Winners for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 Award in Upper Midwest Region Announced

Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce today the winners for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the Upper Midwest. This group of exceptional entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of regional business, academic and community leaders. The winners were revealed at a gala event on Thursday, June 5, 2008 in Minneapolis.

“We heartily congratulate this year’s winners on their success,” said Bill Miller, Strategic Growth Markets Leader for the Minneapolis office. “The Entrepreneur Of The Year award recognizes all of the hard work, ingenuity and care these leaders have put into building and improving their businesses and communities. This group of winners is truly remarkable for all that they have accomplished.”

The Upper Midwest winners for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2008 are:

• Daniel Ariens, President and CEO - Ariens Company - Brillion, WI
• Frank Jaehnert, President - Brady Corporation - Milwaukee, WI
• Phil Soran, Chairman; Larry Aszmann, CTO and John Guider, COO - Compellent Technologies, Inc. - Eden Prairie, MN
• Joseph Dunsmore, Chairman - Digi International Inc. - Minnetonka, MN
• Greg Gartner, President and CEO - Gartner Studios, Inc. - Stillwater, MN
• Olaf Harken, CEO and Peter Harken, President - Harken, Inc. - Pewaukee, WI
• Arthur Huge, President and CEO - Menasha Corporation - Neenah, WI
• Rick Hinner, Vice President and Roger E. Hinner, Jr., President - Merrill Iron & Steel, Inc. - Schofield, WI
• Stephen Flagg, President and CEO - Quality Bicycle Products, Inc. - Bloomington, MN
• Dr. Sean Casey, Chairman and CEO - Virtual Radiologic Corporation - Minnetonka, MN

In addition to the regional awards, special recognition was given to two youths who received the Youth Entrepreneur Scholarship award. Receiving $1,000 scholarship checks in recognition for their efforts in understanding entrepreneurism were Allison Loderbauer, a fifth grader from Appleton, Wisconsin and Tyler Shaker, a high school senior from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Both Allison and Tyler are actively involved in Junior Achievement.

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 Upper Midwest, sponsors include Faegre & Benson LLP, Clifton Gunderson LLP, and Twin Cities Business as regional sponsors, and Padilla Speer Beardsley, the Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee, and Marquette University as local sponsors.

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.

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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.