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April 28, 2003

Ernst & Young unveils entrepreneur award finalists

Ernst & Young LLP announced the 19 finalist companies Monday for this year's Missouri/Kansas Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program.

An independent panel of judges will choose the winning entrepreneurs and their companies, which will be honored at a reception and ceremony June 24 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center hotel. The program includes about a dozen categories, said Anne Warshaw, an Ernst & Young spokeswoman in Minneapolis. Judges typically choose winners for eight to 10 categories, she said.

This year's finalists:

  • Jo Anne Gabbert, Adams-Gabbert & Associates in Lee's Summit.
  • Jack Bader, NetEffects Inc. in Chesterfield, Mo.
  • Adam Bold, The Mutual Fund Store in Overland Park.
  • Bryan Caton, Midland Marble & Granite LLC in Independence.
  • Bruce Grench, Home Delivery Incontinent Supplies in Olivette, Mo.
  • Christopher Grubb, Reliable Communications in St. Joseph.
  • Keith Guller, Essex Industries in St. Louis.
  • Gerald Jehling, Clarkson Eyecare in Ellisville, Mo.
  • Wynne Jennings and Thomas VanGoethem, On Demand Technologies Inc. in Overland Park.
  • Douglas Martin and James Unnerstall, Coretech Holdings LLC in St. Louis.
  • John McDonald, Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City.
  • B. Joseph Messner, Bushnell Performance Optics in Overland Park.
  • Robert Montgomery, Reliv International in Chesterfield.
  • Lamson Rheinfrank, Jr., BHA Group Holdings in Kansas City.
  • Dennis Schoemehl, Logistics Management Solutions in St. Louis.
  • David Seitz, Southern Boys Restaurant Group in St. Louis.
  • Ronald Shaich, Panera Bread Co. in St. Louis.
  • Kay Stanley, K&Company LLC in Parkville.
  • Didier Villard, EuroGourmet Inc. in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Award winners will be eligible to participate in the national awards program. Winners at the national level will be presented in November at the Entrepreneur of the Year International Conference in Palm Springs, Calif.

Local sponsors of the program include Commerce Bank, Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.-Kansas City, The St. Louis Business Journal, The Business Journal of Kansas City and Hot Talk 1510.