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Magomolla Enterprises - Beth & Immanueli Magomolla

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

Cabin & Timber - Dean Poll

Mature Entrepreneur Award

Kasson Mfg. - Dave Kasper & Wendy Johnson

ENTER (Exploring New Technologies Emerging Regionally) Award

D.S.R. Sales, Inc. - David T. Adams

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

Dr. Joe Sertich

Lifetime Achievement Award

Robert S. Mars, Jr. & Nick Smith

2000

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Banana Bear Day Care - Tammy Korhonen

Mature Entrepreneur Award

Samson Harness Shop, Inc. - Bernard & Susan Samson

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

Betty's Pies - Carl Ehlenz

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

Mary Mathews

ENTER(Exploring New Technologies Emerging Regionally Award) Award

McKie Splints - Anne McKie

1999

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

MCM Enterprises - Deb Mueller

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

Citon Computer Corp. - Steven Dastoor & Sean M. Dean

Mature Entrepreneur Award

A & L Partnership - Rob Link

Inventor Award

Van Technologies - Larry Van Iseghem

David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award

In Memorium - David A. Martin

Lifetime Achievement Award

Roy LaBounty

1998

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Northern Images - Brian Leonard

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

C.P. Internet - Chad Braafladt

Mature Entrepreneur Award

Hibbing Fabricators, Inc. - Mark Shervey

Inventor Award

P.B. Distributing - Donald Armstrong & Phil Bolf

1997

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

New Moon Publishing - Nancy Gruver & Joe Kelly

Mature Entrepreneur Award

Mat, Inc. - Joseph T. Karpik

Inventor Award

Vantage Point Mfg. - Tim Raymond

Lifetime Achievement Award

Erwin & Manley Goldfine

1996

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

Wintergreen Designs, Inc. - Susan Hendrickson-Schurke & Paul Schurke

Mature Entrepreneur Award

Partridge River, Inc. - Andrew Richey

Inventor Award

FAST, Inc. - Gerald Karpik

Lifetime Achievement Award

Don & Gary Moline

1995

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

Granite Gear - Jeffrey Knight & Daniel Cruikshank

Inventor Award

B & S Research - H.W. Lashmett

At-Large Award

Duluth Eng. & Mfg. Co.(DEMCO) Inc., & Pittman Eng. & Mfg Co. (PEMCO) Jack Gabler

1994

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award

ASV, Inc. - Gary Lemke & Creative Garments, Inc.

Sharon Ronne, Yaeko Parish & Linda Lee

At-Large Award

Business North - Wayne Nelson

Inventor Award

Foam Concepts - Rick Rajkovich

1993

No categories existed at this time

Hibbing Electronics - Bonnie Fena

Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers - Don Tubesing & Nancy Loving