TwinWest Chamber Reveals 2007 Entrepreneur Award Winners
Two local businesspeople honored at TwinWest’s Small Business Awards Luncheon on Tuesday
(Plymouth, Minn.) – At its 2007 Small Business Awards Luncheon earlier today, the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce named the winners of its two prestigious annual entrepreneur awards.
Jim Leslie, chairman and CEO of Eden Prairie-based Midwave Corporation, was named TwinWest’s 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year. Midwave Corporation was founded in 1999, and currently has 120 employees. The information technology consulting firm offers its clients both advisory and integration services.
“No business gets to this level of recognition through the work of one man or woman,” said Leslie as he accepted his award. “Over 120 sets of fingerprints are on the success of this company.”
Dick Brown, president of Plymouth-based Voice Solutions, Inc., was named 2007 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year. Voice Solutions, Inc. was founded in 2003, and employs six people. It provides its customers with custom on-hold messaging and environmental business music with in-store messaging.
“There’s no greater ride than starting a company, lifting it up, and seeing it succeed,” remarked Brown as he was presented with his award. “The best part is seeing the people around you succeed along the way.”
Leslie and Brown earned the highest scores in an in-depth interview process conducted by a volunteer task force made up of TwinWest members. Selection criteria included company growth, innovation, vision, staying power, involvement in the TwinWest Chamber and the community, and commitment to their employees.
Other finalists for 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year were: Matt Meents, president of Minneapolis-based Reside, LLC; and Eddie Ulrich, president and CEO of Minnetonka-based Fuzzy Duck Design. Finalists for 2007 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year were: Caroline Melberg, president and CEO of Wayzata-based Melberg Marketing; and David Throldahl, president of St. Louis Park-based AVEX, LLC. For a detailed Q&A with each award winner and the rest of the finalists, visit www.twinwest.com/2007entrepreneurfinalists.html.
Erik “the Bike Man” Saltvold gave the keynote speech at the cycling-themed event, and Paul Douglas of WCCO-TV returned as the luncheon’s emcee. TwinWest holds its Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon to honor the entrepreneurial spirit of its membership, which contributes to the economic success of the region. Nearly 75 percent of TwinWest’s 1,000-business membership is made up of small businesses (those with 50 or fewer employees).
The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for business. TwinWest is the voice of business in government and provides its members opportunities to grow their businesses and improve their communities. TwinWest serves the communities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka, New Hope, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park, as well as the surrounding area. For additional information on the TwinWest Chamber, please visit www.twinwest.com.
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